Mark Erlenwein
Cahn Fellow 2018
Principal, Staten Island Technical High School, New York City Department of Education
Staten Island, NY
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Mark Erlenwein is the principal of Staten Island Technical High School, since 2014, and is an alumnus, Class of 1992. Previously, Erlenwein served as a science and technology teacher, as well as an Assistant Principal of STEAM, Pupil Personnel Services and College Admissions at Staten Island Tech, starting in 1997. Staten Island Technical High School is one of New York City’s nine Specialized High Schools for gifted and talented learners. Niche recently recognized Staten Island Technical High School as the number three high school in the nation and as the second highest ranked school in both New York City and New York State. Mark earned his bachelor’s and master’s degree in English Rhetoric from CUNY – The College of Staten Island. In 2022, Mark was named New York State Secondary Principal of the Year. This award is given annually by the School Administrators Association of New York State (SAANYS) to recognize an outstanding principal who has succeeded in providing high-quality learning opportunities for students as well as demonstrating exemplary contributions to the profession.
Melitina Hernandez
Cahn Fellow 2018
Principal, P.S. 123 Mahalia Jackson, New York City Department of Education
Manhattan, NY
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Melitina Hernandez has been principal of PS/MS 123, The Mahalia Jackson School of Literacy and the Arts, for over five years. Her leadership and unwavering passion for creating a successful learning environment has led her through a journey of building a collaborative school community. Ms. Hernandez, is a graduate of PACE University and the Aspiring Leaders’ Program at Baruch College. She began as an early childhood teacher, receiving the Bank Street award for excellence. She then assumed the position of early childhood coordinator for District 2 and subsequently Region 9 before serving as the early childhood assistant principal in a k-8 school in District 4. This myriad of experiences has provided her with the knowledge and expertise to be the Principal of a successful Renewal school that was recognized in September, 2017, as a Data Wise model school and where her efforts have resulted in significant gains in meeting all measurable objectives, including literacy, math, and student attendance.
Worth K. Hayes
Avalon Professor of Humanities and Social Sciences and Associate Professor of History and Africana Studies, Morehouse College
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Worth K. Hayes is the Morehouse College Avalon Professor of Humanities and Social Sciences and Associate Professor of History and Africana Studies. He is the author of the award-winning, Schools of Our Own: Black Chicago’s Golden Age of Private Education (Northwestern University Press, 2020). His work on Black liberation struggles, African-American education, urban history, and religious studies has been published in the American Educational History Journal, the U.S. Catholic Historian, the Journal of Negro Education, and several edited volumes.
Hayes has received generous awards from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the UNCF/Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the U.S. Department of Education, and the Vivian Harsh Society, among other programs.
Moses Ojeda
Cahn Fellow 2017
Principal, Thomas A. Edison Career and Technical Education High School, New York City Department of Education
Queens, NY
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Moses Ojeda was a member of the fifteenth Cahn Fellows cohort in 2017 as Principal of Thomas A. Edison Career and Technical Education High School in Queens, NY. Moses has dedicated nearly 30 years at Thomas Edison as a student, teacher, Assistant Principal and Principal. Currently, the school offers 12 CTE programs, the latest Medical Assisting program as the only one of its kind in NYC. Under his leadership, Thomas Edison will be serving as a Learning Partner host school for CTE in 2017-18. Moses currently serves as a CSA Executive Board member, the educational representative of the Jamaica Now Initiative and is part of the NYSED School Principal Preparation Project Study. He is a graduate of NYC College of Technology (B.S in CTE) and Adelphi University (M.S in Educational Leadership and Technology). Moses serves as a Cahn Fellows Alumni Advisor and is also a member of the Cahn Fellows Board of Directors. In 2021 he was a recipient of an Ernest Logan Unionists of the Year Award.
Moses’ school has been featured in several media releases:
2/9/2022: NYC students learn about renewable energy through school rooftop solar panel installations, Daily News, Michael Elsen-Rooney
3/17/2022: Queens high school is one of 12 in U.S. teaching about cybersecurity and the military, Chalkbeat, New York, Reema Amin
5/5/2022: Students design, build and install solar panels in program at NYC high school, Eyewitness News ABC 7, Brittany Bell
6/30/2022: Laurene Powell Jobs’ XQ is backing 2 new NYC high schools, Chalkbeat New York, Alex Zimmerman
Dr. Brian K. Perkins
Associate Professor of Practice in Education Leadership & Director of the Summer Principals Academy, New Orleans, Teachers College, Columbia University
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Dr. Brian K. Perkins is the Director of the Summer Principals Academy offered by Teachers College Columbia University in New Orleans, Louisiana. He was previously the director of the Urban Education Leadership Program at Teachers College where he was responsible for designing and gaining accreditation of the doctoral program with a new conceptual framework. He is the former Chair and Professor of Education Law and Policy at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven, Connecticut.
