Kelly began her career nearly 28 years ago as an ELA teacher at a transfer school in Brooklyn. It was here that she learned that joy was as integral to learning as authentic assessments, interdisciplinary units, and collaborative & restorative practices. She was the founding principal of the UA Institute of Math and Science, a 6th - 12th grade girls’ public school in Brooklyn. After leaving her school, Kelly worked with Central to lead leadership teams through cross-district collaborative inquiry cycles centered on disrupting disproportionate outcomes for students of color. Kelly holds a BA from Clark University and a MA from NYU.