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 Week 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.
INTERIM PRINCIPAL CAROLINE RYDEN | PRITZKER COLLEGE PREP
After graduating from Fairfield University, Caroline Ryden began her educational career at Pritzker College Prep through an AmeriCorps program in 2006. Since then, she has served as a teacher, college counselor, dean, and assistant principal and is very excited to be interim principal of Pritzker.
She is always looking for opportunities to grow as an educator and leader and has attended KIPP School Leadership Program and completed Noble’s Principal Fellowship. She is passionate about creating opportunities for all students to be exposed to college and careers during high school and inspired by the dedicated educators and hardworking students in the Pritzker community. She looks forward to seeing more students graduate from Pritkzer and ultimately graduate from college.
PRINCIPAL D’ALONTE BURNS | UIC COLLEGE PREP
D’alonte 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, who serves young people and families as principal of The Noble Academy. She has served students and families in Austin, Gary, Indiana, West Town, Englewood, and North Lawndale. Originally from Louisville, Kentucky, she has spent more than a decade teaching, learning, & leading in order to deliver exceptional outcomes for students who are often pushed to the margins. She believes deeply that the commitment to lead well in our schools is a radical pursuit of justice.
Prior to becoming principal, she served as the manager of instructional leadership for Noble Schools, where she coached and built strategy with instructional leaders and led professional development for teachers, schools, and teams. Tierionna earned her Bachelor of Science in Adolescent English Education from Miami University of Ohio and her MEd in Curriculum Studies from DePaul. She is a 2011 Chicago Corps member, a 2016 Stanford Hollyhock Fellow, a 2022 Chicago Surge Fellow, and a 2024 fellow of The Leadership Collaborative.
