COMMUNITY ROOTS - Key Persons
Allison grew up in Gainesville, Florida where she spent much of her time outdoors and discovering her love of nature. She received her B.A. in both Biological Sciences and Psychology from Wellesley College in Massachusetts. During her time at Wellesley and while studying abroad in Australia, she was involved in science youth activities and early childhood programs. Such opportunities led her to pursue a career in education. Upon graduation, she was selected to be a part of the New York City Teaching Fellows program. While teaching high school science courses in Brooklyn, she earned her Masters of Education from Pace University. After teaching in the public high school system, she decided to turn her attention and passion for teaching towards a younger audience. She has taught at Community Roots since 2008 and continually loves to be a part of its wonderful community.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Trustees
- Member of the LEADERSHIP Team
- Co - Founder & Co - Director / Community Roots Charter School
- Co - Founder and K - 8 Co - Director
Allison Keil grew up in Brooklyn, New York. Ms. Keil holds a Bachelor's Degree from Brown University and a Master's Degree from Bank Street College. After graduating from Brown University, Ms. Keil went to work at St. Ann's School, one of the most highly respected private schools in New York. Ms. Keil then decided to transition into public school teaching and was accepted into the very rigorous Teach For America program, which prepares top college graduates to teach in under resourced public schools. After spending the summer training in Houston, Texas and teaching in a bi-lingual 2nd grade classroom Ms. Keil accepted a first grade teaching position at PS 30 in Harlem, New York where she taught for two years. During this time Ms. Keil pursued professional development opportunities at Teacher's College as well as beginning to take masters level education classes at Bank Street College. Ms. Keil then accepted a teaching position at Beginning with Children where she taught both First and Second Grades. During this time she transitioned into the Educational Leadership program at Bank Street. It was in this program, in a small school design class where she met Sara Stone and developed the initial design of Community Roots Charter School. Ms. Keil and Ms. Stone Co-Founded Community Roots Charter School in 2006. Ms. Keil was awarded the Distinguished Service Award from Bank Street in 2013. Ms. Keil's work at Community Roots Charter School is highlighted in A Smarter Charter, Finding What Works For Charter Schools and Public Education, published in 2014. Today, Ms. Keil and Ms. Stone continue to Co-Direct Community Roots Charter School, a K-8 model serving 474 students.
Job Titles:
- Chief Financial Officer
- Director of Administration
- Finance
Andrew joined Community Roots as Director of Administration and Finance in February 2010. He serves as a strategic partner to our leaders and the Board of Trustees, providing robust and accurate financial guidance to drive decisions and leading long-term economic forecasting, budgeting, analysis, and strategy setting. He brings a track record of building and leading effective teams, thinking critically and creatively, building an outcomes/data-driven team culture, and coaching and developing others to maximize their potential. Andrew holds a Bachelor's Degree in Finance from Montclair State University, a Diploma from Makini College in Accounting, and a Certification in School Leadership and Management from Harvard Business School.
Angel was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York and went to NYC public schools. After graduating from James Madison High School he went to the Rochester Institute of Technology where he earned a Bachelor's degree in psychology. After graduating Angel completed a year of AmeriCorps in Paterson, New Jersey where he was part of a team that helped convert 5 public schools into community schools. It was during this time that Angel developed a passion for education and enrolled in St. John's University where he received his Master's in childhood and childhood special education. After completing his graduate program, he then went on to teach special education at a charter school in Bedford Stuyvesant before joining Community Roots. In his free time Angel enjoys reading, traveling, walking his dog Blue and biking around NYC.
Job Titles:
- Math Specialist ( He / Him / His )
Barry grew up in Illinois and went to school at Carleton College in Minnesota. After graduating, he worked for a year as an AmeriCorps volunteer, building homes, cutting nature trails, and tutoring kids. Imagining that he would soon begin a career in journalism, Barry moved to New York City. He worked as a writer and editor on one of Scholastic's classroom magazines, and he began volunteering in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. He eventually realized that a desk job wasn't for him. He thought about how meaningful his work with children in AmeriCorps and in BBBS was, and he decided to go to Bank Street College to get a master degree in elementary education and literacy. Barry taught 2nd and 4th grades at Community Roots for six years before becoming the Math Specialist. He also holds a masters in Math Leadership from Bank Street.
