Courtney Allison
Middle School Director

Ms. Allison is one of the founders of Henry Street School and its Middle School Director.

Ms. Allison has taught Mathematics to middle schoolers in New York City for the past four years at the East Side Middle School in former District Two. During that time she worked closely with the District Two Math Initiative to implement the Connected Mathematics program in schools. Her work led to collaboration with Columbia University, a culminating research project incorporating the Japanese Lesson Study model into teacher planning, and a national presentation at the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.

As a Teacher Leader for the math department at East Side Middle School, she lead procurement and Professional Development for a multi grade team of Math teachers. Her interest in Japanese Lesson Study and innovative planning methods led her to pursue a fellowship with the Fulbright Memorial Fund. The fellowship allowed a fully funded month-long study and research project in Japan. Presently she is extending this work to the Region 9 science teachers in a pilot teacher leader program adapting Japanese Lesson Study and co-planning into a year-long professional development program.

Working in a small option school of a similar size to Henry Street School has helped her to see the inner workings of public middle schools. As part of the leadership team in a small school she has worked on procurement of textbooks and supplies as well as allocation of larger budgetary items with the School Leadership Team.

During her work in New York City, Ms. Allison has built and maintained relationships to researchers at universities and community based organizations such as the New York Road Runners Club and Columbia University. In addition to her work in school she was chosen to be the national cohort facilitator for the New Leaders for New Schools national cohort and presently works to facilitate feedback and organization for a cohort of nearly 60 colleagues across the country.