Debon Lewis

Debon Lewis is the founder and CEO of Transformative Growth Partners, an educational consulting firm. He is an educational leader and social entrepreneur. He has over twelve years’ experience in managing projects, training, and teaching students and educators. He has been an award winning Middle School Teacher, Academic Dean, Founding and Turnaround Principal, Principal in Residence as well as a Leadership Fellow. In each position, Debon has led diverse groups of educators to achieve transformative results, grow their practices, while maintaining a focus on increasing student outcomes. He has organized academic programs as well as managed and coordinated the budgets for these programs. One budget he helped manage had a total operating expenditure of over $3,800,000. He has designed courses that emphasized critical thinking skills; created school-wide programs to support black male achievement; established "fair but firm" discipline structures; and created programs that trained students in life skills.

Debon successfully led Bridgeport Academy to the highest performance gains for black and Hispanic students in Connecticut (2008) and orchestrated the turnaround of KIPP AMP Academy from serious need of improvement to an "A" rated NYCDOE rating within 2 years. He has trained middle school teachers on an engagement-based teaching approach, and provided foundational strategies for strengthening student relationships and overall learning process.

Debon's work includes facilitating workshops on diversity, race, and privilege in America, and has been instrumental in the establishment and growth of youth initiatives particularly black male achievement programs.

Debon holds a Masters of Education in Educational Leadership from National Louis University; completed coursework in instructional, organizational, and operational leadership in the KIPP School Leadership Program at Stanford University; holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Africana Studies (Cum Laude) from the University of Pennsylvania. He has also completed a general course in government and seminar in political theory, comparative political development & democratization at the London School of Economics and Political Science. A native of Jamaica, WI, Debon developed his will to achieve and experienced educational among inequity first hand while growing up in Brownville and East New York communities of Brooklyn, New York. Debon remains driven by his passion to help others achieve transformative outcomes and lead successful, happy, and self-sufficient lives.