Blair began her work with children 15 years ago at camps for kids with chronic and terminal illnesses where she began to understand childrens' boundless capabilities and their incredible emotional depth. During this work, she was also exposed to the gross inequities that occur in our neighborhoods, schools, and healthcare systems. These combined experiences lead her to pursue a career in education. She views classrooms and schools as precious opportunities to build community, grow awareness and activism, and to slowly but surely build a new and better world. Blair obtained a dual masters degree in childhood education and childhood literacy at Bank Street College of Education. She has been an early childhood educator for the past 13 years in New Jersey and New York. This is Blair's ninth year teaching 2nd at Community Roots.
Brandon Barnet was born and raised in New York. He attended SUNY Binghamton for undergraduate before joining Teach for America and relocating to St. Louis in 2012 where he received his Master's Degree in Secondary Science Education. Brandon taught middle school science in St. Louis for four years before moving to Chicago to take on the role of Athletic Director and Health and Fitness teacher for a high school in the Noble Network of Charter Schools. After two years in Chicago, Brandon moved back to New York to be the founding Athletic Director at Brooklyn Ascend High School. The following year, Brandon transitioned to the role of Dean of Students for one year and then as Assistant Principal for the following year. Most recently before joining Community Roots in 2022, Brandon was the Interim Principal at Brooklyn Ascend Middle School. Brandon is beyond excited to return to the classroom and teach physical education and health at Community Roots.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Trustees
- Principal / Sespe Growth Partners
Brianne lives in Brooklyn with her dog, Appa. Brianne has been living in New York for ten years, after attending SUNY Geneseo for undergrad and Teachers College at Columbia University for graduate school. She has taught in many different classroom settings, grades 2-5. Brianne firmly believes in building strong relationships with students, and finding organic connections to learning so that students are intrinsically invested in their education. As a lifelong reader, Brianne loves matching readers to their new favorite books! When she's not in school, she loves visiting museums, as well as researching the best bookstores and pizza slices in the city.
Job Titles:
- Director of Special Education ( She / Her / Hers )
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Trustees
- Chief Commerce Officer
Chanel was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. She attended George Washington University in Washington, DC graduating with a B.A. in human services. Moving back to Brooklyn upon graduation, Chanel worked as Program Director at a non-profit organization for 4 years. Although she enjoyed this work, she yearned to be in the classroom. In 2009, Chanel chose to return to school to pursue a degree in education. She attended New York University and received a dual M.A. in early childhood and special education. Chanel has taught 2nd, 3rd and 4th grades and she is very excited to be a part of the Community Roots family.
Chris grew up in Middlefield, CT. He attended NYU and graduated with a BA in History and Religious Studies with a minor in Comparative Literature. During his time at NYU, he worked for a literacy tutoring program in the Lower East Side. It was there he discovered he loved being in a school setting. After graduating, he pursued an alternative teaching certification program and obtained his MAT in Elementary Ed. He has taught in a K-5 school in the South Bronx for the past 8 years and is thrilled to finally be teaching in his home borough of Brooklyn. When not teaching, he is often reading, watching films, cooking new recipes, catching a new museum exhibit, or relaxing in Prospect Park.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Trustees
- Middle School Learning Specialist
Claire Schmidt moved to Brooklyn from Los Angeles, CA in the summer of 2020 to be closer to family on the east coast. She grew up in New Jersey outside Philadelphia and completed her undergraduate degree in psychology and music at Cornell University. While at Cornell, she was involved in multiple singing groups and was a volunteer teaching assistant with the Cornell Prison Education Program, where she first started to consider a future in education. A few years later, she completed her graduate degree in childhood education at Ithaca College. She taught second grade, third grade, and reading intervention for seven years while living in Los Angeles. She loves to sew and makes almost all of her own clothes!
Daina was born and raised in Minneapolis, MN. From a very young age, Daina knew she wanted to pursue a career in education. She moved to New York City in 2003 to study childhood education, special education, and psychology at New York University. After obtaining her bachelor's degree in 2007, Daina immediately returned to NYU and received her Master's of Arts Degree in literacy education. She joined the Community Roots family in the fall of 2008. Daina was a founding member of Community Roots' Inclusive Practices Group. She enjoyed collaborating with her colleagues to strengthen the school's inclusive practices through Universal Design for Learning. This is Daina's fifteenth year teaching second grade at Community Roots Charter School. Daina currently lives in Astoria, Queens with her husband and two daughters. When she is not teaching, Daina loves exploring New York City with her family and photographing their adventures together. She also has never turned down an iced coffee.
