Jane Kehoe-Higgins

Jane Kehoe-Higgins is the Director of the Institute for Literacy Studies (ILS) at Lehman College, CUNY where she manages the programs of the ILS: The New York City Writing Project, The New York City Math Project, The Adult Learning Center, The Pathway to College Opportunity Program, and the Writing Across the Curriculum Program. She has procured many grants from New York City, New York State, and national sources such as the National Endowment for the Humanities, as well as serving as the PI on the National Science Foundation NOYCE Grant at Lehman College. Her many initiatives, centered on transforming literacy teaching and learning, include designing, growing, and managing programs, courses, institutes, and professional learning opportunities for K-12 students, teachers and principals; school-based consulting; development of new partnerships with schools and community-based organizations;
collaborations with the Lehman College School of Education and other entities.

Jane brings rich experiences in working directly with students as a classroom teacher, project director, and college advisor. She was a founding faculty member of the High School for Leadership and Public Service in partnership with Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Public Policy, and continues her school leadership as a board member of the South Bronx Community Charter High School and La Escuela Comunitaria del Bronx. Her experiences in working with urban school districts including Chicago Public Schools; the School District of Philadelphia; NYC District 79 and Baltimore City Public Schools have allowed Jane to develop a deep understanding of urban education and the specific needs around the development of teaching practices centered on literacy that both transgress and transform. Her experience and approach to learning help her to lead the ILS to create research, teaching, and professional development opportunities for teachers and students across New York City, and particularly in the Bronx.

Jane Kehoe-Higgins holds a BA in Philosophy from Franklin and Marshall College and an MA in English Education from the State University of New York, Albany. She has over 15 years of experience working as an educator and program developer in NYC schools and has subsequently directed projects at Lehman College since 2009.