Amy Ryan

Amy Ryan will lead the high school expansion of The Portage School of Leaders (PSL), a member of the Career Academy Network of Public Schools (CANOPS), a tuition-free public charter school system in South Bend serving students from Kindergarten through 12th grade. This will be their fifth school, with enrollment expected to grow by 80% to serve additional students in grades 9–12. CANOPS fosters authentic, project-based learning that is real-world, connected, and engaging, with a focus on eliminating social, emotional, and academic barriers so every student has the opportunity to thrive. 

Ryan brings deep expertise in competency-based education, instructional leadership, and social-emotional learning. Before becoming Head of School at PSL, she held various other positions within the network, including ELA Teacher, Lead Teacher, and Academic Lead. She has led the implementation of mastery-based learning, standards-based grading, interdisciplinary project design, and restorative practices across the network, while overseeing assessment strategy and faculty development. Ryan holds a Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Administration from Indiana University South Bend, a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from the University of Notre Dame, and a Bachelor of Arts in English and History from the University of Detroit Mercy.