Danielle grew up in Northern Virginia and graduated from high school in Providence, Rhode Island. She received her Bachelor of Arts cum laude in English and Spanish from Mount Holyoke College. There, Danielle participated in local and international community engagement work within schools and non-profit organizations. She later obtained a Master of Science in Higher Education Administration at the University of Pennsylvania. Danielle has worked in education fundraising and recruitment in both charter and urban parochial sectors throughout her career. With some of her fondest memories taking place in and around the schools she's attended, Danielle is deeply honored to work at Community Roots.
Job Titles:
- Roden ( She / Her / Hers ) - Literacy Specialist ( 6 - 8 )
Danielle is a native New Yorker, born and raised in Queens, NY. She has been living in Brooklyn since 2009. Danielle is a driven and dedicated Learning Specialist with 20 years of teaching experience. She holds a dual masters in General Education and Special Education. She has extensive training through Columbia Teachers College and multi sensory reading instruction. She is committed to fostering a dynamic learning environment that nurtures the social and academic growth of all students. Having been a part of the CRCS community as a parent for the past few years, Danielle is excited to be joining as part of the faculty! Her kids will be entering Kindergarten and 4th grade this school year. When Danielle is not teaching, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading, exercising, and traveling.
Job Titles:
- Co - Founder
- Member of the Board of Trustees
Elana Stolinsky was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. She attended The University of Texas at Austin for her Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education, and after four years decided to stay in the city to begin her teaching career in 3rd grade. At the same time, she received her Master's Degree in Teaching, Leadership, and Collaboration from Texas Woman's University. Her main goals as an educator are to create a space where students fall in love with learning, feel welcomed and loved, and have the tools they need in order to achieve their personal goals. In her free time, she loves to read at the park, explore new restaurants, and take yoga classes. Also, Elana has a Golden Retriever named Riggs (short for Rigatoni) that she spoils a lot!
Eliza was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest and moved to Brooklyn in 2001 to pursue a B.F.A. in photography at Pratt Institute. She discovered her interest in education while working on a photography project in which toddlers gave her makeovers. Through this project, she realized that she was more interested in the thinking processes of the children involved than in the final (and sometimes frightening) products. Eliza then enrolled in a master's program in early childhood education at Brooklyn College and began teaching in a 3's classroom at The Co-op School, where she taught for four and a half years. Eliza is thrilled to be part of Community Roots because of its amazing community of teachers, children, and families. In her life outside of school, Eliza loves to explore the city via foot or bike, draw, and tend to her tiny rooftop garden.
Emma Weissman is from Long Island, N.Y. and knew from a young age that she wanted to be a teacher. She attended SUNY Geneseo for her undergraduate degree in Early Childhood and Childhood Education with a concentration in Theater. She then attended Bank Street College of Education to obtain her master's degree in Early Childhood Special Education. During her time at Bank Street, Emma taught in inclusive and progressive preschool and second grade classrooms. Emma is thankful and excited to be beginning her journey at Community Roots this year!
Erika was born and raised primarily in the Northeast. She attended Syracuse University and graduated with a B.S in Inclusive Elementary and Special Education. She moved to New York City and spent four years teaching early elementary. Shortly after moving to NYC, she enrolled into Hunter College to study Birth - Sixth Grade Literacy Education and will graduate with her M.S.Ed in Spring 2021. This fall is her first year at Community Roots and she is excited to engage in a community that is committed to diversity and inclusion! In her free time, she enjoys being outdoors and exploring all the beautiful NYC parks.
