Superintendent Bio

Dr. Van-Ess is a systems leader with the distinct honor of serving within the New York City Department of Education for the past 15 years, gaining 3k-12th grade teaching and leadership experience. She has served as a middle school English teacher, a middle school Assistant Principal, a high school Principal, and a Community School Deputy Superintendent, serving diverse communities such as Queens Village, Harlem, East Flatbush, and Brownsville. With robust experience in enhancing leadership capacity, data analysis, strategic planning, and community relations, Dr. Van-Ess has improved her district's ability to create a culture of change through collaboration. She has established structures such as Data Chats, State of the District Townhalls, Principal to Principal Collegial Networking Cohorts, and Co- Leadership tenets and values amongst leadership teams. Dr. Van- Ess is a leader who dedicates her effort and time to cultivating learning communities that are grounded in equitable practices, systems, and structures to ensure all students are successful and afforded meaningful and transferable learning experiences. Dr. Van-Ess' top priorities are to drive school and community wellness, success, and achievement. Thus, she prioritizes professional learning and working with innovative partnerships to support the district's vision, mission, goals, and initiatives. Dedicated to being a learner, in December 2021, she earned her doctorate degree, focusing her study on the professional development needs of principals and the multigenerational workforce. In May 2022, she completed the NYCDOE's Ed Pacesetter, engaging in researching and providing recommendations to enhance family empowerment. Personally, Dr. Van-Ess is a wife and a mother of a three-year-old named, Lyric. Being raised in South Jamaica, Queens, Dr. Van-Ess has an intrinsic commitment to the schools of Queens South, considering her appointment as Superintendent an honor, a privilege, and an opportunity to give back to the community that helped to shape the woman she is today.

VISION

To become an excellent New York City Department of Education District office that supports every student, every staff member, and every family.

MISSION

To ensure every student achieves grade level expectations in order to be ready for college, careers, and life, by embracing diversity, nurturing learning, and encouraging community while creating an environment of high accountability.

Value Promise statement

We promise that every student will have access to a school that supports his/her academic and social-emotional readiness, while providing a safe and conducive learning environment.

Theory of Action

IF every school, through an instructional leadership team, leverages advanced literacy as the gateway to establish clear instructional priorities through:

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1. instruction

2. assessments 

3. curriculums

4. professional learning opportunities

THEN every student in every classroom every day will engage in rigorous, authentic, culturally relevant learning experiences; realizing the vision of the New York City graduate, a young person who is prepared for college, career, and life.

What’s the Buzz?!

Professional Learning