Ken Miller commuted long distances to school as a student, since it was a challenge finding an adequate option in her Queens neighborhood. Years later, this experience has driven Ken to seek to open a high-quality school in Mount Vernon, a city with school performance and demographics that are similar to where she grew up. “Years of waking up before sunrise to travel to a school outside of my neighborhood instilled a desire in me to bring a better educational option to families like mine. I believe that access to choice and opportunity should not be determined by a student’s zip code.”
An experienced educational leader, Ken believes that a school’s purpose is to serve as a catalyst for community transformation. Students at her proposed school will receive hands-on learning experiences through a STEAM-based curriculum, including classes in science, technology, entrepreneurship, and the arts along with mathematics and literacy. The school will emphasize both college and career readiness, with student success being the ultimate aim. “Our school will advocate for multiple forms of higher education, including college and trade school, and will also support entrepreneurial endeavors. We don’t label ourselves only as college-bound, but as success-bound. With the appropriate support and guidance, every child can reach their full potential and realize their goals.”
Ken was most recently an instructional coach at Merrick Academy Queens Public Charter School, where she contributed as a school turnaround specialist, leader, and teacher coach. She has spent 13 years working in the field of organizational development and school improvement, including serving as the director of STEM, data, and assessment at Invictus Preparatory and a principal at Citizen Schools. Ken received her bachelor’s degree in mathematics and adolescent education from The City University of New York’s College of Staten Island, and holds master’s degrees in both organizational leadership and school building leadership from Mercy College.
