Leadership. Instruction. Data.​
Dr. Derrick D. Harrison
Dr. Derrick D. Harrison has a proven track record of driving academic excellence and fostering growth in both students and teachers. His career spans various roles from teacher to principal, Dr. Harrison has consistently demonstrated his commitment to improving educational outcomes through strategic leadership, data-driven decision-making, and a deep understanding of instructional best practices.
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In 2023, Dr. Harrison founded Scholars Over Everything, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing educational services and executive coaching to education leaders. Through this initiative, he offers a range of executive coaching services designed to enhance the effectiveness of educational institutions.
Dr. Harrison's career is marked by his unwavering dedication to student success, teacher development, and systemic improvement. His ability to lead with vision and execute with precision has made him a respected figure in the field of education.
Work Experience
June 2022 - June 2024
June 2016 -June 2022
June 2007 - June 2016
At Plymouth Educational Center, Dr. Harrison served as principal, where he developed a coherent feedback system for teachers that included learning walks, individualized feedback, and targeted professional development. His data-driven approach led to a 17% increase in NWEA MAP scores in both Reading and Math over two years. His focus on early literacy resulted in a 25% improvement in 3rd-grade reading proficiency, as evidenced by preliminary M-STEP testing data in the spring of 2024.
As an assistant principal at the Collegiate Institute for Math and Science, Dr. Harrison implemented a comprehensive instructional leadership initiative that transformed the math department. Over a one year period, he provided teachers with access to the Big Ideas Math Curriculum and led a series of co-planning sessions, professional development workshops, and feedback cycles based on the Charlotte Danielson Framework. His leadership resulted in significant improvements in student performance, with Algebra 1 scores rising from 79% to 81%, Geometry from 50% to 71%, and Algebra 2 from 59% to 72%. Dr. Harrison also played a crucial role in expanding the department with its addition of a skills-based elective and an AP Calculus course.
Dr. Harrison began his career in education as a New York City Teaching Fellow, where he underwent rigorous training in the math immersion program while working towards a master's degree in Mathematics Education. His early teaching practice was shaped by valuable feedback from mentors, veteran co-teachers, and administrators, which he used to refine his pedagogical skills. Dr. Harrison's focus on balancing conceptual understanding with procedural fluency in mathematics, along with his ability to establish authentic and positive relationships with students, led to exceptional results. At Mott Hall V, he achieved 100% student proficiency in 2008 and 2009. He continued his success at The Equity Project Charter School, where he was recognized for significant student growth. In 2016, 92% of his advanced 8th-grade class passed the 9th-grade Regents exam.