This is the third part of a series featuring all of Noble Schools’ principals. If you haven’t yet, check out part two which featured the principals of Rowe-Clark Math & Science Academy, Butler College Prep, Mansueto High School, and Hansberry College Prep.
We’re continuing to celebrate Principal Appreciation Month with four more principal features! This time, we’re hearing from the principals of Noble Street College Prep, Pritzker College Prep, UIC College Prep, and The Noble Academy.
Stay tuned for Part Four, the final part!
PRINCIPAL BEN GUNTY | NOBLE STREET COLLEGE PREP
Ben Gunty is the principal of Noble Street College Prep, one of the highest-performing high schools in Chicago, IL. Before school leadership at Noble, Gunty taught 9th-grade Grade Multicultural Studies, led the 9th-grade staff team, coached varsity boys soccer, led Noble Street’s Diversity Dialogues, and was an inaugural member of the Noble Principal Fellowship.
Gunty started his career in corporate retail in Columbus, OH, but then changed course to teach literature in Weiner, AR, through Teach For America. He received his Bachelor of Arts in the Program of Liberal Studies from the University of Notre Dame. At Notre Dame, he received the Alumni Association’s Mike Russo Award for demonstrated character and service and the student Opus Prize for social entrepreneurship.
Gunty lives in Chicago with his wife and two children.
PRINCIPAL CARRIE SPITZ | PRITZKER COLLEGE PREP
As a senior tutor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Carrie Spitz realized she was passionate about teaching and educating others. Through Teach for America (TFA), Spitz was given the opportunity to return to the Chicagoland area to serve the community of West Englewood as a high school Spanish teacher. During this time, Spitz earned her Master of Arts in Teaching at Dominican University.
Shortly after that, she joined the Noble network at Pritzker College Prep. At the time, Pritzker was in its 2nd year of operation, and Spitz was inspired by the task of building a new school. In 2012, she became a finalist for TFA’s Chicago Alumni Distinguished Teacher Award. That same year, she was accepted into the KIPP Summer Leadership Program as a leadership team member. In 2013, Spitz earned her Educational Specialist degree in Administration.
Spitz has been a member of the Pritzker community since 2007. She has served as a teacher, dean, and assistant principal. In 2017, with great honor and pride, she accepted the role to serve the Hermosa community as the principal of Pritzker College Prep. She believes that through hard work and high expectations, Pritzker will continue to push the limits of what is possible for its students and community.
PRINCIPAL DALONTE BURNS | UIC COLLEGE PREP
Dalonte Burns is a father, husband, educator, Noble Street College Prep alum, and leader. He is a first-generation college graduate, born and raised on the West Side of Chicago, IL. He went to Lewis University, where he got his Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Journalism and played on the men’s basketball team for four years. He received his Master of Arts in Special Education from National Louis University.
Burns is entering his 12th year in Noble. He entered Noble as a paraprofessional at Rowe-Clark Math & Science Academy. After serving as a paraprofessional for two years, Burns spent the next four years as a learning specialist. Before joining UIC College Prep, Dalonte was a principal resident at Noble Street College Prep. There, he worked to develop an instructional equity framework that led to some of the highest equitable outcomes for students with IEPs. He also worked to create an antiracist framework—aligned with Noble’s Anti-Racism Commitment—to drive the work of dismantling racist practices and policies.
He has committed his life’s work to education to serve his community and elevate the power of those most marginalized.
PRINCIPAL TIERIONNA PINKSTON | THE NOBLE ACADEMY
Tierionna Pinkston is a mother, wife, and long-time educator originally from Louisville, Kentucky.
Pinkston earned her Bachelor of Science in Adolescent English Education from Miami University of Ohio and her Master of Education in Curriculum Studies from DePaul University.
Before becoming principal, Mrs. Pinkston served as the manager of instructional leadership for Noble Schools. She has also been an assistant principal, dean of instruction, college counselor, English teacher, and advisor during her career. In addition to these roles, she’s been in Noble’s Principal Fellowship, the Diverse Leaders Fellowship, and a member of the inaugural Equity Quotient cohort. She is a 2011 Chicago Corps member, a 2016 Stanford Hollyhock Fellow, and a proud 2022 Chicago Surge Fellow.
Her leadership, passion for young people, and commitment to equity have brought her to The Noble Academy, and she looks forward to further defining what it means to be a Griffin.
