Katherine (Kat) Delacruz is the principal of Achievement First (AF) North Brooklyn Prep Middle School. Before this role, she served as the dean of the English Language Arts department. Kat graduated from the State University of New York Stony Brook with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism. Upon graduating, Kat began her career in education as an elementary school tutor before joining AF in 2015 and taking on the role of Principal’s Executive Assistant at AF Brownsville Elementary. Inspired by the work happening at AF, Kat joined Teach for America in 2016 as a corps member and began teaching middle school ELA in New Orleans, Louisiana. Her experiences with her students and the communities propelled her to take on opportunities that allowed her to advocate for equitable education, develop her students’ knowledge and skills, unlock their potential, and expand and achieve their dreams. In 2021, Kat completed her master’s program in Educational Policy and Leadership at American University. As a principal, she aspires to impact every student by making sure that each child has the opportunity to learn and grow every day as she mentors staff to ensure students are learning from educators that feel supported.