Chancellor's Deputy for the Education Pipeline Receives Award from New York State School Superintendents

Albany - The New York State Council of School Superintendents awarded their “Friend of the Council Award” to Johanna Duncan-Poitier, SUNY Chancellor’s Deputy for the Education Pipeline, at their winter meeting in January. The Council represents superintendents from over 700 school districts across the state, and recognized Duncan-Poitier for her exemplary leadership in public education. The award is the highest honor NYSCOSS bestows on educational leaders who are not members of the council.

Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher congratulated Duncan-Poitier on the award. “One of my top priorities at SUNY is to strengthen the education pipeline from cradle through career and to improve educational outcomes for students,” Chancellor Zimpher said. “I brought Johanna Duncan-Poitier on to head up this effort for SUNY, and this award is just another confirmation of the vast accomplishments that make her such an effective advocate and leader for this important work.”

In her role at The State University of New York, Duncan-Poitier manages the development of a comprehensive system of partnerships between SUNY's 64 campuses, as well as cultural organizations, business leaders, and other stakeholders dedicated to strengthening the education pipeline – the academic path one takes from early childhood through grades Pre-Kindergarten-12, higher education, into the workforce and beyond.  Critical to this reform is SUNY's leadership role in transforming the preparation of teachers to support and improve student outcomes, especially in our most challenged schools.

“Receiving the ‘Friend of the Council Award’ is so significant because I have seen first-hand the tremendous dedication and commitment that superintendents, school leaders and teachers have made to helping students succeed and graduate from high school prepared for college and the workforce,” said Duncan-Poitier. “I would like to thank Dr. Thomas Rogers, former Executive Director of NYSCOSS, Dr. L. Oliver Robinson, President, and all members of the Council for honoring me with this prestigious award.”

Dr. Rogers, who at the time the award was executive director of NYSCOSS and now serves as district superintendent and CEO of Nassau BOCES praised Duncan-Poitier for her accomplishments. "The superintendents of the state are delighted to present Johanna Duncan-Poitier with their highest award in recognition of her extensive service in making the State Education Department a more responsive, customer-focused learning enterprise. Ms. Duncan-Poitier exemplified the very best in public service, improving the environment in which superintendents could best serve the state's 3 million school children. The entire education enterprise is in her debt."

Prior to joining SUNY,  Duncan-Poitier served as the Senior Deputy Commissioner of Education P-16 for the New York State Education Department where she was responsible for ensuring quality and accountability in over 7,000 schools, 270 colleges and universities, and 450 proprietary schools.  She also directed the preparation and practice of more than 227,000 teachers and school leaders. 

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