Ivy Green, interim head of school at Christina Seix Academy (CSA), says the latest standardized reading and math scores show that students at the Trenton-based independent school are performing well compared with their New Jersey and national peers.
“Our students’ strong results demonstrate that CSA’s innovative approaches to teaching pre-K to eighth grade students are working both academically and developmentally,” said Green, who served as CSA’s senior director of academic programs before assuming the school’s top position in August.
CSA, which educates more than 200 predominantly Black and Latino students from single-parent households each year, emphasizes academic achievement and the development of a close-knit residential community. Green said helping students develop a sense of belonging and connection is as important as providing a strong academic curriculum.
The school’s nurturing environment encourages students to develop personal skills, build relationships and become committed to lifelong learning.
Regular testing is another component of CSA’s educational approach. Frequent benchmark assessments, data analysis and small class sizes help teachers identify and address student needs. Family engagement, mentoring and attention to students’ health and wellness also play important roles.
Green said sharing academic results is one way CSA is providing information about its programs and community as it enters a new chapter, 14 years after its founding.
“This is a pivotal time for CSA,” said Green. “We are looking to increase our impact, diversify and broaden our donor base, and replicate our innovative programs as models to help other educational institutions succeed.”
Green said the success of CSA’s approach is reflected in student performance.
Results from the Gates-MacGinitie Reading Tests, the school’s primary literacy assessment, show that approximately 70% of CSA students in first through eighth grades were reading at or above grade level during the current school year.
According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), also known as the Nation’s Report Card, 38% of New Jersey fourth- and eighth-grade students performed at or above the NAEP proficient level in reading in 2024. Nationally, 31% of fourth graders and 30% of eighth graders reached that level.
NAEP is a congressionally mandated assessment that measures student achievement in subjects including reading and mathematics.
For mathematics, CSA uses the nationally normed Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) assessment developed by the Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA).
During the fall 2026 testing period, CSA students in first through eighth grades scored at the 60th percentile, above the national median of the 50th percentile.
Green succeeds Rob Connor, Ph.D., who co-founded CSA and served as head of school since it opened in 2012. Connor recently became chair of the CSA board of trustees, allowing him to continue supporting the school while taking on a new role as president and CEO of the SEED Foundation on Oct. 1.
The SEED Foundation operates a network of public, college-preparatory boarding schools.
Born in Trenton, Green attended the city’s public schools and later taught in the district before helping establish CSA in 2012.
Growing up in a family with limited financial resources, Green credits her parents with prioritizing educational opportunities and enrichment activities that helped her and her siblings succeed.
“Opportunity does not have to be linked to finances,” said Green. “My mother and father’s really thoughtful and strategic thinking around opportunities is what helped us all.”
Green taught elementary school students in Trenton Public Schools after earning a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Morgan State University in Baltimore.
She later earned a master’s degree in curriculum, instruction and supervision, along with post-master’s certification in educational leadership, from Rider University. She is pursuing a doctorate in executive leadership at Columbia University.
During her tenure at CSA, Green led the development of the school’s academic program, which enrolls students beginning at age 3.
The curriculum incorporates intentional play to teach independence and self-regulation, skills designed to support students throughout their 11 years at CSA and beyond.
In addition to academics, CSA emphasizes community involvement and the health and wellness of students and their families. Extracurricular programs provide opportunities in athletics, instrumental music instruction and dance.
The school operates on a 12-month calendar.
“Ensuring the academic, personal, and professional success of our deserving students drives my day-to-day commitment to CSA and our community,” said Green.
Green’s appointment as interim head of school provides continuity as the academy prepares for its next phase.
The board of trustees recently launched a national search for a permanent successor to Connor. A selection is expected next winter, following consideration of applicants, including Green.
“Ms. Green’s Trenton roots and vital contributions over the years to CSA’s academic success make her the ideal person to lead this transition,” said Connor. “Her longstanding commitment to our students, staff, and the Academy will help CSA deliver on its bold objectives to serve more students at the Academy, while also helping to fundamentally improve educational systems locally, regionally, and nationally.”
Christina Seix Dow, a Wall Street businesswoman, founded the academy in 2012 with the goal of improving educational outcomes for students from marginalized communities affected by systemic racism and poverty.
