Greer Phillips
Gray Fellow 2024 to 2025
Dr. Greer Phillips is an accomplished high school principal with a remarkable 21-year career in education. Her journey in the field started as a New York City Teaching Fellow, where she served as a classroom teacher for seven years. Driven by her passion for helping others, Dr. Phillips transitioned to become a Special Education leadership Fellow at Bank Street College of Education and later served as a Cahn Fellow. These experiences fueled her desire to constructively impact teaching and learning, leading her to pursue a doctoral degree.
Dr. Phillips has always been committed to improving education and has demonstrated this through her leadership style, which is based on collaboration and distributive leadership. As a principal, she has witnessed the continuous improvement of teaching and learning and coherence development across District 75 organizations. Her guiding philosophy centers on putting students first and ensuring their needs are met in an effective learning environment.
One of Dr. Phillips’ critical practices is supporting her staff and colleagues through discussions centered around real-world problems in education. Together, they identify and create robust school-wide policies and structures that continually enhance students’ social-emotional and academic outcomes. Dr. Phillips is dedicated to continuous learning and seeks opportunities to inform her practice. This is evident from her participation in the Cahn Fellowship in 2016 and her pursuit of a doctoral degree in 2018. Her commitment to lifelong learning is further exemplified by her acceptance into the Grays Fellowship Program, which will begin in the 2024-25 school year.
Dr. Phillips firmly believes in the power of collaboration and distributive leadership regarding effective instructional practices. She engages in ongoing discussions with various stakeholders, connecting research and data to create student-focused learning communities. She aims to prepare students for a future that demands advanced literacies and the ability to thrive in an ever-evolving global society. Dr. Phillips understands that success may look different for every student, but she firmly believes that all students can learn and reach their potential.
Dr. Phillips’s passion for helping others and dedication to collaboration and distributive leadership have been present throughout her life. Even as a child, she sought opportunities to engage in service that helped others. This initial drive led her to pursue a career in social services, where she worked with adults and families affected by the HIV pandemic. However, she felt that she could make a more significant difference in the lives of young people through education, which led her to transition into the field.
Dr. Phillips’s commitment to collaboration and distributive leadership is evident in her school’s success. Under her leadership, the school community has transformed into an environment that embraces excellence and equity for all stakeholders. As times change, Dr. Phillips ensures that her school continues to evolve, providing students with more significant opportunities for success.
In conclusion, Dr. Greer Phillips is an exceptional high school principal whose 21 years of experience in education have shaped her into a visionary and dedicated leader. Her career trajectory is a testament to her unwavering commitment to positively impacting the field of education. Dr. Phillips has fostered continuous improvement, coherence, and student-focused learning communities through her collaborative and distributive leadership style. Her passion for helping others, combined with her belief in the potential of all students, has made her a transformative force in the lives of countless young people.