“We're here to make sure all kids have access. Your chances at success should not depend on your zip code or your neighborhood. It should be determined by how you navigate the system, and the skill sets you have and who is able to nurture that.

My job is to create the conditions for everybody to be successful—not just the kids, but the teachers and the leadership team. We need educators that are committed to making sure every student gets access to the best education possible. Otherwise, the status quo remains the status quo and that’s really why I do the work that I do. One of the most rewarding things about being a principal is seeing it all come together.

I want CAMS to be the pillar of the Canarsie community—not just one option, but the only option. I want families to start with, ‘Why wouldn’t we send our scholar to CAMS?’ as opposed to ‘Why would we?’

Our team really loves the kids. They bring the energy, they are professional, and they hold kids accountable with consistency. The kids know they are there for them. Because of that, our scholars show up—not just for themselves, but for the people who pour into them.

Ascend has a very high bar and very high expectations. We need parents to be part of that community. It’s not a la carte—it’s a commitment. My hopes and dreams for our students are that their hopes and dreams become a reality and that nothing is out of their reach. I want them to have boundless choice; to be able to make the decisions of where they go, not to have other people make those decisions for them.”

-Christopher Zilinski