Project Description
Jakub Lau, Fellow
The Emerson School
Queens, NY
Jakub Lau was born in Toruń, Poland, and moved to the United States when he was seven years old. He credits his passion for learning from the teachers, librarians, and other educators that fostered his interests and opened up opportunities for him when he was a new immigrant. Jakub taught English, Social Studies, and a variety of elective courses to middle and high school students in the South Bronx. He helped implement an International Baccalaureate program at his school and served as the program's coordinator. While teaching, he completed a Master’s Degree in English Education from City University of New York, Lehman College, and a Master’s Degree in Public School Leadership from Columbia University, Teachers College. As an Assistant Principal at The Mott Hall School, he successfully advocated for Mott Hall’s inclusion in piloting the Common Core Learning Standards. His work with curriculum development was recognized by the GE Foundation, which filmed classes at his school as examples of exemplary Common Core-aligned instruction. As Principal at The Emerson School, Jakub has secured partnerships with Teaching Matters, AVID, and Urban Advantage, among others. His educational philosophy is founded in a belief that all students must be independent critical thinkers. He encourages all stakeholders to help students advocate for their needs - academic, social, and emotional.
Hazel-Ann Lewis, Ally
Assistant Principal
The Emerson School
Queens, NY
Hazel-Ann Lewis is currently a school administrator in District 28 at The Emerson School in the New York City Department of Education. She is passionate about the promotion of cultural proficiency in educational leadership to foster greater access and equity for “minoritized” students. On November 6, 2019, she earned her doctorate in Educational Leadership from the Sage Colleges of Albany. Dr. Lewis has worked for 19 years in the New York City Department of Education; three of those years as a successful Literacy Coach, Testing Coordinator, and Data Specialist. In those roles, she conducted professional development in curriculum planning to help teachers develop coherent and thematic units. She also developed school-wide systems for tracking multiple sources of student data to impact instructional shifts. As a consummate professional, Dr. Lewis' leadership skills and qualifications include Advance Training, Data-Informed Decisions, and Adult and Team Leadership. She has been an educator/ instructional leader for over 30 years. She is resilient, resourceful, and an avid problem solver. Her passion for education keeps her focused on ensuring every student achieves at their maximum potential.