Dr. Naomi Johnson Booker, Ed D.

Founder of Global Academies; Founder/CEO of Global Leadership Academy Charter School West; Executive Director of Global Leadership Academy Southwest

About our Founder: Dr. Naomi Johnson Booker has a stellar reputation for transforming failing schools into successful learning institutions. She is a public education innovator: through GLA’s leadership and global studies program, Dr. Booker incorporated learning outside the classroom into the school’s curriculum through U.S. and overseas excursions. She has been credited for changing the mindset of her West Philadelphia scholars as she closes America’s Exposure Gap, which in turn leads to closing the Achievement Gap., Most of her scholars live beneath the Federal Poverty Level, showing them they can become future leaders of the world.

Dr. Booker has taken her scholars across the globe to destinations that include China, Kenya, Bahamas, and Haiti. Her scholars begin excursions in Kindergarten exploring Philadelphia. As they move up through middle school, the scholars embark on a Civil Rights tour from Birmingham to Memphis, the Underground Railroad from Philadelphia to Canada, and then in 8th grade, they travel overseas. By the time the scholars leave 8th grade, they are passport-holding citizens and have traveled more than the average college graduate.

Dr. Booker served for 30 years in the School District of Philadelphia as an Area Superintendent managing 15 schools, including three high schools; principal of Clymer Elementary, which she transformed into a success from its prior failing status; and at Pastorius Elementary as a classroom teacher, where she initiated her career-long style of outside-the-classroom learning, taking students to see historic Philadelphia sites they studied in texts.

In 2001, Dr. Booker entered the charter school sector, serving as Regional Vice President of Curriculum and Instruction for a charter school management organization. She is the recipient of multiple prestigious industry and business awards and honorable recognitions by long-serving elected officials representing West Philadelphia.

In 2020, Philadelphia City Council named Dr. Booker a “Philadelphia Living Legend.” Dr. Booker was also honored by the Philadelphia Business Journal as a “Woman of Distinction.”