Michelle Abbs

Michelle Abbs is an Instructional Dean at Miami Northwestern Senior High in Liberty City, Florida. Miami Northwestern Senior High School is one of Miami’s largest high schools home to over 1,700 students. The students of Miami Northwestern mostly reside in the Liberty City Housing Projects where the average income is $20,000 and only 3% residents hold a bachelors degree. It is well known for its successful football program, but this year under new school leadership the school vision has shifted toward academic achievement. Michelle was instrumental in helping to set school-wide vision along with ambitious school wide goals to change the trajectory of students post secondary opportunities. She serves on the leadership team as a coach to the administrators and content coaches to define instructional excellence and support teachers in reaching their goals. She also works as a manager of Teacher Leadership Development for 25 first and second year Teach For America teachers. She helped in organizing a trip for 13 of the school members to visit an excellent school in Chicago to push them toward achieving their school wide goals. Michelle received a B.A. from University of North Carolina in 2006 and a M.S. in International Education from Florida International University in 2011. Michelle is most looking forward to learning in real time side-by-side with incredible individuals.