Alumni Leadership Impact Award

As we strive to connect, engage, and collaborate with Alumni, the Alumni Network Council created the Cahn Alumni Leadership Impact Award to recognize a distinguished sitting principal who continues to impact his/her school, community, city, and state through the criteria of Innovative Programming, Partnership Development, and Professional Learning Development. The Cahn Alumni are invited to nominate a distinguished sitting principal who then provides documentation that speaks to the three areas of criteria.

The award was first presented at the Annual Leadership Conference in October 2024. Our first recipient was Luis Torres, Cahn Fellow 2019, and the Principal of Community School 55 in the Bronx, New York. In addition to his award, he was also presented with the Cahn Alumni Leadership Impact jacket.

In 2025, the three finalists were invited to attend our inaugural Alumni Luncheon on Thursday, October 9th. Our three finalists were Antoinette Cass, Cahn Fellow 2021, and the Principal of Open Magnet Charter in Los Angeles, Mark Erlenwein, Cahn Fellow 2018, and the Principal of Staten Island Technical High School in Staten Island, New York, and Pierre Orbe, Cahn Fellow 2023 and the Principal of DeWitt Clinton High School in the Bronx, New York. Antoinette and Mark was present at the luncheon and spoke about the impact of the Cahn Fellowship on their leadership. They were both presented with Cahn Alumni Leadership Impact jackets. Mark was announced as the 2025 recipient and received his award at the Annual Leadership Conference luncheon on Friday, October 10th.