Ali Apfel

Alexandra (Ali) Apfel serves as the middle schools’ assistant superintendent for the Brilla Schools Network. In her role, she coaches and supports Brilla’s middle school principals in the implementation of Brilla’s Essential Practices to create exceptional schools. Ali joins Seton with over a decade of experience in urban education, specifically in charter schools in New York City. Prior to joining the Seton team, Ali was a founding staff member of Brilla. She began her journey with Brilla as the Director of Student Services and Assistant Principal, and then transitioned into the Principal role at Brilla’s flagship campus. She left Brilla for three years to work as an Inclusive Education Consultant with the NYC Charter Center, facilitating their leadership programming and supporting schools in uplifting their special populations throughout their program design. Regardless of her role, her purpose in education has always centered on creating inclusive and accessible educational environments for students, staff, and families. Ali holds a B.A. in Psychology from Cornell University, earned her M.S. in Early Childhood Special Education as a Teach For America corps member from Hunter College, and completed her principal training through the KIPP School Leadership Programs. Ali‘s maternal grandparents and father are first generation Americans, and her family has instilled in her the values of hard work, commitment, education, and public service. She is dedicated to building the best high school readiness program in the Bronx and ensuring all Brilla students have the strength of character, and academic skills they need, “to be prepared for excellence in high school, college, and beyond.”