Mr. Lau was born in Toruń, Poland, and moved to the United States when he was 7 years old. He credits his passion for learning from the teachers, librarians, and other educators that fostered his interests and opened up opportunities for him when he was a new immigrant. Upon graduating college, he moved to New York City to become a NYC Teaching Fellow and to create the opportunities for his students that were created for him.
Mr. Lau taught English, Social Studies, and a variety of elective courses to middle and high school students in the South Bronx. Through his roles as Chair of the School Leadership Team, Senior Class Advisor, and Grade Leader Coordinator, Mr. Lau strived to open doors and advocate for his students. He decided to take on the challenge of school leadership to expand his ability to develop teachers, students, and curriculum towards high expectations for high school, college and career readiness. He completed his Master’s Degrees in English Education and Public School Leadership while teaching.
Before becoming Principal of The Emerson School, Mr. Lau served as an Assistant Principal in Harlem. He successfully advocated for his school’s inclusion in piloting the Common Core Learning Standards. His work with curriculum development was recognized by the GE Foundation, which filmed classes at his school as examples of exemplary Common Core aligned instruction. He is excited to bring his knowledge and experience to The Emerson School and looks forward to learning together with the parents, teachers, and students of our vibrant Learning Community.