Dr. Rachel McCaulsky

As the Director of Ailey Arts In Education & Community Programs, Dr. Rachel McCaulsky is at the forefront of expanding and enhancing AILEY’s educational initiatives across New York City’s schools and nationwide, including K–12 school partnerships, national outreach residencies, AileyCamps across the country, and programs for older adults. Drawing on her extensive background in both education and professional dance, she is committed to cultivating creative, inclusive, and community-centered learning environments.

Dr. McCaulsky served for eleven years in New York City Public Schools (NYCPS), in roles including the Brooklyn South Borough Arts Director, providing strategic support to principals and superintendents in implementing arts programs across 127 schools. During her tenure with NYCPS, she led impactful work as an assistant principal in a District 75 special education school in Queens, where she managed curriculum development for diverse learners and led initiatives for multilingual learners. Her commitment to special education and the arts is evident from her tenure as a District 75 teacher and arts coordinator in Brooklyn, where she collaborated on revamping curricula to integrate the arts into all content areas for students with severe disabilities. Her innovative units of study—which blend dance with social studies, science, and literacy—have been highlighted in the NYC Department of Education’s Blueprint for Teaching and Learning in Dance. 

Dr. McCaulsky’s distinguished dance career includes performing with renowned companies such as Ailey II, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Ballet Hispánico, Dallas Black Dance Theatre, Lula Washington Dance Theatre, Thomas/Ortiz Dance, and Dallas Theater Center’s The Wiz. Her early dance training at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts under Ka-Ron Brown Lehman laid the foundation for her robust dance career.

Dr. McCaulsky is a graduate of the Ailey/Fordham BFA in Dance program. She holds a dual master’s degree in childhood education and childhood special education, as well as a master’s degree and doctorate in educational leadership. Additionally, she received the 2025 Outstanding Leadership K–12 Award from the National Dance Education Organization and is the recipient of the 2026 Impact Award from the Center for Integrated Training and Education.

Dr. McCaulsky resides in Brooklyn with her husband and their two sons.