
Shaun Nelms
Associate Professor (Clinical), Superintendent East High EPO; William & Sheila Konar Director of the Center for Urban Education SuccessEducational Leadership
EdD, University of Rochester (K-12 school leadership)
MS, University of Rochester (educational administration)
BS, State University of New York - College at Fredonia (education)
Shaun Nelms is the current superintendent of East High School, a new position created by the partnership between the University of Rochester and East High. He oversees the hiring of all administrative and staff positions as well as the day-to-day operations of the East High Educational Partnership Organization (EPO).
An experienced school leader, Nelms previously served as deputy superintendent for the Greece Central School District. Before his time in Greece, he was an administrator in the Rochester School District, serving as a chief of schools for the Northeast Zone from 2009-12, where he successfully supervised more than 20 schools and led implementation of the NYS Regents reform initiative. He also has been a middle school principal of Rush-Henrietta Central School District and an assistant principal of Greece Arcadia High School and Greece Odyssey Academy, where he began his career as a school administrator. He is also a former Greece and RCSD classroom teacher.
Nelms, a graduate of the Warner School, has been a frequent speaker on topics related to equity, school transformation, and administrative leadership. At Warner, he also teaches courses on teaching and leadership in urban school settings. Nelms is active in several community organizations and has been honored with numerous awards for his leadership and work in education. Most recently, he was a recipient of the Genesee Valley ASCD Leadership Award in 2013.
Visit the Center for Urban Education Success.
In the News
- 3/10/2021How Do We Ensure Equity Does Not Become a Fad? Perspectives from New York State K-12 School District Superintendents
- 2/17/2021Wednesday Lunch Talk: A Strong Vision for Equity at East and Beyond—With Video Recording
- 1/15/2021Shaun Nelms on New Instruction Centered on Equity for Monroe County Schools
- 1/11/2021Crafting Classroom Lessons With an Anti-Racist Lens
- 10/27/2020Understanding the Role of the Center for Urban Education Success
- 9/24/2020Shaun Nelms on Systemic Poverty in Rochester on Spectrum News "Capital Tonight"
- 8/10/2020Warner School Lands NSF Grant to Study and Support Ambitious Mathematics Programs in High-Need Schools
- 8/05/2020Shaun Nelms on Resiliency in Schools: Building & Sustaining Partnerships on Podcast
- 7/18/2020East High Superintendent Shaun Nelms Remembers Meeting John Lewis
- 6/14/2020Rochester In Focus: East High Superintendent Prepares Students, Parents, and Teachers to Address Racism
- 6/12/2020Shaun Nelms on Steps Toward Becoming Antiracist on WHAM 1180
- 5/05/2020Valerie Marsh and Shaun Nelms Write for School Administrator Magazine
- 4/30/2020Discovery Education – Equity Talks with Shaun Nelms
- 4/10/2020Local School Leader Shares Advice for Teens Facing Challenges During COVID-19 Quarantine
- 3/27/2020The Blueprint: East High and University of Rochester Mapping the Course
- 3/27/2020Shaun Nelms and Valerie Marsh Discuss Online Learning Opportunities at East on 13WHAM-TV
- 3/24/2020Shaun Nelms on Bringing the Classroom to East Lower School Students at Home During Pandemic on WXXI News
- 3/09/2020Valerie Marsh and Shaun Nelms Write for Educational Leadership Magazine
- 2/28/2020News Coverage of UR-East EPO Renewal
- 2/10/2020Shaun Nelms Addresses the Value of Diversity Work on WXXI Connections
- 2/06/2020Shaun Nelms on East High's New Dental Clinic on 13WHAM-TV
- 12/09/2019Shaun Nelms on Student Voice to Make Change in the Democrat & Chronicle
- 11/26/2019Shaun Nelms on ROC the Future's 2019 "State of Our Children" Report Card on WXXI Connections
- 11/08/2019Shaun Nelms on the Progress of East High Under Receivership on WXXI News
- 10/21/2019EdSurge Q&A With Shaun Nelms: How Partnering with a Local University Saved This School From Closure
- 10/04/2019Shaun Nelms on Trauma Informed Education on Connect NY | WCNY
- 9/16/2019Shaun Nelms on Transforming a School on The Brian Mendler Show Podcast
- 8/05/2019Shaun Nelms on ROC the Future in Rochester Business Journal
- 7/19/2019WXXI Connections: Discussing the University of Rochester EPO’s Progress Report for East High School
- 7/03/2019Shaun Nelms Named ROC the Future Chair
- 6/30/2019WXXI-TV Need to Know: What is East High's Next Chapter?
- 6/26/2019WHAM-TV: East Student Credits Partnership with U of R for Helping Him Graduate
- 6/01/2019University of Rochester-East EPO featured in The Education Trust-New York’s Educator Diversity Playbook
- 5/19/2019Shaun Nelms Challenges Graduates to Transform Society
- 5/19/2019Shaun Nelms's Commencement Address to Fredonia Graduates
- 5/10/2019Shaun Nelms on East High-University of Rochester EPO Partnership Extension
- 5/05/2019Shaun Nelms on the Positive Trajectory of the UR-East High Partnership in Rochester Beacon
- 4/16/2019Urban Educational Pioneer Shaun Nelms to Deliver Fredonia Commencement Address
- 3/01/2019East High Soul Food Throw Down Featured in the News
- 2/26/2019Shaun Nelms Featured in Spectrum News Black History Month Segment
- 1/28/2019Fredonia Alumni Magazine Features Shaun Nelms
- 1/03/2019Valerie Marsh and Shaun Nelms Write About Improving Urban School Attendance for District Administration Magazine
- 12/11/2018Shaun Nelms Shares His Leadership Journey on LeadNOW Podcast (Episode 2 | Part 2)
- 12/03/2018Shaun Nelms Shares His Leadership Journey on LeadNOW Podcast (Episode 2 | Part 1)
- 11/15/2018Shaun Nelms Keynotes ROC the Future’s 6th Annual State of Our Children Report Card
- 10/23/2018Shaun Nelms on the Learning and Education Needs of Young Men of Color on WXXI
- 10/10/2018Shaun Nelms on East EPO as a Model for Other schools in The Buffalo News
- 8/22/2018Shaun Nelms on the Progress of the East-UR Partnership in City Newspaper
- 8/02/2018UR/East EPO Partnership Launches Step to College Program
- 7/15/2018Shaun Nelms Contributes Opinion Essay on Multiculturalism in The Buffalo News
- 6/20/2018$2.5 Million Gift from the William and Sheila Konar Foundation Supports Urban Education Success
- 6/20/2018Democrat & Chronicle: How an RCSD School Raised Its Graduation Rate by 20 Points in Three Years With Innovation
- 6/14/2018Shaun Nelms on East High's Rising Graduation Rate on Spectrum News
- 4/11/2018Shaun Nelms on Shielding Kids From Negative Stereotypes on WXXI Connections
- 3/23/2018Shaun Nelms Presents at NY EdTech Week
- 3/21/2018Second Annual Symposium to Showcase Local School Reform Efforts on April 28
- 3/09/2018Shaun Nelms on Helping Students Combat Cyberbullying on Spectrum News
- 11/20/2017Shaun Nelms Delivers MEL Talk on UR/East Partnership
- 11/16/2017Video: Remaking East, the Community's School
- 11/16/2017All in at East: An In-Depth Look at the University’s Partnership with East High
- 9/28/2017Community Update on University of Rochester/East EPO Partnership on WXXI
- 6/24/2017USA Today: WWII Veteran Honored at East High Graduation
- 6/01/2017Shaun Nelms, Pedro Noguera Discuss Equity & Excellence in Schools on WXXI
- 5/16/2017The Chronicle of Higher Education: "How a University Helped Save a Failing High School"
- 4/14/2017Event Promotes “Excellence Through Equity” in Rochester Area Schools
- 11/30/2016City Newspaper: The Pressure is on for East High
- 10/31/2016WBFO-FM Coverage of NYSSBA Conference on Educational Equity (Featuring East EPO Superintendent Shaun Nelms as a Panelist)
- 9/22/2016Shaun Nelms on Teacher Diversity in City Newspaper
- 9/21/2016Wednesday Lunch Talk - Update on East
- 9/16/2016Shaun Nelms on East-UR Partnership on WXXI-TV's Need to Know
- 9/09/2016WROC-TV Feature on East's Second Year of UR Partnership
- 7/18/2016A Year in Review for East in the Democrat & Chronicle
- 4/25/2016First-Ever East College Pep Rally Featured on 13WHAM-TV
- 4/05/2016Superintendent Shaun Nelms on Bringing Change to East in March/April 2016 Post
- 3/01/2016East EPO Superintendent Shaun Nelms Makes Cover of March/April Issue of POST
- 1/04/2016Shaun Nelms and George Moses Write Speaking Out Essay on the Rochester-Monroe Anti-Poverty Initiative
- 12/04/2015WXXI Connections: East's Partnership with the University of Rochester
- 11/17/2015Democrat and Chronicle Highlights Signs of Progress at East
- 9/23/2015Wednesday Lunch Hour - The New East: A Progress Report
- 9/09/2015Statement from East Superintendent Shaun Nelms on the First Day of School
- 9/08/2015A New Chapter at East - Local News Coverage
- 9/03/2015East Staff and Students to Ring in the New School Year on Sept. 8
- 8/31/2015Warner Faculty Contribute Opinion Essay in District Administration
- 8/28/2015Shaun Nelms on East's Future on Time Warner Cable News
- 8/27/2015Shaun Nelms Assumes the Role of Superintendent of University of Rochester/East EPO
- 8/18/2015East Holds Student Orientations in August
- 6/20/2015East High Mascot Name Change Featured in USA Today
- 6/18/2015East High School Announces New “Eagles” Mascot
- 6/17/2015Warner Professors Take Part in Local Anti-Poverty Program
- 3/16/2015Marlene Blocker and Anibal Soler Appointed Principals of East High School
- 1/29/2015Shaun Nelms Named Deputy Superintendent of East High School
Courses
ED468 Leadership in Urban Schools
EDU421 Human Resource Management
ED465 School Governance and the Rights of Students and Teachers