Julian Saavedra, MA, is an assistant principal in a public school in Philadelphia. He has spent the last 15 years teaching in urban settings, focusing on social-emotional awareness, cultural and ethnic diversity, experiential learning, and educational empowerment.
As a founding member of a new high school in an economically disadvantaged area in West Philadelphia, Saavedra spearheaded innovative initiatives for developing novice teachers and meeting the needs of all students. As an assistant principal, he focuses on developing leadership and empowering students and families to gain access to the educational opportunities they deserve. He has also served on numerous committees focused on equity, social activism, learning and thinking differences, curriculum creation and review, and staff retention and recruitment. At Understood, he hosts the The Opportunity Gap podcast.
Saavedra holds a BA in history and secondary education and an MA in TESOL from Fairfield University in Connecticut. He also holds an MEd in Educational Administration from Arcadia University.
Publications
Virtual Learning Was Better for Some Kids. Here’s What Teachers Learned From Them, (Education Week, 2021)
“Q&A With the Opportunity Gap Host, Julian Saavedra”, (Understood, 2022)