P-TECH-SkillsFirst-Assistant Principal Special Education, Jahira Chambers Alonso

Public education is struggling to deliver on its promise of being a ticket to the middle class for anyone willing to work for it. This is why we created P-TECH: Pathways in Technology Early College High Schools, which is a new kind of public school in central Brooklyn. Our students were not academically screened, not tested for admissions, and experience no college remediation in their 2-year college pathways.

Started in 2011, P-TECH's goals are broad, but simple. We are giving students the science and math skills they need not simply to find good jobs, but to adapt to an economy that is guaranteed to be constantly changing from now on. Also, we are providing students with the academic and workplace experience they need to define and achieve professional success for themselves. And in the process, create a new model for high school that can help schools improve across the country. In 2023, there are over 300 P-TECH school partners across 28 countries and 14 states here in the USA. Of the 14 states, 7 (Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, New York, Rhode Island, and Texas) we know have already produced P-TECH college graduates. IBM hired the first P-TECH graduates in 2015 that helped pave the way for SkillsFirst hiring. Now, in 2023 the following 7 companies have also said that a 4-year degree does not have to be the only ticket to the middle class: IBM, Accenture, Okta, Dell, Bank of America, Google, and Delta Airlines. As President Barack Obama said at P-TECH on October 25, 2013, “P-TECH is Proof of What Can Be Accomplished, But We’ve Got to Have the Courage to do it”. Former President Obama also advocates for more companies to help provide a ticket to the middle class by hiring for SkillsFirst. It is year 12 for us at P-TECH and challenges from Covid19 requires that we learn from what worked and try to make sure that we do a better job of preparing all students with the skills needed for SkillsFirst hiring. Thus, in 2021, I hired an assistant principal of Special Education, Jahira Chambers Alonso.

Every day I see P-TECH scholars succeeding against tremendous odds. I see teachers who are committed to their success. I see industry partners who are providing real work opportunities. The next few years are about getting stronger. Assistant Principal Alonso is a graduate of the New York City Department of Education and is currently a Doctoral student at NYU. She works with the entire school community and was the standout candidate in the hiring process. She challenges me to make sure we don't just focus on teaching students' math and science. She understands how to build and support a strong academic program that also equips students with a capacity for critical thinking, writing and teaming skills, along with an understanding of the workplace. She knows and shows that education is important, but if you don’t have the skills needed to succeed in the work environment—to network and to continue to learn over the course of your career—you will not get far.

Assistant Principal Alonso is a career changer and a New York City Teaching Fellows success story. Her virtual portfolio from teaching was quite helpful for me as well as her media citations and published writings.

MEDIA CITATIONS “Meet Our Teachers.” Apply to Teach in New York City Public Schools, teachnyc.net/people/jahira.

Taylor, Kate. “92 New York City High Schools to Give No-Fee SAT on Wednesday.” New York Times, 1 March 2016. https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/02/nyregion/92-new-york-city-high-schools-to-give-no-fee-sat-on-wednesday.html

PUBLISHED WRITING (ONLINE) Chambers, Jahira. “How I Went from a Restorative Justice Skeptic to a Restorative Justice Believer.” Chalkbeat, 13 June 2017, https://ny.chalkbeat.org/2017/6/13/21099960/how-i-went-from-a-restorative-justice-skeptic-to-a-restorative-justice-believer

Chambers, Jahira. “New York City Teacher Aims to Support Her Students' Emotional Well-Being.” The Education Trust - New York, 21 Apr. 2020,

https://newyork.edtrust.org/new-york-city-teacher-aims-to-support-her-students-emotional-well-being/

Chambers, Jahira. “Why I Teach.” See Our Truth, Edtrust NY,

https://seeourtruth-ny.edtrust.org/why-i-teach/

As I approach the end of my career, it is incredibly important to help create pathways for future talent. Jahira Chambers Alonso is a talent that I know will positively impact the future.