Erica Zigelman was the founding principal of Middle School 322 in Washington Heights, now called the Salome Urena Leadership Academy (SULA). The school primarily serves recent Dominican immigrants and has a dual Spanish-English language program. Many students are behind in math and reading and one-fourth miss over a month of schooling each year. Despite these challenges, teachers have increased achievement levels through tailored lessons for English learners and programs that focus on reading instruction as well as afterschool and Saturday classes.

1. Erica Zigelman

2. Introduction
Erica Zigelman is a longtime New York City Department of Education
teacher who was founding principal of Middle School 322. Known initially as
The Renaissance Leadership Academy, the Washington Heights school Erica
Zigelman helped establish is now the Salome Urena Leadership Academy
(SULA).

3. The school is named for a prominent Dominican Republic poet who was
responsible for establishing the island nation’s first-ever higher
education institution for women. True to its namesake, SULA primarily
meets the needs of recent Dominican immigrants and has as its
centerpiece a Spanish-English dual language program.

4. With a high proportion of students in temporary housing, and many
with special needs, a large number are at least one grade level behind
the curve in math and reading. In addition, approximately one-fourth of
students miss a month or more of schooling each year.

5. Despite these obstacles, teachers at MS 322 have had a profound impact
in increasing achievement levels. The city Department of Education’s
Quality Review has singled out the creative and effective ways that
lessons are tailored to meet the requirements of English learners. One
major asset is the intensive Middle School Quality Initiative, which
focuses on reading instruction, as well as afterschool and Saturday class
options.