Dr. Rahesha S. Amon

Dr. Rahesha Amon is a highly respected education executive with over 25 years of leadership experience in complex organizations, making significant contributions to education on a national and international level. She possesses exceptional strategic decision-making skills and leadership expertise.

Rahesha's career journey includes various notable positions in the education field. She started as an award-winning classroom teacher and progressed to roles such as Educational Coach, Assistant Director of Early Childhood, and Assistant Principal. Eventually, she became the founding Principal of Frederick Douglass Academy III in the Bronx, New York. Her leadership flourished further as she advanced to the positions of Deputy Superintendent and Superintendent of Community School District 16 in Brooklyn. During her tenure, District 16 received recognition from the Mayor and School Chancellor for achieving remarkable gains in English Language Arts and Mathematics during the 2018-2019 school year.

Known for her outcomes-based approach, Rahesha employs research-based strategies to drive equitable impact on schools, students, families, and communities. She fosters collaboration and success through partnerships with elected officials, advisory boards, and community-based organizations. Rahesha's comprehensive leadership cultivation, from recruitment to retention, accelerates instructional practices focused on achieving tangible results at the district and school levels.

Throughout her career, Rahesha has been the recipient of numerous awards and accolades. Recently, she was granted funding from the Sterling Foundation to establish the Hayti Fellowship, which brings together aspiring entrepreneurs from New York City dedicated to disrupting the status quo and improving future outcomes. In 2020, she served as an International Advisor for The Ministry of Education, the Abu Dhabi Education Council, and ALEF education, playing a crucial role in the establishment of New Century Education, Abu Dhabi (NCE), a charter management organization serving over 6000 students across six campuses.

Rahesha holds a doctoral degree from New York University, a Master's Degree in Educational Leadership from Fordham University, and a Bachelor of Arts from North Carolina Central University. She has participated in prestigious programs like the Cahn Fellowship at Teachers College, the Harvard University Principal's Institute, and the Aspen Scholars program. Currently, Rahesha is a member of the Sterling Network and the selective Innovation for Equity Fellowship, which unites inspiring leaders dedicated to improving outcomes for learners of African descent across all age groups.

Beyond her professional endeavors, Rahesha actively engages with organizations such as Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and Jack and Jill of America, Inc. She currently serves as the North East Regional Director for the National Alliance of Black School Educators, overseeing chapters from Vermont to the Nation's Capital. Her commitment to family is exemplified by her establishment of "Savannah's Heartbeats," a foundation that supports newly diagnosed family members, inspired by her daughter Savannah's diagnosis with type 1 diabetes.

Rahesha embodies the belief that actions speak louder than words, a principle she lives by, as reflected in her adherence to Belle Hooks' quote, "What we do is more important than what we say or what we say we believe."