Job Titles:
- Middle School Co - Director
Erin grew up in Bloomfield, Connecticut, a small town right outside of Hartford. She holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania, where she majored in History and minored in French, a Masters of Social Work degree from the University of California, Berkeley and a Masters in Educational Administration from Bank Street. She began her teaching career in 1998 as a Teach for America Corps member, teaching 4th Grade in the South Bronx. She then went on to teach 5th-8th Grade Social Studies at KIPP Academy. After leaving KIPP for a more progressive setting, Erin was part of the founding faculty of Essex Street Academy (ESA) on the Lower East Side. Erin taught 9th-12th Grade Social Studies, Humanities and Literature. Erin then became the Assistant Principal of ESA in 2007 and took over as Principal in 2010 and was there until joining Community Roots in 2016! She describes herself as a passionate educator, motivated by a deep commitment to educational equity and to empowering children, families, and teachers.
Job Titles:
- Director
- She / Her / Hers ) - Director of Student Supports
Hallie grew up in the roller skate capital of the world, Venice, CA. She studied dance and theater and sold organic produce before she realized that her passion was education-based. She took a very circuitous route to finishing college and earning her BA in Arts and Social Change. She studied teaching at Sonoma State University in northern California. She and her not-yet-wife moved to Brooklyn in 2003 and Hallie has been teaching middle and high school (or teaching teachers how to teach at Relay, GSE) in New York City ever since. In 2018, she and her wife were graced with a daughter, Dasia. All 3 of them live in Queens with their dog, Tuesday and cat Alfred.
Jayne was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. Although she loved the Midwest, she needed a change and decided to move to Los Angeles to earn her Bachelor of Arts degree at Occidental College. During and after her undergraduate years, she worked and advocated for young people through several community-based organizations. Soon, her passions were somewhat rerouted, and she decided to become a teacher. She attended Teachers College, Columbia University, and earned her M.A. in elementary education. Jayne taught 5th grade in New York City, and then 6th through 8th grade for 7 years in Los Angeles. Although she sometimes misses the West Coast, she is thrilled to be in New York teaching at Community Roots.
Jennifer has been a proud New Yorker all her life. She grew up in Port Washington, studied in Manhattan and currently resides in Brooklyn. In 2006, she obtained a Bachelor of Science in childhood and special education from NYU. During her four years at NYU, Jennifer's work-study program enabled her to work in diverse educational environments, which inspired her to pursue teaching full time. In her final year, she met the directors of Community Roots and knew their soon-to-be school was the perfect fit for her. Since then, Jennifer has been working as a teacher at Community Roots and is a proud member of the founding staff. She helped to open the first year of first grade in 2006, which she taught for two years before moving to third grade where she taught for three years. With a love for nature and the wondrous world around us, now Jennifer can be found teaching in the science lab. She is very happy to be a part of the growing Community Roots family and is honored to be serving the community of Fort Greene, where she lives.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Trustees
- Case Team Leader / the Bridgespan Group
Job Titles:
- Outdoor Education Specialist ( He / Him / His )
Job Titles:
- Founder
- Member of the Board of Trustees
Kate was born and raised on Long Island, NY. She attended James Madison University in Virginia, where she studied Elementary Education for both her undergraduate and graduate degrees. After graduating, she moved to Thailand to teach for two years and traveled Southeast Asia for a year. She then moved to Brooklyn and has been teaching first and second grade at a public school for the last six years. She is beyond excited to be a part of the Community Roots family.
Job Titles:
- Operations and Student Support Assistant
Job Titles:
- She / Her / Hers ) - Math Specialist ( 6 - 8 )
Kelly grew up on Cape Cod in the town of Sandwich, MA. She attended Syracuse University and received a B.S. degree in Inclusive Elementary and Special Education. Kelly also worked at the Elementary school as a maternity leave replacement in a Kindergarten class with the wonderful Rebecca. She has a passion for teaching and making sure all students feel included and part of a community. She loves teaching ELA and enjoys learning/teaching science, especially involving nature and space. She loves going camping with her family in New Hampshire as well as hanging at the ocean, reading a good book, and playing with her cat. Kelly loves Community Roots and is excited to see what the future holds!
Laura Magaw grew up in New Jersey with a big garden in the backyard so she truly grew up in "The Garden State". She attended The College of New Jersey where she studied Sociology and Elementary Education and later on got a masters in Curriculum and Instruction focusing on Teaching English to Speakers of other Languages. After graduating Laura taught Kindergarten at the American School of Madrid and Dubai American Academy. Eventually her love of New York City brought her home to the east coast. Laura loves teaching Science because she believes in hands-on learning that leads to new discoveries.
