Since its founding, Broome Street Academy Charter High School (BSA) has stood as a cornerstone of The Door's mission: a place where young people who have faced instability and disrupted paths can find stability, structure, and a genuine chance to succeed. Built specifically for students who may be overage, under-credited, or navigating challenges that most traditional schools aren't equipped to meet, BSA exists to prove that circumstance doesn't determine outcome.
This year, BSA turned the page to its next chapter of leadership, having welcomed Tiffany McAfee as its new Head of School in July.
Tiffany brings nearly two decades of experience in classrooms and school leadership to the role. She began her career teaching high school English for ten years in her home state of Illinois before joining Teach For America, which brought her to Newark, New Jersey, to teach middle school. From there, she moved into instructional leadership, spending the last six years as a school principal building environments centered on care, equity, and student voice.
Across every stage of her career, one thread has remained constant: a belief that every student deserves a learning environment where they feel safe, valued, and capable of success, regardless of what brought them there.
In her own words, Tiffany described what drew her to The Door and to Broome Street Academy specifically:
"I was drawn to this position of Head of School with The Door's Charter School simply because it's The Door. The Door has an impeccable reputation for being present to support young people and help them navigate challenging moments of instability that happened along the way in their lives, and to be a part of their charter school that is created to continue that empowerment through a learning experience where our young people get to feel successful, where sometimes they may not have been. They get to experience an opportunity to learn, grow, and stretch their brain. That's what drew me to this work. I want to leave an impact. I want to leave a legacy, and I want to be a part of this good work at the ground level with this amazing organization."
She was equally reflective on the search and hiring process itself, crediting the guidance she received from Edgility Search throughout the process as instrumental in helping her step confidently into the role.
Asked what she hopes to accomplish in her first year, Tiffany was clear-eyed about where she wants to start: with the foundation.
"For my first year, I want to really re-establish that vision and mission work and the purpose of Broome Street Charter School: that we are there to empower; we are there to center young people and what they need in their learning experience. Just because they have come upon some challenges, and they may be overage and under-credited, doesn't mean there's not a pathway for them. It doesn't mean there's not an opportunity for them. And it doesn't mean that there's not success waiting for them."
She continued: "I want to be a part of this team, that we are going to spend our first year re-establishing our foundation of who we are, our purpose for education, our purpose for being connected to The Door, and remembering that we are part of that great work that The Door has done and will continue to do to ensure that our young people can live to their maximum potential and really see their wildest dreams come alive. That brings me joy."
In her official statement regarding her placement at BSA, Tiffany shared:
"I am incredibly honored to join Broome Street Academy Charter High School as the new Head of School. This next chapter for BSA is entirely about putting our young people first and creating pathways for every single student to achieve both academic and life success. My goal is to build learning experiences where our students feel safe, loved, valued, and deeply cared for, empowering them to thrive both inside and outside the classroom."
As BSA prepares for this transition, the school community looks forward to a new era shaped by Tiffany's steady leadership, her deep instructional experience, and her unwavering belief that every student, no matter their starting point, deserves a clear path forward.
Check out Tiffany's interview below:
Charter school and education nonprofit transitions call for a search process that honors both mission and community trust. Learn more about Edgility Search's approach to leadership search, or explore our free tools and resources for boards preparing for their own next chapter.