Joy Abrams
Brooklyn,New York
Summary
- Highly experienced principal with expertise in early childhood leadership. Creates a nurturing and inclusive environment for young learners. Demonstrates expertise in child development from birth to age five, with a deep understanding of New York State Early Learning Guidelines, PKFCC, and ELOF.
- Designs and implements developmentally appropriate curriculum, fostering an equitable and responsive learning environment.
- Highly skilled in strengths-based coaching, using adult learning and change management theories to foster professional growth and instructional excellence. Proficient in leveraging data-driven insights from developmental screenings, authentic child assessments, and curriculum frameworks to inform program development, build staff capacity, and enhance children.
- Experienced early childhood compliance leader, ensuring programs meet NYC Department of Education regulations. Committed to fostering a collaborative and flexible work environment, focusing on staff development, family engagement, and community partnerships. Strong communicator providing clear, strengths-based feedback and implementing systems for ongoing progress monitoring and professional development.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Principal
Department Of Education
, NY
09.2021 - Current
- Early Childhood Development Expertise: In-depth understanding of children's growth from birth to five years, with extensive knowledge of the New York State Early Learning Guidelines, NYS Prekindergarten Foundation for the Common Core (PKFCC), and Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework (ELOF).
- Standards-Based Curriculum Design: Demonstrated ability to design and implement developmentally appropriate, standards-aligned curricula based on the New York State Preschool Learning Standards (NYSPLS), tailored to diverse learner needs.
- Inclusive Teaching & Special Education Support: Expertise in inclusive teaching practices, supporting children's developmental and IEP goals through evidence-based strategies that address individual needs, including those with identified disabilities.
- Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Instruction: Proven capacity to implement culturally and linguistically responsive learning experiences, particularly for emergent multilingual learners, fostering an environment of equity and inclusion.
- Child Assessment & Data-Informed Planning: Strong proficiency in utilizing early childhood developmental screening tools and authentic child assessment systems to inform program development, instructional planning, and individualized learning interventions.
- Regulatory Compliance & Program Management: Expertise in ensuring compliance with NYC Department of Education early childhood regulations and standards, maintaining high-quality educational programs.
- Adult Learning & Leadership Development: Deep understanding of adult learning and change management theories, with a proven track record of coaching and mentoring educators to establish and achieve professional goals through strengths-based feedback and reflective supervision.
- Professional Development Facilitation: Skilled in designing and facilitating professional learning sessions for both small and large groups, in person and virtually, grounded in qualitative and quantitative data to drive continuous instructional improvement.
- Project Management & Strategic Execution: Demonstrated ability to lead complex projects, from conception through execution, ensuring alignment with school priorities and objectives. Adept at monitoring progress, assessing outcomes, and adapting strategies as needed.
- Collaborative Leadership & Team Building: Experienced in leading cross-functional teams, fostering collaboration both internally and with external stakeholders, while demonstrating flexibility and adaptability to evolving priorities and initiatives.
- Communication & Feedback Delivery: Strong communicator with a proven ability to provide clear, observation-based, and data-informed feedback to staff, supporting continuous professional growth and goal achievement.
- Directed the implementation of district initiatives such as Response to Intervention program, Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports system, and 1:1 technology integration plan.
OACE Supervisor
Department of Education
Brooklyn
01.2018 - Current
- Observes teachers formally and informally to ensure lessons engaged and challenged students at their appropriate developmental and cognitive level
- Observes teachers to ensure lessons have clear objectives, build on prior knowledge and included questioning techniques and problem-solving activities that promote achievement of instructional goals and fostered critical thinking
- Acts as the immediate supervisor for personnel in the adult education program
- Provides direct supervision for per-session staff in ESL/HSE/BE and food handling course
- Provides ongoing support, class observation, and feedback to support their teaching practice
- Annually evaluate staff according to the guidelines set up the HR department
- Ensure all potential learners receive an appropriate intake and assessment per the standards of the program and funder
- Ensure that all curricula is robust and project-based, delivered with the highest level of quality by all teachers, and incorporate College and Career Readiness Standards (CCRS)
- Assist in managing students retention, including working closely with the teacher, support staff and Case Manager to identify barriers and support learners
- Maintain class schedules, ensuring availability of instructional hours sufficient to meet learner needs and any funding goals.
