Joanne Goubourn, Head of School, Hyde Leadership Academy

A graduate of Hyde School in Bath, Maine, Joanne Goubourn began her distinguished career in education in 1988 with the primary goal of “changing American education.” No small task—but she has been accomplishing this by starting up four successful inner city schools, including the Hyde Leadership Charter School in the Bronx. Joanne and her schools have been featured in the Washington Post, Good Morning America, and the Keith Faison Show, as well as other publications and television shows.

A native of Lowell, MA, Joanne graduated from Hyde School in 1975. She received a BA in Liberal Arts/Urban Studies from Wellesley College, an MA in Human Resource Development from American International College, and she is a Doctorate of Education candidate in Educational Administration and Policy at Howard University.

She is the former head of the Hyde Leadership Public Charter School in Washington, DC, the model for Hyde-Bronx. Prior to leading a Hyde school, she was an integral part of the leadership team on three school start-up operations, one public magnet school and 2 charter schools. She was the Director of the New Leadership Charter School, Springfield, Massachusetts. Her understanding of the Hyde philosophy, school administration and school governance combined with her experience serving a similar population to the one Hyde-Bronx serves, places her exceptionally well to serve as Head of School.

She is currently serving with the Association of Supervisors of Curriculum and Development. She was an advocate for children in the court system (CASA) and member of the National Black Child Development Institute. The mother of two children, Kevin and Lauren, Joanne is a two-year resident of the Bronx, NY.