The NYAPE founded in 1912 as a professional honorary organization continues to provide a common forum and meeting ground for fostering educational activities between the professional community and the public at large. Membership in the Academy today is determined by invitation from the Board of Directors, extended to those who have achieved distinction in the field of education. Today we acknowledge Dr. Anthony P. Cavanna, our currently elected President-Elect, for his vast experience of several decades in educational and community programs for children and adults.
Dr. Cavanna has worked as Superintendent of schools in New York and New Jersey for more than twenty years. In New York, Dr. Cavanna served as Superintendent and Deputy Superintendent of schools in New York City. While Superintendent in Plainview-Old Bethpage, the district was named one of the top achieving school districts in the nation. In New Jersey, Dr. Cavanna served as Superintendent in West Orange, Fort Lee and Rahway where he continued to lead reform efforts to raise student achievement and foster excellence in culturally and language diverse school districts.
Presently, Dr. Cavanna’s position is that of Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at the Fordham University Graduate School of Education. In this capacity Anthony’s expertise is focused on preparing teachers, counselors, psychologists and educational leaders to serve the diverse communities in the metropolitan area.
As Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent in troubled urban and suburban school districts he worked with school communities to reach new levels of student achievement, teacher professionalism and community involvement. In School District 2 in New York City, he was part of a dynamic central office team which transformed a diverse, troubled inner-city district into a much-replicated model for school reform. Cavanna also was the founding Principal of the Mott Hall School, a magnet school that attracted students from one of the most poorly achieving school districts in NYC.
In his most recent Superintendency, Dr. Cavanna led the West Orange Public School District with a culturally diverse student population where 50 languages are spoken by students.
Prior to West Orange, Anthony was a School Reform Scientist and Vice President for the American Institutes for Research in Washington D.C., a not-for-profit firm committed to school reform and designing educational systems which increase academic achievement. In this role, he guided design systems that assisted educators in meeting the needs of all students by providing customized professional support and tools to improve student learning.
Dr. Cavanna’s impressive experience in program management, personnel development, educational reform, team building and public relations is extensive and has resulted in numerous honors and awards.
How grateful, appreciative and proud we are to profess that Dr. Anthony Cavanna, President-Elect of the NYAPE continues to share and contribute the invaluable professional knowledge, leadership, and richness of his professional career to us all in the Academy.