Shirlene Blake is an inspirational dance educator and arts leader currently serving as Director of Dance for NYC Public Schools (NYCPS). In this role, she leads citywide initiatives to elevate dance instruction, curriculum development, and professional learning, while fostering partnerships between schools and cultural institutions across the city. A champion for mentorship and teacher development, she supports early career educators through the Arnhold Teacher Support Program and builds sustainable systems for professional growth in dance education.
With over two decades of classroom experience, her teaching emphasized student-centered pedagogy, social-emotional learning, and inclusive curriculum design across technique, choreography, and theory. Shirlene’s leadership is grounded in a versatile career as a dance performer and teacher in a multitude of settings. She has contributed to NYCPS as a curriculum writer and citywide dance facilitator. She served on the NYSEA board as Treasurer and was on the NYS 2017 Arts Standards Revision Team for Dance.
Shirlene holds an Ed.M. in Dance Education from Temple University, a BFA in Dance from SMU, and a postgraduate certificate in Supervision and Administration from Hunter College. She is currently pursuing a doctorate in Dance Education at TC, Columbia University. Her research is a sustained commitment to teacher education and social justice in education.