Alumna of The School of Education to Be Honored at Women’s Luncheon

Lisa M. Paolo ’89Ed, ’91GEd, Owner and Principal of Paolo Prep Academy, will be recognized as a 2025 Women Achiever at St. John’s University’s Celebrating the Women of St. John’s luncheon on March 29 at Terrace on the Park in Corona, NY.

Ms. Paolo is a wife and mother of five who lives in Palm Beach, FL. Before moving to Florida, she had a successful career in New York City as a teacher and principal. She was the youngest principal ever appointed in New York City’s Department of Education. 

Ms. Paolo began her career in New York City teaching gifted and special education students before becoming a principal in the Bronx at a middle school for the arts. When she began her career as an administrator, 83 percent of the students read below grade level. When she left, there were no students who failed the city or statewide tests. Students were able to move up two to four grade levels in their reading and mathematics assessments each year, and every graduate attended a specialized high school geared toward the specialty on which they wanted to focus.

In 2011, Ms. Paolo founded Paolo Prep Academy, a small, independent, private, K-12 school where students could pursue their passions. Her idea was born from the dream of her oldest child who wanted to pursue his passion of playing baseball more intensely and condense his academic time to get to the next level of baseball in college. He went on to play Division II baseball in college, along with the rest of his classmates who also played baseball in college and six who were drafted by Major League Baseball. 

Ms. Paolo and her team work closely with each student to create a personalized curriculum and schedule for maximum success. Since 2011, her students have earned accolades through merit and athletic scholarships to universities and junior colleges across the US. Through Paolo Prep Academy, Ms. Paolo has helped students discover their passion, set goals, and find their path.

Ms. Paolo is driven by this inspirational quote by Walt Disney, “We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things because we’re curious, and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.”