Clemente Lopes

With more than 31 years of distinguished service in the New York City Department of Education, Clemente Lopes, has built a career defined by exceptional leadership, visionary planning, and an unwavering commitment to student and teacher success. Serving as a New York City Principal for 19 years and an Assistant Principal for seven, he has consistently demonstrated strong instructional leadership, innovative programming, and effective fiscal management across diverse school communities.

A seasoned supervisor since 1999, Clemente has cultivated outstanding written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills, paired with a deep understanding of educational policy, school operations, and budget administration. His leadership has been instrumental in shaping positive, collaborative school cultures grounded in continuous improvement. Under his guidance, teachers, students, and school teams experienced higher levels of engagement, professional growth, and academic achievement.

Throughout his tenure, Clemente introduced numerous initiatives that elevated student performance and later became models adopted across New York City. These included early implementation of various educational platforms, innovative flexible scheduling to integrate ENL students into mainstream classrooms, and the development of strategic grant opportunities and community partnerships. He also prioritized leading-edge professional development and restructured school processes to meet the evolving needs of students and staff. Known for his ability to strengthen teacher retention and foster safe, supportive learning environments, Clemente Lopes created highly effective professional learning teams, demonstrating the power of shared leadership and collaboration in driving student success. His involvement included the leadership of several organizations such has; President – Italian American Caucus of CSA, President Emeriti – Middle School Principals Association of NYC, Executive Board Member – CSA, Council of School Supervisors and Administrators, and Executive Board Member – New York Academy of Public Education.