Huge congratulations to Rebekah Severe on being recognized by Crain’s New York Business as a 2026 Women of Influence honoree!
Rebekah serves as our Senior Program Director, where she leads the design, implementation, and oversight of our afterschool and Summer Rising programming across New York City public schools. Under her leadership, CIS afterschool programs have consistently earned “Above Standard” and “Far Above Standard” ratings from DYCD, exceeded enrollment targets by as much as 172%, and maintained the kind of sustained participation and waitlists that reflect genuine community trust. From structured academic enrichment and STEAM exploration to creative arts, sports leagues, and social-emotional learning, Rebekah ensures that every program site operates as a safe, engaging, and inclusive extension of the school day.
Rebekah’s impact reaches well beyond logistics and operations. She is a leader who elevates the people around her — coaching and developing staff, cultivating culturally responsive programming that honors the identities of the students and families we serve, and building the collaborative relationships with school leadership that make our embedded model so effective.
CIS is deeply proud of Rebekah and all that she does — day in and day out — to make our students stronger, our staff more skilled, and our programs a place where young people feel known, supported, and challenged to achieve. This recognition from Crain’s is a testament to her leadership, her vision, and the meaningful impact she continues to make across New York City’s school communities.
So well deserved — bravo, Rebekah, on this incredible achievement!
