Dr. Sandye Johnson

Cahn Fellow 2005

Principal, M.S. 670 Thurgood Marshall Academy for Learning and Social Change

Manhattan, New York

Sandye Johnson was a member of the third Cahn Fellows cohort in 2005 as Principal of M.S. 670 Thurgood Marshall Academy for Learning and Social Change in Manhattan, NY.

Dr. Sandye Poiter Johnson entered the education field 40 years ago as a special education teacher. As the principal of Thurgood Marshall Academy for Learning and Social Change, she was instrumental in “turning the school around” and made it a household word for quality education in Central Harlem. After her retirement, she founded the Harlem Renaissance Education Pipeline, Inc. (HREP) and currently serves as the Executive Director.  She served as a former Adjunct Professor at City College and Kean College and Chair/Committee member for doctoral students at St. John Fisher College. 

She received her Bachelor’s Degree from Morgan State University, Master’s Degree from Bank Street College of Education, and Ed.D from Teachers College, Columbia University.  A partial listing of her awards includes the Time Warner Principal of Excellence Award, New York State Conference of NAACP Branches Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Measure of a Woman Award, CBS Fulfilling the Dream Award, and The Black Women’s Agenda Education
Leadership Award.