Dr. Mara Ratesic-Koetke

Cahn Fellow 2013

Principal, P.S. 77 The Lower Lab School

Manhattan, New York

Dr. Mara Ratesic-Koetke was a member of the eleventh Cahn Fellows cohort in 2013 as Principal of P.S. 77 The Lower Lab School in Manhattan, NY. The following year Mara took a position as Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction at The Bronxville Union Free School District after 6 years as Principal and 3 years as Assistant Principal. Under Dr. Koetke’s leadership, the district created and implemented the Bronxville Promise, which stands as a commitment to teaching students to lead, innovate, think critically, and engage the world around them.  Additionally, in the year 2022, the Bronxville School was ranked #1 in New York State based on NY State Assessment results in English Language Arts and Mathematics for students in elementary and middle school. Prior to her work in Bronxville. Mara earned her Doctorate of Education in Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity Studies at Teachers College, Columbia University. Mara has a Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Administration from George Mason University. She has written and lectured extensively on educational leadership, curriculum development, using data for instructional change, and gifted education. Her real world expertise in educational leadership brings life to theory, and she returned to her alma mater as Adjunct Assistant Professor to support the next generation of educational leaders in the SPA program at Teachers College.