Tahira DuPree Chase

Dr. Tahira DuPree Chase holds a Bachelor of Science in Communications Arts from Norfolk State University, Norfolk, Virginia; Master of Art in English Education and Master of Education with a specialization in School Administration and Supervision from City University of New York (CUNY) Graduate Center and Mercy College, respectively. Dr. Chase completed a doctorate degree in Executive Leadership at St. John Fisher College in July of 2011. Her award-winning dissertation focused on instructional leadership styles that prove successful for struggling adolescent readers.

Dr. Chase has over 20 years of experience as an educator. As a teacher, she expertly taught and inspired young minds at both the elementary and secondary levels. Shortly after teaching at the secondary level, Dr. Chase became a teaching coach and then chaired the English Language Arts Department for several years. As a teaching coach and department chairperson, she mentored, trained, and coached many educators. Dr. Chase led the Curriculum and Instruction Department for the Mount Vernon City School District, Mount Vernon, New York for six years. While there, she led numerous districtwide initiatives, including a reading adoption, math adoption, curriculum mapping, assessment adoption, restructuring of a Response to Intervention (RTI) model and participation in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. During her tenure as an educator, she received numerous accolades and distinguished honors, including Top 25 Superintendents to Watch National Award, NAACP White Plains Chapter Image Award (Education Game Changer), Educational Champion Award (WestCop, Inc.), Alpha Kappa Alpha HBCU Outstanding Educator Award, Delta Sigma Theta Stand on Their Shoulders Award, St. John Fisher College Scholarship Award, Distinguished Educator of Year, New York City District Nine Teacher of the Year. Additionally, Dr. Chase lectured as an Adjunct Professor of English at the College of New Rochelle – School of New Resources.

Currently, Dr. Chase leads the Greenburgh Central School District in Hartsdale, New York as the Superintendent of Schools. Since arriving at Greenburgh Central School District in 2012 as an assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction, Dr. Chase has led multiple internal and community committees and launched several initiatives in an effort to enhance curriculum delivery, supervision of such delivery and provide learning opportunities for all students in preparation for 21st Century employment and/or college pursuits. Her greatest feat, in this capacity, is the implementation of the Professional Learning Communities as a districtwide model. Dr. Chase’s vision is to develop transformational leaders and transformational teachers so that the Greenburgh Central School District can, in fact, become a World Class School District—with sustainability.

In addition to transforming Greenburgh Central School District into a World Class School District, Dr. Chase is an author, public speaker and consultant to Curriculum Associates and Pearson Education (Textbook Division). She contributed her expertise as a consulting author to Pearson’s most recent Common Core Edition reading program, Reading Street© 2013 for Kindergarten-Grade 6. Currently, she is working with Pearson Education and national literacy leaders to co-author a national enhanced balanced literacy program. She co-authored a customized after school literacy program for the 20 lowest performing schools within the Chicago Public Schools. Additionally, Dr. Chase is developing an interactive writing program with Curriculum Associates. Dr. Chase delivers educational-focused presentations nationally. She has presented at the Yale House, multiple International Reading Conferences, Harvard House, Duval County Reading Association, Georgia Reading Conference, and Ohio Literacy Symposium—to name a few. She continuously serves on national panels with notable names in education. Dr. Chase is an active member of the National Reading Advisory Board while providing professional development, consultation and workshops to various school districts regarding instructional leadership, literacy development and best instructional practices.

Furthermore, Dr. Chase mentors several young women in obtaining their doctorate degree. She also mentors high school students in pursuing their academic and personal goals. Dr. Chase volunteers her time to lecture to college students as well as tutor struggling readers. She provides workshops to parents in an effort to help their children become stronger readers. She works very closely with the Fred Baxter Foundation and National Football League (NFL) to bring the awareness of healthy living to youth through NFL Play 60.  Dr. Tahira DuPree Chase is a member of the Westchester County (NY) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated.