
Shaun Nelms
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 superintendent of East Upper and Lower Schools, formerly East High School in Rochester, N.Y., a new position created through a unique partnership between the New York State Education Department, Rochester City School District, and University of Rochester. As the Educational Partnership Organization (EPO) superintendent for East, Nelms has been charged with creating a school reform model that can be replicated in urban settings throughout the United States.
In 2018, he was named the first William and Sheila Konar Director for the Center for Urban Education Success (CUES) at the Warner School. In this role, Nelms leads the center’s efforts to support the success of K-12 urban schools both locally and nationally through a combination of research, relationship building, and a commitment to pursue and share best practices.
Prior to his superintendency, Nelms served as chief of schools for the Rochester City School District, where he supervised the Northeast Zone and successfully led implementation of the New York State Regents reform initiative. His focus on professional development for principals and teachers led to improvements in leadership capacity, instructional delivery, and student achievement. Nelms also worked as a principal in the Rush-Henrietta School District, and as an assistant principal and social studies teacher in the Greece School District.
Throughout his career, Nelms has maintained a focus on helping students to be successful. He has served as a role model and mentor for students and faculty alike, and his legacy includes several successful programs that he established to give all students the opportunity to reach their academic and personal goals.
Nelms has been a frequent speaker on topics related to the creation of equitable school systems and administrative leadership. He is also an associate professor at the Warner School, where he teaches courses in human resource management, school governance, and leadership in urban schools. He is active in numerous community organizations and has been honored with several awards for his leadership and work in education.
Visit the Center for Urban Education Success.
In the News
- 6/17/2022Shaun Nelms shares tips for educational leaders working toward equitable schools
- 5/19/2022Shaun Nelms discusses the Buffalo tragedy on WXXI Connections
- 3/16/2022Shaun Nelms on NYS high school graduation rates on Spectrum News
- 2/25/2022Shaun Nelms makes Rochester Business Journal's Power 100 2022 List
- 12/31/2021Shaun Nelms shares his favorite books of 2021 on WXXI Connections
- 12/14/2021Shaun Nelms discusses poverty and educational outcomes on Capital Tonight
- 11/17/2021Shaun Nelms Sarah Peyre on UR-East partnership renewal
- 11/15/2021Shaun Nelms on ROC the Future's 2021 State of Our Children report on WXXI Connections
- 10/30/2021Shaun Nelms on how the University's CHAMPP Program is changing students lives on Spectrum News
- 10/28/2021New Wegman Scholarship supports two East High grads
- 10/13/2021RBJ profile: Nelms has found a path to success at East High
- 9/27/2021Shaun Nelms on the need for more social-emotional support for students in Democrat & Chronicle
- 9/08/2021Managing anxiety going back to school: A guide for parents, teachers and students
- 9/07/2021Shaun Nelms on supporting students as they return to school on WXXI
- 4/22/2021Shaun Nelms on the importance of anti-racist curriculum in K-12 schools
- 3/24/2021Steve Uebbing & Shaun Nelms on school funding in Education Week
- 3/23/2021Spectrum News: East EPO superintendent Shaun Nelms influencing educational reform
- 3/10/2021How Do We Ensure Equity Does Not Become a Fad? Perspectives from New York State K-12 School District Superintendents
- 2/26/2021Shaun Nelms makes Rochester Business Journal's inaugural Power 100 List
- 1/15/2021Shaun Nelms on new instruction centered on equity for Monroe County schools
- 1/11/2021Crafting classroom lessons with an anti-racist lens
- 9/24/2020Shaun Nelms on Systemic Poverty in Rochester on Spectrum News "Capital Tonight"
- 8/10/2020Math professor leads NSF study to support ambitious mathematics programs in high-need schools
- 8/05/2020Shaun Nelms on Resiliency in Schools: Building & Sustaining Partnerships on Podcast
- 5/05/2020Valerie Marsh and Shaun Nelms Write for School Administrator Magazine
- 4/10/2020Local School Leader Shares Advice for Teens Facing Challenges During COVID-19 Quarantine
- 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
- 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?
- 6/01/2019University of Rochester-East EPO featured in The Education Trust-New York’s Educator Diversity Playbook
- 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)
- 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
- 11/16/2017All in at East: An In-Depth Look at the University’s Partnership with East High
- 11/16/2017Video: Remaking East, the Community's School
- 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"
- 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
- 9/16/2016Shaun 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
- 12/04/2015WXXI Connections: East's Partnership with the University of Rochester
- 11/17/2015Democrat and Chronicle Highlights Signs of Progress at East
- 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
- 8/28/2015Shaun 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
- 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