He has served as a consultant to schools and districts throughout the U.S., Brazil, Israel, Indonesia, Thailand, the People’s Republic of China, India, Venezuela and the Republic of South Africa. Dr. Perkins has previously served as a visiting professor at the University of Pretoria in South Africa for more than a decade. Dr. Perkins received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry from Grambling State University, a Master’s Degree in Public Health from the Yale University School of Medicine and his Doctor of Education Degree from Columbia University Teachers College.
Dr. Timothy Jones
Cahn Fellow 2020
Principal, The B.E.S.T. Academy 6-12, Atlanta Public Schools
Atlanta, GA
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Dr. Timothy Jones brings a significant background in education having served as a principal at every level (elementary, middle and high). Additionally, he has led as a Director of Curriculum and Instruction and as Director of School Improvement.
Throughout the course of his career, Dr. Jones has been instrumental in furthering school and system improvement efforts as well as driving and sustaining strategic change resulting in marked student achievement gains. The crux of Dr. Jones’ work centers upon his efforts to support school communities as they meet the demands associated with the implementation of new programs, enhanced instructional practices, technology infusion and focused initiatives resulting in improved student outcomes.
Dr. Jones’ strong commitment to forming positive and dynamic relationships with the community, parents, students, and school personnel has enabled him to successfully assist schools in the attainment of their vision.
Dr. Femi Skanes
Cahn Fellow 2016
Founder and CEO, Leadership EDGE, LLC
Chicago, IL
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Dr. Femi Skanes was a member of the fourteenth Cahn Fellows cohort in 2016 as Principal of Al Raby School for Community and Environment in Chicago, IL.
Dr. Skanes is now the Founder and CEO of Leadership Edge, LLC. Leadership Edge offers a variety of educational services for educators, students, and parents. Their model seeks to understand the need of the individual client before offering solutions for success. Their motto is “We listen. We learn. We launch.”
In August 2022, Femi was featured in The Beverly Review on the benefits of a new art- and music-therapy program for special-education students: Former principal at MPHS leading growth of program.
Femi has also published a book for school leaders. Now available on Amazon: Encouragement for the School Leader’s Soul: A devotional for school leaders.
Audrey Sofianos
Cahn Fellow 2019
Principal, Morningside Elementary School, Atlanta Public Schools
Atlanta, GA
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Audrey Sofianos has been a proud principal in Atlanta Public Schools since 2007. She was recruited to Atlanta from her principal role in MSD Lawrence Township in Indianapolis, Indiana to first serve Sutton Middle School and now currently Morningside Elementary. Audrey is a champion for children, providing as many educational and enriching opportunities as possible during and after the school day. She attended Indiana University to attain her B.S. in Elementary Education and Butler University for her M.S. in Educational Administration, participating in the Experiential Program for Preparing School Principals (EPPSP), an innovative, hands-on and experience-based program that prepares leaders for the complex challenges facing today’s school principals. During her tenure at Morningside, the school has achieved national and state awards including National Blue Ribbon, U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Recognition, and multiple State of GA “Platinum Awards for Highest Performing” and “Beat the Odds” designation.
Luis Torres
Cahn Fellow 2019
Principal, P.S. 055 Benjamin Franklin, New York City Department of Education
The Bronx, NY
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Luis Torres, a Bronx native has served the borough his entire life. He earned an Associate's degree from Hostos CC, a Master's Degree from Mercy College, an Advanced Degree from Hunter College and a Bachelor's Degree from The City College. He was one of the first Latinos to complete the NYC Leadership Academy; a training program for administrators. Mastering subjects including educational administration, technology, and child psychology, his approach to learning blends modern theory with revolutionary thinking. He started whole child education 18 years ago, shifted to community school work, and now is focused on "whole community education."
His trailblazing work as Principal of P.S. 55 over the past 14 years earned him several accolades, including Outstanding Young Educator ASCD (2011), NY Daily News Hometown Hero (2013), NAACP Educator of the Year (2014), and NYLPRW Educator of the Year (2018). Recently he was awarded the Hostos Trailblazer award. In 2019, he was featured in a TEDX Talk about the importance of arts education. He also proudly served in the United States Navy for ten years.
In 2022, Luis was named the Unionist of the Year by the Council of School Supervisors and Administrators. Luis also made history by becoming the first Puerto Rican man to become the president of The New York City Elementary School Principal Association.
In January of 2023, Luis' book The Six Priorities: How to Find the Resources your School Community Needs was released.