City Charter High School

CEO and Principal

Dr. Dara Ware Allen is the CEO and Principal of City Charter High School. In this role, she leads a team of exceptional educators responsible for achieving the school’s mission to graduate students who are academically, technologically, personally and socially prepared to succeed in post-secondary education, training and/or employment.  Recognized locally and nationally for its innovative model, relationships play a huge role in the school’s design and success, contributing to the school’s 94% graduation rate.  Ultimately, as the chief executive and administrative officer, Dara works to assure creative and strategic leadership consistent with the mission, values, and culture of the school.   During Dara’s tenure, City Charter High School has been recognized among the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s “Top Workplaces” awardees three times in the past four years (2019, 2020 and 2022) .

Dr. Allen graduated from Spelman College before earning a Master’s in Education (teaching) from Duquesne University and a Ph.D. in Workforce Education and Development from Penn State University. Her career spans nearly 25 years, including her immediate past role as Assistant Superintendent of Student Support Services at Pittsburgh Public Schools. In that role, she served on executive level committees and teams, contributing to District-wide decisions including student and school support, equity, recruitment and enrollment, crisis response, allocation of resources, and operations, among other responsibilities. Prior to that, she served as the Chief Operating Officer and Program Director at Leadership Pittsburgh Inc., Executive Director of YouthWorks Inc., and Director of a federal TRIO college access program, the Educational Opportunity Centers of Southwestern Pennsylvania at Penn State University.  Dara also has distinguished community service experience including tenures on the Pittsburgh Public School Board, Allegheny County’s Jail Oversight Board, Partner 4 Work’s Youth Policy Council, A+ Schools Board, and the Bayer Center for Non-Profit Management Advisory Council.  She currently serves on the Remake Learning Advisory Council, Health Careers Futures Advisory Board of the Jewish Healthcare Foundation, and the Board of Directors for the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership and YouthPlaces.  

Dr. Allen is a proud alum of Leadership Pittsburgh and founding member of the Urban League Young Professionals of Pittsburgh.  She was also named a “40 Under 40” award winner in 2002 by Pittsburgh Magazine and recognized as a “Women of Excellence” by the New Pittsburgh Courier in 2012.

Dr. Allen considers it an honor to serve at the helm of City High and is committed to contributing to City High’s remarkable legacy of growing students as learners and equipping them for successful futures after high school.