sosmagazine
August 31, 2024
Queens, New York, is where Devonne De Nose’s inspiring journey began. Introduced to the world of performing arts at just two years old, she developed a deep-seated passion for dance and theater. Her talents and dedication led her to Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School for Music & Art and the Performing Arts, where she excelled as a drama major and graduated with honors. Recognizing her potential, the Posse Foundation awarded her a full four-year tuition scholarship as a DePauw University Posse 3 Scholar.
Devonne’s time at DePauw University was marked by academic excellence and cultural exploration. She proudly became a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Her academic journey was enriched by international experiences, teaching middle and high school students in Japan and the Caribbean. These experiences broadened her perspective and deepened her commitment to education and service.
In 2003, Devonne joined Teach for America, launching her teaching career at Dayton Street School in Newark, NJ, as a 2nd-grade teacher. It was here that she discovered her true calling: to educate, inspire, and bring about positive change in her students’ lives. After four years, she returned to Queens to continue teaching, recognizing that her impact could extend beyond the classroom.
Devonne pursued her Master of Science degree in Educational Leadership from Brooklyn College, graduating in 2012. After 11 years of service in the New York City Department of Education, she returned to Newark, NJ, as Vice Principal of Visual and Performing Arts at Arts High School in 2017. Her positive spirit, attention to detail, and collaborative leadership style quickly resonated with the school community. As the Principal of the nation’s first Visual and Performing Arts High School, Devonne championed the belief that all students deserve educators who can uncover and nurture their innate talents. Her empowering message, “To remove all fear and allow the spark within to be ignited!” became a guiding principle for the school.
Devonne’s commitment to education and the arts reached new heights when she was promoted to Director of Visual and Performing Arts for the Newark Board of Education on July 1, 2024. In this role, she oversees arts education across 66 schools, impacting over 39,000 students. Her story is one of unwavering dedication to service, education, and the arts. Balancing her professional responsibilities with her roles as a mother of three and wife to Dan De Nose, Devonne continues to inspire and lead with grace and determination. Her journey exemplifies how passion, resilience, and a commitment to making a difference can transform lives and communities.
Devonne’s Life Philosophy:
A quote I live by is: “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” —John Quincy Adams
Devonne’s Reflection
Those of us blessed enough to be afforded the opportunity to lead, especially youth, must remember that our job and title must never be self-serving because the youth are our “why.” We should be dream architects and producers as we empower and encourage those we serve. This is the reason I introduced the mantra to Arts High School: “Aspire to inspire.”
