Derrick Dunlap is Traphagen’s Newest Principal

MOUNT VERNON – Derrick Dunlap, a veteran educator with two decades of experience leading schools, improving student achievement and building strong school communities has been appointed principal of Traphagen Elementary School.

Mr. Dunlap brings a diverse background in elementary and secondary education to the Mount Vernon City School District, having served as a teacher, assistant principal and principal in Washington, D.C., Maryland and New York.

Throughout his career, he has focused on creating school environments where students are supported academically, socially and emotionally while preparing them for long-term success.

Mr. Dunlap began his career in 1999 as a fourth-grade teacher at Birney Elementary School in the District of Columbia, where he spent more than eight years in the classroom. He later moved into school leadership, serving as an assistant principal at both Severna Park High School and Annapolis High School in Maryland. In those roles, he supervised instruction across various departments and helped strengthen teaching and learning.

After relocating to New York, Mr. Dunlap became principal of Rochdale Early Advantage Charter School, where he led a significant academic turnaround that resulted in the school earning New York State Reward School recognition in 2017. He later spent six years as principal of Community Partnership Charter School, continuing to build a record of strong academic performance while emphasizing collaboration among educators, students, families and community partners.

In each leadership role, he has worked to improve school culture, expand student support systems and strengthen instruction for all learners, with particular attention to students receiving special education and English as a New Language services. He has championed culturally responsive teaching, increased family engagement and helped develop systems that promote both academic achievement and positive student behavior.

Outside the classroom, Mr. Dunlap has made athletics an important part of his work with young people. He has coached boys’ basketball at the high school level in Maryland, served as a collegiate coach at LIU Post University and founded youth basketball teams, camps and elementary school leagues.

He believes the lessons learned through sports — including perseverance, teamwork and resilience — help students succeed both in school and in life.

As he begins his new role at Traphagen, Mr. Dunlap looks forward to working with students, families, faculty and staff to build on the school’s strengths while fostering an inclusive, innovative and student-centered learning environment where every child has the opportunity to excel.

Mr. Dunlap earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Fairfield University, where he played collegiate basketball. He also holds a master’s degree in elementary education from the University of Bridgeport and a master’s degree in educational administration from Johns Hopkins University.