1. The National Alliance of Black School Educators Hall of Fame member is a highly
respected school improvement expert, published author, motivational speaker, and turn-
around school specialist. The author of Standing In The Shadows Of Greatness, How to
Turn Around Low-Performing Schools, The Eagle Who Thought He Was a Hip-Hop
Funky Chicken, Fly On Sweet Angel and It’s Time to Stop Playing Russian Roulette
With the Live of Our Children, is credited with revitalizing some of the nation’s most
difficult schools. The former New York City principal is the recipient of over 200 awards
for his work as a principal, educator and turn-around school specialist. Pankey’s awards
include Principal of The Year, Assistant Principal of The Year, Administrator of The
Year, induction into the National Alliance of Black School Educators’ Hall of Fame,
Exemplary Status and Safe School Awards, etc. The United Federation of Teachers
labeled Junior High School 265 in Brooklyn New York as the fifth most violent school in
New York City. Under Pankey’s leadership the school became one of the safest in the
state. Consequently, the New York Council of Supervisors and Administrators gave the
school the highly regarded “Effective School Award”. During his tenure as principal of
Southern High School in Durham, the school went from low performing to exemplary
status within one year. Consequently the school was the site for the Seventh Annual State
of American Education Address delivered by United States Education Secretary Richard
Riley.
Henry Pankey is best known as a motivational speaker, tough love effective urban
principal, but he began his career as a comedian, writer, impressionist and Shakespearean
actor. After graduating from high school he won an undergraduate scholarship to the
North Carolina School of The Arts, then, a graduate scholarship to the University Of
Maryland. Pankey has attended 10 universities and have a total of 12 licenses in the
education-administration field. He was one of the chief architects of Dress for Success in
New York City schools as early as 1981. Dress for Success has been duplicated across
the country.
His presentation style has been described as energetic, witty, dramatic, and passionately
serious about issues impacting American society and our schools.