What would it take for you to decide that your community’s problem is yours to solve? Listen to this episode of the Problem Solved Podcast and hear how Debra Stern went from mother to founder to start Mount Vernon, New York’s first charter school.

In this episode you’ll learn:

For more about Debra:

Dr. Debra Stern is a passionate educator, researcher, and social worker with over two decades of experience in education and community leadership. As the Founder and Executive Director of Amani Public Charter School in Mount Vernon, NY, she has dedicated her career to advancing educational equity and creating opportunities for all students to thrive. Under her leadership, Amani has become a high-performing institution that has served its community for 15 years. Dr. Stern’s academic credentials include a BS from Cornell University, an MS from The College of New Rochelle, an ED.M from Teachers College, Columbia University, an MSW from New York University, and an EdD from American University. Building on her extensive educational background, her doctoral research, “Forty Acres and a School: How Black Charter School Founders Can Disrupt the Impact of Segregation on Black Children,” reflects her commitment to educational equity and provides a framework for establishing schools as vehicles for racial empowerment. Prior to founding Amani, Dr. Stern held various positions in Higher Education Administration, including Assistant Director of Student Activities at the College of New Rochelle and Associate Director of Residential Life and Director of Pre-College Programs at Barnard College. She also served as an Adjunct Professor in Social Work at Concordia College. Throughout her career, Dr. Stern has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to community service. She served as a member of the Mount Vernon Public Library Board of Trustees and was the Founding President of the Mount Vernon Public Library Foundation. Her dedication to education extended to parent advocacy, where she served as President of the Mount Vernon PTA Council for two years. In Pelham, her home community, she has contributed as a past member of the Pelham Education Foundation and served on the Board of Education’s Cultural Competence Committee. Her regional impact extends to Bronxville, where she served as a board member for Young at Arts, an arts educational organization. She has also been a long-time member and leader of Mocha Moms, a support group for mothers of color, where she has been past Westchester Chapter President and is now the Network Director for the Mothers of Adult Children Network. As an engaged Cornell University alumna, Dr. Stern has held numerous leadership positions within the Cornell alumni community, including serving on the board of Cornell MOSAIC, the Cornell Alumni Advisory Board, and various roles with the Cornell Class of 1987. She currently serves as the chair of the Cornell University Council, where she works to strengthen connections among alumni. A lifelong Westchester, New York resident, Dr. Stern has been married to her husband Charles for 35 years. Together they have three children: Veronica, Ella, and Quincy. Outside of her professional endeavors, she maintains an active interest in community engagement, enjoys reading, and is an enthusiast of theater and Broadway shows. 

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