Ms. Devonne Gorman was born and raised in Queens, New York. At the early age of 2, she was introduced to the world of Performing Arts and cultivated a passion for the arts ever since. Her love for dance and theater led her to the doors of Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School for Music & Art and the Performing Arts as a drama major, where she graduated with honors. Her demonstrated academic achievement, leadership and talent resulted in the Posse Foundation selecting her to be a DePauw University Posse 3 Scholar, awarding her a full four-year tuition scholarship.

During her time at DePauw University, she proudly became a woman of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., traveled to Japan and a number of Caribbean Islands immersing herself in an array of cultures through teaching middle and high school students, while serving in a number of organizations on the campus. After receiving her Bachelor of Art degree, she went on to join Teach for America in 2003 and began her career in education in Newark, NJ. Her first stop was Dayton Street School as a 2nd grade teacher. Within her first year of teaching, she identified her calling to educate, inspire and ignite positive change in the lives of students.

After four years of providing quality educational opportunities to the students of Dayton Street School, Ms. Gorman made her way back to Queens, New York where she continued with her teaching career. There she quickly realized that her reach was intended to go beyond the classroom to serve as an instructional leader within the educational system.

She received her Master of Science degree in Educational Leadership from Brooklyn College in 2012, and after serving in the New York City Department of Education for 11 years, she came back to Newark, NJ where her career in education began. Ms. Gorman quickly stepped into the role of Vice Principal of Visual and Performing Arts at Arts High School in 2017, and is honored to now lead the first Visual and Performing Arts High School in the nation as its Principal.

Ms. Gorman is known for her positive spirit, attention to detail, energetic demeanor, collaborative approach to leadership and meaningful connection to staff, students and families. She believes that all students deserve educators who will unwrap the gifts that reside within and equip them with the necessary tools to be successful and impactful in whatever path they are called to follow. Her message to the Arts High School community is: ”To remove all fear and allow the spark within to be ignited!”.

In addition to her full-time role within the Newark Board of Education, Devonne Gorman’s greatest blessing and responsibility is being a mother to three wonderful children. She is proud to have her oldest daughter continue as a dance major and honor student at Arts High School.