Northern Parkway School

Dr. Bilal Polson, since December 2007, served the students and families of Northern Parkway Elementary School in Uniondale, NY, as assistant principal and currently as principal, commencing July 1, 2016. Upon graduation from the prestigious LaGuardia High School of the Performing Arts, Bilal received his undergraduate degree from New York University. He studied Movement Therapy at the University of California, Los Angeles and holds degrees from Adelphi University in education and in educational administration from Hofstra University. Principal Polson received his doctoral degree in educational leadership at Hofstra University in May 2013. Dr. Polson consistently presents at local and national conferences and is the co-author of a number of peer reviewed journal articles and book chapters. Bilal is the co-editor of Toward Culturally Sustaining Teaching: Early Childhood Educators Honor Children with Practices for Equity and Change (NCTE/Routledge 2020). He enjoys living in Bay Shore, NY with his wife Patty and sons, Aliasha and Malachi.

Mrs. Janel Coles is a newly appointed  Assistant Principal, as of  September 2021-2022  at Northern Parkway School. 

Mrs. Coles holds an Advanced Graduate Certificate in Educational Leadership from Stony Brook University, a Master of Science Degree in Education/Special Education- Childhood Grade 1 - Grade 6, from Touro College, and Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology from Excelsior College.  She also holds professional educator certifications in Early Childhood Education Birth- Grade 2 , Childhood Education Grades 1-6, Students with Disabilities Birth - Grade 2, Students with Disabilities Grades 1- 6, and a bilingual extension certificate in Spanish.

Mrs. Coles joined the NPS family  in 2008 as a Substitute Teacher. In 2010, she became a  classroom teacher,  then went on to become a bilingual classroom teacher, teacher leader, and now an educational leader at Northern Parkway School.  

During her tenure at Northern Parkway School, Mrs. Coles has worked closely with students, staff, parents and community members on school-wide and district-wide initiatives aimed at building strong relationships and promoting unity and equity within the school and local community. Mrs. Coles’ vision is to serve the NPS Family by building trust and establishing positive relationships with all stakeholders, to support the success of all students.

Dr. Sharifa K. Jackson has been with the Uniondale School District for twenty years as a teacher at Lawrence Road Middle School. She has also led our elementary summer school program as the coordinator and has made a significant impact on scholars throughout her teaching career. Dr. Jackson earned her bachelor’s degree from Hampton University, her two master’s from Mercy College and the college of new Rochelle, and her doctorate degree in Administrative and Instructional Leadership from St. John's University in 2017. She has always been interested in educating boys of color and closing  the achievement gap. Her dissertation, A Mother‘s Love: Factors that Contribute to African-American Male’s High Achievement, gives insight on parenting styles and strategies used in raising successful Black males. Dr. Jackson will be serving in the capacity of Assistant Principal at Northern Parkway School. We welcome her to the leadership team. Congratulations!