Joe Hennelly

Director of Career Exploration

B.S. University of Rhode Island
M.Ed. Chestnut Hill College

As Director of Career Exploration, Joe plays a vital role in supporting the Freire Schools network by overseeing various career-related initiatives, such as career weeks, fairs, and job shadowing experiences. These activities are essential for ensuring our compliance with Pennsylvania and Delaware’s career standards. 

In addition to his current responsibilities, Joe is spearheading the development of the new Freire Schools Summer “Experienceship” program, which will run annually and involve a select group of students from each of our high schools. Through these efforts, Joe is actively cultivating and managing relationships with our employer partners, which will expose our students to a wide range of opportunities throughout the city.

Before taking on this role, Joe dedicated 13 years to teaching at various charter organizations in Philadelphia. He joined Freire Schools in 2016, where he taught math and served as an instructional coach for six years at Freire Middle School.  A Philadelphia native and an alumnus of St. Joseph’s Prep High School in North Philadelphia, Joe understands the value of opportunities and how they can shape one’s future. He is committed to ensuring that all students, regardless of their backgrounds or the schools they attend, have access to these same opportunities. His ultimate goal is to connect and introduce our students to the diverse array of careers and opportunities that Pennsylvania and Delaware have to offer.