Elevate 215

At Elevate 215’s Innovate and Inspire event, we proudly honored Juniata Park Academy (JPA) with the Inspiration Impact Award for its visionary approach to school leadership.

Through a strong investment in teacher leadership and a culture built on trust and collaboration, JPA has:
✅ Increased math proficiency by 13%
✅ Strengthened teacher retention
✅ Created a shared sense of accountability and purpose

Principal Marisol Rivera Rodriguez put it best: “With Elevate 215’s support, we’re not just working harder—we’re working smarter to ensure students receive the quality education they deserve.”

Join us in celebrating the educators who are leading with heart and results.

Robert Morris Elementary is proving what’s possible when research-based instruction meets creativity and consistency.

Superintendent Watlington recently honored schools across the district, with Robert Morris receiving the following “Accelerate Philly” awards:

🏆 Most-Improved Reading Scores
🏆 Most-Improved 3rd Grade Math & Reading Scores

Morris was able to receive this recognition, as the school saw third grade reading proficiency jump from 7% to 48% and math from 14% to 59% in just one year.

How?
👩🏽‍🏫 Veteran teachers in key grades
🌎 Real-world, engaging instruction
🏁Goal-setting, collaboration, and strong student-teacher relationships

One veteran teacher brought math to life by dressing as a chef and baking cookies with his students, making the lesson hands-on, memorable, and meaningful. Teachers make learning real, and students are empowered to see why it matters.

At Robert Morris, students are seen, supported, and empowered. And now, they’re being celebrated.

👏 Congratulations to the entire Robert Morris team and their students on their academic achievements and this well-earned honor.

Everyone has that one teacher they’ll never forget. You can be that teacher!

In Philly, you can get paid to learn how to teach while earning your certification through a Teacher Residency program, which provides a full-time salary, benefits, and reduced tuition.

Just ask Sherlana Charles, who found her calling in the classroom at Strawberry Mansion High School, the same place she completed her residency. Her journey started with a love for tutoring—and now, she’s helping students grow, thrive, and find their own voices every single day.

Sherlana believes teaching is all about planting seeds to inspire students to discover their passions. “Sometimes as teachers, we don’t always get to see the seeds fully grown—but we can see the sprouts. And that’s always the most worthwhile.”

Ready to inspire the next generation? Learn more about Philly’s Teacher Residency programs at TeachPHL.org

It is essential for Philadelphia students to receive quality education so they are set up for success when graduating high school. Unfortunately, out of the 51% of Philadelphia’s public school students who pursue higher education, only 38% attend a four-year college or university, and only 58% of those students are retained for their second year.

Temple University is taking action to support low income, first-generation college students in Philadelphia’s middle schools and serve as a pipeline to higher education. Through the Temple Future Scholars Program, students are set up to thrive in college after graduation by promoting the importance of a quality education.

The partnership connects , the , and , and will launch at seven district middle schools: Mary McLeod Bethune School, Morton McMichael School, Paul L. Dunbar School, Russell H. Conwell School, Tanner G. Duckrey School, John F. Hartranft School, and Juniata Park Academy. After initially serving 120 students, the program will grow to serve 1,200 students in future years.

Learn more here: https://www.inquirer.com/education/temple-school-district-heights-college-readiness-program-20250221.html

Teachers shape futures. We all remember an educator who inspired us, challenged us, and believed in our potential.

Philly’s nearly 200,000 public school students rely on over 12,000 teachers—but each year, schools struggle to fill 2,000 vacancies.

The Philadelphia Citywide Talent Coalition is taking action—uniting schools, higher ed, and community partners to build a sustainable, diverse teacher workforce. (Elevate 215 is the coordinating entity.)

Last week, Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s Administration and the Coalition were joined by PA Senator Vincent Hughes and Philadelphia School District Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. to announce bold goals:

> Recruiting 900 more teachers of color by the 2028-29 school year.

> Retaining 231 more new teachers annually—impacting 24,000+ students over the next five years.

[Learn more on our website: https://elevate215.org/news/citywide-talent-coalition-takes-action-to-tackle-the-citys-teacher-shortage/]

But we must act with urgency—as ‘One Philly.’ Every vacancy left unfilled affects our students, schools, and communities.

Join us in building a world-class teacher workforce for Philadelphia’s students. Together, we can ensure every classroom has the educators our children deserve. 📚✨

We believe Philadelphia’s future starts with advancing our education system and increasing the number of quality schools in the city.

