Portia Jones

Portia Jones has a long and varied work experience, beginning with their role as a Research Assistant at Columbia University Medical Center in 2005. Portia then worked as a Research Assistant at Barnard College in 2004. In 2006, they were selected from 17,000 applicants to work as a Kindergarten Teacher in a national corps to teach in under-resourced schools, where they planned and created supplemental and core math, reading, science and social studies curriculum resulting in content mastery of over 93% of students. From 2011 to 2014, they worked as a Curriculum Specialist and then as a School Director for Teach For America, providing coaching and professional development for 23 staff and over 150 corps members at K-8th grade charter schools in the South Bronx and Brooklyn to reach school-wide academic goals.

In 2019, Jones began working as an Instructional Coach for EdConnective, coaching elementary and middle school public, private and charter school teachers and administrators across the country on various instructional subjects and specializations. In 2021, they began working as a Consultant for Teaching Matters, coaching, consulting, and providing professional development and curriculum development and implementation in across New York City public schools.

Jones' longest-held position was at Achievement First, where they worked from 2008 to 2021. During this time, they held multiple roles, including Director of Special Services, Dean of Special Services, Academic Dean, Teacher in Residence Coordinator, Writing Curriculum Builder, and Founding After School Director. In each role, they provided specialized support, professional development, and career coaching to K-12th grade special education leaders, managed the Special Education program, coached teachers and related service providers, created and executed a vision and strategic plan for each academic block, founded and developed the structure of the Achievement First Crown Heights Elementary After School Program, and taught up to 32 early-childhood aged students academic subjects and socio-emotional learning.

Portia Jones began their educational journey at Midwood HS, followed by Barnard College where they obtained their Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Psychology in 2006. After that, they attended Bank Street College of Education and obtained their Master of Science (M.S.) in Early Childhood Education and Teaching in 2009. In 2009, they also obtained their Professional Certification for General Education in NYS (Birth-2nd Grade) from the New York State Department of Education. From 2018 to 2019, they attended Relay Graduate School of Education and obtained their Special Education Leadership Academy Fellow. Finally, from 2020 to 2021, they attended Relay Graduate School of Education and obtained their Instructional Leader Professional Development/Achievement First Principal Fellow.