Lorrie grew up in New York in a family of artists. She attended Cooper Union where she received a B.F.A. in art. She then worked as a graphic designer for 15 years. After having two children, Lorrie's priorities changed. While spending many years volunteering in the schools that her children attended, she developed an interest in teaching. She pursued this interest by first teaching at a preschool and then in a pre-Kindergarten class at Beginning with Children Charter School in Brooklyn. Lorrie is proud to be a founding staff member at Community Roots where her experience includes teaching first grade and kindergarten. She feels strongly about the importance of building a creative learning environment and reflects this in her craft.
Maggie was born and raised in Columbus, OH. She attended Miami University of Ohio, graduating with a B.A. in marketing and art history. After college Maggie moved to Dallas to work as a 6th grade reading teacher for 2 years. During their time in Dallas, Maggie earned a M.Ed. in Late Literacy Education at Southern Methodist University. While she truly enjoyed the delicious food and warm weather Dallas had to offer, she moved to Brooklyn to be closer to family. In 2020, Maggie joined the Community Roots family to teach 6th grade humanities and now teaches 7th.
Maia began her career by working with not-for-profit agencies specializing in the care of children and their families, with a focus on mental health and Autism Spectrum Disorders. During this time, she continuously found her experiences with children to be the most fulfilling and decided to further her career pursuits in education. Maia has a Masters in Special Education and Behavior Disorders from Hunter College along with a second Masters in Literacy K-12. She has been working with Kinder and 1st Grade students, classroom teachers and families at Community Roots since 2008. Maia collaborates daily with classroom teachers to differentiate instruction in small and whole group settings to ensure that her students' academic, social and emotional needs are being met. She is committed to having a positive effect on student achievement and is dedicated to reaching and influencing children to meet their goals. Maia enjoys working closely with teachers, families and support teams to plan and discuss the best ways to support the unique learning needs of children.
May Lee grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She attended Wesleyan University and graduated with a BA in American Studies. After college, she taught English through a Fulbright grant in a small town in Germany and then moved to San Francisco to coordinate a literacy tutoring program at an elementary school. She realized through these experiences that she loved being in the classroom, leading her to earn her MA and teaching credential at the University of San Francisco in an equity/social justice focused residency program. She taught 5th grade in SF public schools for 3 years, and then moved to Berlin, Germany to teach 5th and 6th grade at a bilingual international school from 2019-2021. May Lee just recently moved to Brooklyn and when not teaching, she is often cooking elaborate meals for friends, learning to bike in the busy city streets, or spending time outdoors in the sun. She is very excited to join the CRCS community!
Megan Janke grew up in a quiet suburb of Philadelphia, PA. She attended Penn State University and graduated with a B.A. in Psychology and a B.A. in Communications. After graduation, she worked in marketing and advertising and managed a small business. However, she felt she wasn't helping the world become a better place so she joined the NYC Teaching Fellows Program. She earned a Master's Degree in Education: Childhood Special Education from Hunter College. She taught grades 1,2,3, and 5 before joining the Community Roots middle school staff in its inaugural year as the Learning Specialist. She was recruited to co-teach science during the following year and that's when she found her passion: teaching SCIENCE! She taught science for 3 years at Community Roots before a brief leave when she worked as the Manager of Education Programs at the New York Aquarium. She returned to the middle school in 2018 to continue teaching 7th and 8th grade science. Megan has presented at the NSTA National Conference. She continues to work with the New York Aquarium where she teaches science teachers for the Urban Advantage Science Initiative. In her free time she loves being outside with her husband Andy, playing with her daughters Cecelia (a CRCS student) and Luna (soon to be CRCS student) and snuggling with her dog Tug.
Michael was born and raised in Rhode Island and he has been living in Brooklyn for over a decade. Michael earned his undergraduate degree in Elementary and Special Education from Rhode Island College and his Masters in Literacy Education from Teachers College. He has taught grades 1-7 in various capacities including both 1st and 5th at CRCS. Michael is thrilled to be a part of the 1st grade team this year. In his free time, Michael enjoys spending time with friends and family, listening to music, and traveling.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Trustees
- Vice President / Moelis & Company
Millen was raised in a small town in Maryland. She attended George Mason University in Fairfax, VA graduating with a B.S. in psychology. Upon graduation, Millen began interning at George Mason University for their Mason LIFE Program. It was then that Millen discovered her love and passion of working with adults with special needs. Millen then decided to move to New York where she pursued a degree in education. Millen received her M.S.Ed. in special education/inclusive elementary from Hofstra University on Long Island. During her long breaks, she enjoys traveling to Africa and visiting her large family in Eritrea. Millen has worn many hats while working at Community Roots and is excited to be part of this wonderful community.
