Jazmin Rivera-Polanco

Gray Fellow 2024 to 2025

Background

Jazmin Rivera-Polanco grew up in New York’s South Bronx. She attended NYC Public Schools and, at twelve, was awarded the CSA Leadership Award. She feels this signified her call to join the Council of School Administrators (CSA). She earned a degree from Pace University and began her career as an English teacher in 1997 at the same school where her teachers taught her.

She earned a degree from The City College of NY (MA) and from Bank Street College of Education (MS. ed).She received training at Teacher’s College, worked as an English Literacy coach out of various middle schools, then went on to work as an English Lead teacher, assistant principal of a high school, middle school principal and as a high school principal of a Transfer high school.

Ms. Rivera-Polanco is also an alum of the LEAP program, has taught and held leadership positions in Districts 7, 9, and 12, and is currently the Principal of Bronx Haven Transfer High School. As a transfer high school principal, Jazmin works with a team of dedicated professionals to reengage and motivate the most at-risk students. She provides students with extensive opportunities to obtain certifications in various fields such as ECE, OSHA 30, food handlers, phlebotomy, and EKG. Her goal is to provide students with the opportunity to obtain certifications that can provide students with employment opportunities after graduating high school or skills that will allow them to pursue a college degree.

In 2023, Ms Rivera-Polanco was selected to the Cahn Distinguished Principals Fellowship.