We were proud to be a supporting partner at ’s event with Cherelle Parker because we have a shared belief that a thriving city is possible if we embrace the spirit of “One Philly” and foster collective action to move our schools forward.

As Mayor Parker said: “We need to unleash the power of public education, as it’s a keystone to creating economic advancement.”

What a wonderful experience! It was inspiring to see the incredible work being done at the School District’s Juniata Park Academy under the leadership of Principal Marisol Rivera Rodriguez and her team. Their dedication to advancing student learning and making a positive impact in North Philadelphia is truly heartwarming. A perfect reminder of the joy and progress happening in our schools everyday!

🌟 Join the Team Advancing School Quality in Philadelphia!

We're searching for passionate, mission-driven individuals who share our values and embody relentless optimism for the sake of our city's children.

✨ Three impactful roles are open:

➡️ Assistant Director of Access Initiatives: Expand opportunities for students citywide.

➡️ Director of Data Strategy & Analytics: Turn insights into action to drive progress.

➡️ Coordinator of Access Initiatives: Support impactful programs that empower schools every day.

📚 Together, let's build brighter futures for Philadelphia’s students. Learn more and apply now: elevate215.org/jobs/

At Elevate 215, we’re committed to serving Philadelphia’s families with efficiency, transparency, and a deep respect for their feedback. Through GreatPhillySchools, we aim to guide families through the school selection process by adapting our informational resources to meet their ever-evolving needs. The GreatPhillySchools team had the opportunity to engage directly with families at the 2024 K-12 Philly School Fair to understand which school characteristics they prioritize and how our resources support their decision-making process. This invaluable feedback strengthens our ability to help families make informed choices for their child’s educational journey.

Discover what we learned and watch the full video here: bit.ly/findyourschoolfit

As Principal Appreciation Month comes to a close, we want to thank the dedicated principals of the K-8 schools that received our BTO planning grants last year. We awarded these planning grants to six K-8 schools: Alliance for Progress, Morton McMichael, Middle Years Alternative, Juniata Park Academy, Pan American Academy, and Young Scholars. The students at these schools have shown remarkable progress, successfully “beating the odds” (BTO) by meeting specific performance criteria.

The school grantees support nearly 3,000 students, with 90% identifying as Black or Hispanic and 85% coming from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. The grants have facilitated a variety of impactful practices, including the development of student learning data systems, staff training for effective data analysis, and the integration of culturally responsive educational approaches into daily instruction. Over the past year, our school investments team has met with each school’s planning team to assist in integrating these practices in the classroom.

We would like to especially thank Brian Cameron, Dr. Dollette Smith, Dr. Toni Damon, Marisol Rivera Rodriguez, Dr. Darcy Russotto, and Beth Birnkrant for your unwavering commitment to your schools and students. The successes of your students are a testament to your leadership and dedication, and you continue to foster an environment where they can learn, grow, and succeed every day.

At Elevate 215, our team takes pride in discovering innovative ways to modernize the learning experience for students in Philadelphia and prepare them for the world of tomorrow. We do this by investing in schools, nurturing talent, advocating for effective policies, and expanding resources for families. We envision a future where every school serves as an inspiring learning environment, empowering students to reach their full potential. Keeping students at the center of what we do allows us to find pathways to unite a city vision, creating conditions for student success.

Learn more about our vision for Philadelphia education at elevate215.org. Our website offers valuable resources for families and teachers, along with the latest news in education to help you navigate the diverse educational landscape here in Philadelphia.

To celebrate Principal Appreciation Month, we want to recognize the dedicated high school principals that received our BTO planning grants. In August, Elevate 215 awarded planning grants to four outstanding Philadelphia high schools: Building 21 Philadelphia, Imhotep Institute Charter High School, Mastery Charter Shoemaker, and Sankofa Freedom Academy Charter School. These schools have demonstrated remarkable resilience, as their students are “beating the odds” (BTO) by meeting specific performance criteria and thriving after graduation.

We are excited to collaborate with each school’s planning team to analyze performance data, reflect on effective practices, and develop actionable plans to amplify their impact.

A heartfelt thank you to Ben Koch, Dr. Jury Segers, Derrick Cartwright, and Tameka Bowman for your unwavering commitment to support your students. Your leadership has provided the essential tools for your schools and students to succeed.