NYC Gazette

Lisa M. Paolo, an alumna of The School of Education at St. John's University, will be honored as a 2025 Women Achiever. She will receive this recognition during the "Celebrating the Women of St. John’s" luncheon on March 29 at Terrace on the Park in Corona, NY.

Paolo is currently the Owner and Principal of Paolo Prep Academy and serves as a Student Advisor at Lynn University. Residing in Palm Beach, FL, she is a wife and mother of five. Before relocating to Florida, she built a successful career in New York City as both a teacher and principal. Notably, she was appointed as the youngest principal ever within New York City's Department of Education.

Her career began with teaching gifted and special education students before advancing to become a principal at a middle school for the arts in the Bronx. At that time, 83 percent of her students read below grade level; however, by the time she left, no students failed city or statewide tests. Students advanced two to four grade levels annually in reading and mathematics assessments under her leadership.

In 2011, Paolo founded Paolo Prep Academy—a private K-12 school focused on helping students pursue their passions. This initiative stemmed from her oldest child's desire to intensify his baseball training while condensing academic commitments to progress to college-level baseball. He succeeded in playing Division II baseball in college alongside classmates who also played collegiate baseball; six were drafted by Major League Baseball.

Paolo's approach involves working closely with each student to tailor personalized curriculums for optimal success. Since its inception, Paolo Prep Academy has seen its students earn numerous merit and athletic scholarships across various universities and junior colleges nationwide.