Meet the Principal

For more than two decades, Elizabeth Demchak, an accomplished school leader, has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to advocating for the rights of and empowering immigrant and refugee students and families.

As a former ESL teacher both abroad and in NYCPS, Elizabeth leveraged her classroom experience while serving as the Education Services Officer for the International Rescue Committee (IRC), an international NGO that supports refugees and displaced persons. At the IRC, Elizabeth engaged a range of stakeholders to connect wrap-around services for newcomer refugee and immigrant youth in NYC.

In 2012, in partnership with the Internationals Network for Public Schools (INPS), Elizabeth opened Claremont International HS in the Bronx to serve newly arrived multilingual learners (MLLs). Under her leadership tenure of 12+ years, Claremont implemented culturally responsive project-based learning and developed innovative and large-scale work-based-learning programs that yielded graduation rates for MLLs above the city and state’s averages.

Elizabeth holds a BA in International Affairs from Michigan State University, completed advanced coursework in International Affairs from The New School University Graduate Program in International Affairs, and holds a M.Ed in TESOL from Long Island University.