Dr. Bernard Gassaway
Bernard Gassaway is a student and a teacher. As a student, he strives to discover how to become the ultimate learner. As a teacher, he strives to enable and empower his students to discover their life’s passions through inquiry and deliberation.
Bernard has authored four books: Reflections of an Urban High School Principal, Education Denied: Children Challenges and Choices, Helping Principals Build Partnerships, and Gassaway’s Principles for Principals: Caring and Effective Leadership.
Bernard has served as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, superintendent and community stakeholder in New York City. In each capacity, he has relied on his childhood experiences to serve as an anchor for his guiding principles and theory of action.
Bernard earned his B.A. in English from Le Moyne College, Syracuse, N.Y., M.P.A. from SUNY at Albany, Albany, N.Y., Master’s of Education and Supervision from Baruch College, N.Y., N.Y., Master’s of Education from Columbia University’s Teachers College, N.Y. and Doctor of Education from Columbia University’s Teachers College.
Of all of Bernard’s accomplishments, he is most proud of his role as father to Atiya Lilly-Gassaway. She continues to help shape him as a leading national educational leader and teacher.
Bernard was born in Macon, Georgia but raised in Brooklyn, New York along with his six siblings. He currently resides in Baldwin, New York.