This September, Townsend Harris High School welcomed Shikira Chang as the new interim acting assistant principal of pupil personnel services for the 2025-2026 school year, taking over the role from Jessica Graf, who departed from THHS over the summer.

“Guided by the spirit of the Ephebic Oath, I aspire to contribute meaningfully by preserving what is already working well here but also making improvements where necessary,” Ms. Chang told The Classic.

“I want to take time to understand the intricacies of the school’s culture and traditions, while also identifying the many strengths that make this community so special,” she said. “One of my goals is to develop my own practices by immersing myself in this new environment.”

In particular, she spoke of the guidance department she now leads, describing it as “an integral part” of THHS.  “I love the fact that THHS has such a large and supportive team, inclusive of our Social Worker and three School Aides,” she said. “For many students, this is their safe space. Students cannot flourish if they aren’t fully supported. THHS is extremely blessed to have such an experienced and empathetic group of counselors and support staff.

Ms. Chang has a background in teaching, having taught at Kurt Hahn Expeditionary Learning School in Brooklyn and Catherine and Count Basie Middle School in Queens, prior to joining the THHS guidance department.

“[Her work] in diverse settings (settings that are radically different from what we have here) and just having that perspective from different experiences brings a refreshing insight into things that we would not normally look at,” said Assistant Principal of STEM Abid Choudhury, who was involved in the process of hiring Ms. Chang over the summer. The hiring process involved multiple rounds of interviews with members of the THHS administration before Principal Brian Condon made a final decision to hire Ms. Chang.

According to guidance counselor Anthony Santos, the role of leading the guidance department is a crucial one due to the department’s overall importance at THHS. Counselors offer emotional support, academic advice, and college guidance, making them crucial members of the THHS community.

“She came in with very warm energy, [and] definitely made an impact on our department,” Mr. Santos said. “She’s made a really amazing supervisor so far this school year.” 

Additionally, Mr. Santos expressed his appreciation for Ms. Chang’s dedication to establishing her priorities at Townsend Harris. “She is somebody who from day one told us that she’s about the kids, and I think her actions have proved it,” he said. 

Social Studies teacher Francis McCaughey, who worked as a teacher at the Kurt Hahn Expeditionary Learning School with Ms. Chang, spoke highly of her. “Ms. Chang is a great teacher and is also a great person,” he said. 

Mr. McCaughey also shared that during her time at Kurt Hahn, Ms. Chang taught AP English Literature and was the only teacher in the school offering an AP class. “She was teaching a tough class to students who had never taken an AP before, so she did really great work with that. She really challenged them, and she always had super high expectations for the kids in the class.

“I believe that every student deserves access to rigorous and meaningful learning opportunities that prepare them for success beyond high school,” said Ms. Chang. “By fostering a safe, nurturing, and inclusive environment, I aim to empower students to discover their strengths, overcome their challenges, and realize their fullest potential.”

Members of the Student Union also highlighted the work they have done with Ms. Chang since the start of the school year. 

“I have worked with her on every activity we have had and are planning, from club fair to club applications and plenty more. Further, I have worked closely with her in creating a new subgroup of clubs that fall under guidance,” said Club Liaison Aki Benjamin. 

Aki also spoke to her “kind and caring” personality. “She always wants to hear about my day, makes time for me to talk to her about clubs, and allows me to stay in her office after school when I need to wait for my class at Queens College,” he said.

Student Union Treasurer Uma Hardeo also discussed her experiences working with Ms. Chang. In particular, Uma discussed working with her to implement more mental health resources in THHS. “I think she’s really able to connect with students a lot,” Uma said. “She understands the student perspective on mental health and that stigma, and she’s able to help us navigate that in a way that combines the student perspective and also the adult guidance counselor’s perspective as well.”

Ms. Chang expressed her eagerness to step into this role. “I have always loved working with young adults,” she said. “Being an [Assistant Principal] allows me to broaden my impact on students. I am not limited to only the students in my class, [and] I can engage with the entire student body in ways that being a classroom teacher doesn’t allow.”