Meet Lennith Santana: A School Operations Administrator at KIPP Washington Heights Elementary School, devoted parent of two daughters who attend KIPP Washington Heights Middle School, and proud first-generation Dominican American. Her story is a celebration of culture, resilience, and the power of education.

After eight years as a KIPP NYC student and four years at Lycoming College, Marquetta Felder is returning to the classroom as a History Teacher at The Storm King School in Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY.

One of the greatest things about KIPP is that you have a lot of options when it comes to selecting classes. If you have an interest in a specific field, you’re able to try it out and get into it.

Datone, who is from Washington Heights, has worked closely with his advisor to find a program in which to enroll after graduation that aligns with his interest in pursuing a career in construction.

Every single day I’m learning something different. Supporting all students is something that I hold near and dear to my heart. It’s a lot of fun; it’s really nice to be back.

I’m in a program where I’m learning to harness my skills and be better at what I do. My end goal is to get into culinary school and do that route, but for now this is a great first step.

Being a School Operations Manager means building relationships with the families, the community, and the staff. And I truly enjoy being able to call families with the exciting news of them being part of our school.

One of the things that I love about our team is that we aren’t just focused on teaching; if you’re somebody who loves equipping students with the skills to advocate for themselves, then this is the place for you.

In the measure of today’s standards, we recognize that building a better tomorrow truly only happens if we advocate more urgently...in short, what can we do today?

Being part of a founding school has been a really great experience. I would describe it as magical because of the connections that we’ve been able to create with families and staff.