School Director
Administration
763-279-4262
ahava.jones@pcae.k12.mn.us
Ahava Silkey-Jones, a native of Northfield, MN, is an accomplished non-profit and education leader. She has a passion for building community through the arts locally and globally. She has worked to develop and implement high-quality arts programming, global education initiatives and innovative models for school improvement in Chicago, Boston and Newark. Ahava earned an Ed.M. in Arts in Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and an M.A. in Educational Leadership from Roosevelt University.
She comes to Perpich from the Newark Public Schools where she served as the Vice Principal for the Girls’ Academy of Newark. Prior to moving east Ahava was an integral component of the arts and education community in Chicago. In her role as the Director of Fine Arts for the University of Chicago Charter School she developed a thriving dance program; designed and led student performance and college tours; and facilitated collaborations with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, famed cellist Yo-Yo Ma, Redmoon Theater, and the Logan Center for the Arts. She was recognized by the University of Chicago Urban Education Institute as Employee of the Year in 2013 for her extraordinary service, exemplary practice, and stellar results.
Ahava is committed to working on system-level education initiatives, building school and community partnerships, and improving access to quality arts programming. She is the co-founder of a non-profit organization, the Professional Theatre and Dance Youth Academy, which provides performing arts programming for schools in under-resourced communities. Ahava is excited to return to Minnesota, champion the vision of the Perpich Center for Arts Education, and embrace the students, families, and staff of the Arts High School.
