Westminster Community Charter School
Literacy

Yvonne Minor-Ragan, Ph. D., Principal

Dr. Yvonne Minor-Ragan is currently the principal of the recently converted Westminster Community Charter School (WCCS). Dr. Ragan is recognized as an influential leader and citizen of Buffalo. She has shared her skills throughout New York, nationally, and internationally (London and Sweden). She has been such an influence in education and public policy that she has been featured on CNN News, Christian Science Monitor, Educational Week, the Buffalo News, and Public Broadcasting Services (P BS). She has a national and international reputation as an accomplished motivational speaker. As a featured speaker she has inspired audiences of hundreds, discussing critical issues of our community, ranging from the importance of parent involvement, to keeping our eyes on the prize, and how to stimulate positive and systemic change.

For the past fourteen years, Dr. Ragan, a native Chicagoan recognized as one of the 100 most influential women in Chicago for phenomenal success as a leader, has been involved in an astounding partnership with the Buffalo Public Schools, New York State Board of Education, and M & T Bank. Her laudable performance as a results-oriented administrator is being documented by this partnership. This partnership is unique to our nation, and is being followed by school communities and business partnerships, both here and abroad.

Dr. Ragan's philosophy has been that 'if you want to improve the quality of life of a community it must be done through education.' Her dedication to providing the best education possible to a community of students has proven that with the combination of the right leadership, strong corporate alliances, and a supportive community, change can begin with the vision of one person. However, it is her continued commitment to develop successful strategies for teacher mentoring, (especially in the urban setting) which result in the retention of successful teachers in the teaching profession.

Dr. Ragan received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Roosevelt University; Masters of Science in Education from Chicago State University, Certification in Administration and Supervision, Guidance and Counseling from Chicago State University, Superintendent's Certification from the state of Illinois, Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Public Policy Analysis from the University of Illinois at Chicago and School District Administrator's Certification from New York State. In addition, she has completed Advanced Executive Education coursework at Harvard University.

She is a member of Phi Delta Kappa, National Association of Curriculum and Development, Immediate Past President of the Buffalo Chapter of the Links, Inc., Alpha Kappa Alpha Service Sorority, and the Golden Key Honor Society. She has served on several boards: Shea's Performing Arts; Leadership Center, Just Buffalo Literary Society, WNED-TV, the Buffalo Urban League, Pursuing Perfection Collaborative (P2), Leadership Buffalo, Buffalo Prep.

Dr. Ragan has received numerous awards for her contributions in education and service to the community. Among these are General Superintendent's Representative, Illinois Distinguished Educator's award, Milken National Educators' Award, One of the Top Six Educators' in the Country, Kizzie Award for Outstanding African-American Women, Dyett School: Blue Ribbon Recognition, Governor's Award for Excellence in Education, Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Canisius College, the Values Inclusion Award from Leadership Buffalo, Whitney M Young Award from the Buffalo Urban League, Keynote Speaker: United Kingdom Headmasters' CSD Conference, and Westminster School Recognized by NYSED as "Most Improved School," and Community Service Award from National Conference for Community Justice.

Dr. Ragan and her husband, Phillip, have four children and three grandchildren. They are members of Bethel A.M.E. Church.

Honors and Awards

• Educator of the Year, Phi Delta Kappa, 1986.
• Outstanding Educator, Chicago Area Alliance of Black School Educators, 1988.
• "100 Most Influential Women in Chicago, Today's Chicago Woman, 1990.
• Illinois Distinguished Educator's Award, Illinois State Board of Education, 1990.
• National Educators' Award, the Milken Family Foundation, 1990.
• "Distinguished Alumna," Roosevelt University, 1991.
• Outstanding Principal Award, Citizens Schools Organization, 1993.
• Kizzie Award, for Outstanding African-American Women, 1993.
• 'One of the Top Six Educators in the Country,' Nat'l Assoc of Secondary School Principals, 1993.
• Outstanding Alumni, University of Illinois, 1993.
• Blue Ribbon Recognition during Principalship of Dyett Middle School, Illinois State Board of Education, 1994.
• Outstanding Citizen of Buffalo, My Brothers' Keeper, 1995.
• Outstanding Educator, Iota Phi Lambda, Beta Pi Chapter, 1995.
• Outstanding Educator, Buffalo Evening Optimist Club, 1996.
• Honorary Membership: Golden Key Honor Society, University at Buffalo, 1996.
• 1999 YMCA Toast to Buffalo Award, Greater Buffalo YMCA, 1999.
• Governor's Award for Excellence in Education, NY State Division for Women WNY, 1999.
• Outstanding Community Leadership Award, Afro-American Police Association, Inc., 1999.
• Honorary Degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, Canisius College, 2000.
• William Evans & Whitney M. Young Humanitarian Award, Buffalo Urban League, 2000.
• Citizen of the Year Award, Buffalo News, 200l.
• Dean's Community Service Award, University at Buffalo, 200l.
• Keynote Speaker: United Kingdom Headmasters' CSD Conference, London, Eng., 2002.
• Honored as Subject of International Leadership Study, Umea, Sweden, 2003.
• Keynote Speaker, New York State School Boards Assoc, Rochester, NY, 2003.
• Westminster School Recognized by NYSED as 'Most Improved School,' 2003,2004.
• Outstanding Educator, Jamaican American Association of Buffalo, 2004.
• Westminster School Placed on State Board of Education Honor Roll, 2004.
• Excellence in Educational Leadership Award, University Council for Educational Administration, 2005.
• Educator of the Year, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, 2006.
• Values Award: Inclusion, Leadership Buffalo, 2007.
• Educator of the Year, New York State Ministers Wives, 2008.
• Community Service Award, National Conference for Community Justice, 2009.
• Community Leader Award, Young Miss Buffalo Pageant, 2009.