WHO WE ARE

The current challenges facing Black, Brown, and economically marginalized students and families are deeply embedded in the design of the systems and structures of our nation and Rochester.  However, these systems and structures can also be redesigned to produce greater quality-of-life outcomes for all.

To that end, the Rochester Education Fellowship was born from a central question: Can the Rochester community — including those traditionally never afforded the opportunity to participate — coalesce around a shared, energizing vision to transform the education of all Rochester students?  We believe so.

To address this urgent need for Rochester’s children and families, Action For A Better Community (ABC), IBERO, Connected Communities, Children’s Institute, Avenue Black Box Theatre, United Negro College Fund, the Max and Marian Farash Charitable Foundation, and other community partners led a search for an exceptional leader – the Rochester Education Fellow – to help Rochester discover a bold and innovative vision for the future of education in Rochester, and to lead an enduring organization to support our community in living out its promise.

 
 

  • The Rochester Education Fellowship, led by a coalition of local child and family advocates, in September 2021 announced Shanai Lee MBA, EdD as the recipient of its two-year fellowship to co-create and build a new community-centered vision for bold, transformational change for Rochester’s public school systems. Lee will use her 15 years of experience working in Rochester schools to address the long standing, dynamic challenges currently facing Rochester’s youth in the pursuit of a quality education — many of which were amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic.

    “Growing up in Rochester and being educated in the Rochester City School District, my personal experiences have shaped how I will approach this unique opportunity to secure a brighter future for Rochester’s children,” said Dr. Shanai Lee, the Rochester Education Fellow. “I am committed to my community and I know the importance of having a high-quality education. I look forward to working with families and stakeholders to create real change in our education system that will have a lasting effect on our current students and parents as well as future generations.”

    Lee has extensive experience working in urban education and local government, holding leadership positions both in the Rochester City School District as well as a local charter network. She most recently worked as Regional Senior Director of Uncommon Schools and previously held several positions within the RCSD for over 13 years including District Clerk, Assistant to the Chief Financial Officer and Director of Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises Program.

    Lee received an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Administration, Master’s Degree in Educational Policy and MBA in Finance and Public Accounting from the University of Rochester and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Cornell University.

    The Rochester Education Fellowship Selection Committee, co-chaired by Jerome Underwood, President and CEO of Action for a Better Community (ABC) and Holli Budd, Executive Director of the Max and Marian Farash Charitable Foundation (Farash Foundation), led the extensive search and selection process for the Fellow beginning in January, and will provide support for the duration of the two-year Fellowship.

  • To address this urgent need for Rochester’s children and families, Action For A Better Community (ABC), IBERO, Connected Communities, Children’s Institute, Avenue Black Box Theatre, United Negro College Fund, the Max and Marian Farash Charitable Foundation, and other community partners led a search for an exceptional leader – the Rochester Education Fellow – to help Rochester discover a bold and innovative vision for the future of education in Rochester, and to lead an enduring organization to support our community in living out its promise. More information about the selected fellow is forthcoming.

  • Join the Rochester Education Fellowship HERE

 

Guiding Principles

  • Education is at the heart of so many challenges we face in Rochester and our current systems continue to fail our students and families.

  • We must center racial equity and educational justice in our efforts to improve educational outcomes.

  • We must address the long standing, systemic challenges facing Rochester’s youth in the pursuit of a quality education — many of which were amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to co-create with the community a vision for real change in our education system.

  • We are stronger when we coalesce around shared priorities.

 

Shanai Lee MBA, EdD

Rochester Education Fellow

Shanai Lee, MBA, Ed.D. has had a successful career in urban education and local government spanning two decades. Most recently Shanai was the Regional Senior Director for Uncommon Schools in Rochester where she managed the external affairs and stakeholder engagement initiatives for True North Rochester Preparatory Charter Schools. Prior to joining Uncommon Schools, Shanai served the children and families of Rochester for more than a decade as the District Clerk and senior staff member to the Rochester Board of Education. She has also worked as a Marketing Specialist for the City of Rochester, assisting neighborhood commercial businesses by determining need and securing resources for technical and financial assistance and implementing business and neighborhood outreach programs.

Shanai recognizes that education is a key determinant in an individual’s success and the viability of a community—all children, regardless of socioeconomic status, race or ethnicity, are entitled to a high-quality public education that prepares them for college and careers. She exercises her commitment to education and empowerment through community involvement. In her professional work and in service to the community, Shanai has had the opportunity to engage and equip community members with information to shape the future of education in Rochester. She has served as a board member for Connected Communities, Inc.; advisory member to the Rochester Teacher Pipeline Strategy Group; founding member of 100 Women Who Care; and advisory board member for the ROC City Learning Pods.

A Rochester native who was educated in the Rochester City School District, Shanai earned her doctorate degree in Educational Administration, a master’s degree in Educational Policy and an MBA from the University of Rochester. She also holds a B.A. in economics from Cornell University.