Assistant Principal
The Sheldon A. Brookner School, P.S. 135
Brooklyn
08.2018 - 09.2021
- Observe, supervise and evaluate teachers and staff to further school's vision
- Assist with developing curriculum maps and pacing calendar that address CCLS and students’ needs; development an instructional plan to addressing deficient; created a bank of strategies/resources for teachers; oversee all instructional activities; created an environment conducive learning for students and staff
- Facilitate professional development experiences for faculty to support excellence throughout the school
- Listen and respond to parent concerns with sensitivity
- Conduct parent and student meetings and attend all after school activities
- Analyze test data, determine ways to improve instruction and students’ goals
- Design and implement programming for Title 1, assisting with programming for ESL students, etc
- Create and maintain lasting meaningful partnerships with community organization and local businesses
- Develop the school's yearly and monthly calendars and organize and oversee scheduling for staff
- Meet with teachers weekly to discuss instructional practices and students' data; planned weekly professional development workshops
- Developed a professional learning environment by creating study groups for teachers that meet once a month on: Data Driven Instruction, Best Instructional Practices, and Diverse Learners; Facilitated professional development
- Developed and implemented a school-wide initiative that focused on celebrating students' culture to ensure that the school represented diversity, and equity
- Supervise Enrichment Afterschool Program, developed assessments to drive instruction; designed a curriculum to enhance test preparation.
Universal Literacy Reading Coach
NYC Department of Education
Brooklyn
08.2017 - 08.2018
- Provided in-class coaching on all elements of reading and writing for K-2 teachers that may include any of the following: modeling lessons, side-by-side coaching, and visiting and giving collegial feedback
- Prepared professional learning workshops on research-based primary literacy instruction to be delivered during after-school professional learning time or during collaborative planning time in the school day
- Professional learning sessions included support for both literacy content and instructional methodologies
- Facilitated collaborative planning meetings with K-2 teachers to plan literacy lessons, small-group work, literacy interventions, and student assessments to provide diagnostic information and monitor growth
- Coordinated schedules, distribution of materials, and provides any needed professional development and administrative support for periodic assessments to monitor students' progress in K-2
- Conducted needs assessments and analyzes student and other data at key points in the year to determine ELA areas requiring emphasis and support
- Developed the year-long professional learning plan for literacy instruction for all K-2 teachers in the school
- Reported progress in bi-weekly meeting to the school-administration and provides revision and/or intervention plans as needed to ensure goals are being met
- Provided periodic workshops for parents to support literacy development at home
- Worked with teachers, school administration, and school support staff to submit the ordering of any materials needed for literacy instruction in K-2 classrooms.
Education
Doctor of Education - Interdisciplinary Educational Studies
Long Island University CW Post
Brookville, NY05.2018
Certified Advanced Graduate Studies - Educational Leadership
Long Island University
Brooklyn, NY05.2011
Master of Science - Urban Childhood Education 1-6
Long Island University
Brooklyn, NY05.2008
Bachelor of Science - Psychology
Medgar Evers College
Brooklyn, NY05.2006
Skills
- Leadership
- Compliance
- Curriculum
- Early Childhood
- Inclusion
- Assessment
- Development
- Coaching
- Professional Development
- Data-Driven
- Equity
- Collaboration
- Community Engagement
- Strategic Planning
- Program Management
Certification
- New York State SBL Certification
- New York State SDL Certification
- New York State Teacher Certification
Timeline
Principal
Department Of Education
09.2021 - Current
Assistant Principal
The Sheldon A. Brookner School, P.S. 135
08.2018 - 09.2021
OACE Supervisor
Department of Education
01.2018 - Current
Universal Literacy Reading Coach
NYC Department of Education
08.2017 - 08.2018
Doctor of Education - Interdisciplinary Educational Studies
Long Island University CW Post
Certified Advanced Graduate Studies - Educational Leadership
Long Island University
Master of Science - Urban Childhood Education 1-6
Long Island University
Bachelor of Science - Psychology
Medgar Evers College