Natasha Harris was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. She attended Stony Brook University and graduated with a BA in Multidisciplinary Studies and a minor in Child and Family Studies in 2011. In 2019, she graduated with a dual degree in Early Childhood Education and General Childhood Education from Bank Street College of Education. She is currently attending Pace University and is expected to graduate in May 2024 with an advanced Literacy Specialist certificate. During her spare time, Natasha loves to bake and read. Natasha has taught PreK, 1st and 2nd grade over the past nine years but is looking forward to teaching READ180 at the Middle School.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Trustees
Nikki's undergraduate coursework at the University of Michigan School of Art and Design, focused on graphic design, however, inspired by her work in after-school art programs in Detroit's public schools, she moved to New York to join the New York City Teaching Fellows Program. She studied elementary education at Mercy College while working in a DOE public school in the South Bronx, where she was a lead teacher in both integrated co-taught classrooms and self-contained special education classrooms in kindergarten through sixth grade. She then went on to work in charter schools in the South Bronx and Lower East Side, starting in 2006, in the role of Learning Specialist, Special Education Coordinator, and eventually Director of Special Education. In 2009, she completed her coursework at Bank Street College's Leadership for Educational Change Program with a focus in special education. In 2013, Nikki joined Community Roots as the Director of Student Supports to collaborate with families, classroom teachers, paraprofessionals, the support provider team and the Committee on Special Education in the service of a strong and supportive inclusive environment. Most recently, in 2018, Nikki made the exciting decision to return to teaching as the 2nd/3rd Grade Learning Specialist and she couldn't be happier about the change!
Rachel grew up in Binghamton, New York. She pursued her dream of playing college soccer at SUNY Brockport where she earned a B.A. in psychology and elementary education. Rachel began her career working with students diagnosed with Autism and Behavioral disorders. This work led her to pursue a master's in special education at Binghamton University. Rachel continued following her passion for educating students with special needs in Brooklyn at the Kingsley School for Child Development - a place she describes as the ideal school environment for the education of preschool students with special needs. Rachel continued her interest in behavior development by working at the League School and Day Treatment Center. Rachel is thrilled to be a part of Community Roots for her 8th year.
Raheem was born and raised in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, NY; spending his early childhood in Saint Andrew, Jamaica. Upon graduating from high school in Brooklyn, Raheem attained his Bachelor's degree in Social Work from Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn. During this time, Raheem worked as a paraprofessional at Brooklyn Ascend Charter School, alongside a teacher who would go on to Community Roots, Molly Nestor. Their partnership inspired Raheem to focus his professional efforts within schools and he became a paraprofessional at Community Roots. One year later, Raheem became a Dean of Students at Brooklyn Ascend Charter School and worked in that capacity for three years. During that time, Raheem also worked at Community Roots' after school program. Raheem officially became a full-time member of CRCS' operations team in August 2019. When not working, Raheem creates music, hones his photography skills and practices social work throughout his community.
Rebecca has lived in Brooklyn (by way of Long Island) for a really long time. She spent the first several years in New York pursuing an acting career until she realized that the teaching profession was calling to her and telling her to go back to school. Rebecca received her B.F.A. in theatre performance at Fredonia State University and attended Bank Street College for her M.S.Ed. in early childhood special education. Rebecca worked as a preschool teacher before coming to Community Roots in 2006 to teach kindergarten. She loves teaching alongside very dedicated educators who, along with her amazing little students, teach her so much each and every year. When not at Community Roots, Rebecca enjoys bicycling all around NYC, traveling, and playing in the great outdoors with Ozzy, her husband. She also lives with two cute cats, Wyatt and Virgil and a big, goofy dog named Harlow.
Rebekah grew up in Sharon, MA. She spent a year in Israel volunteer teaching. She then got her B.A. in Elementary and Special Education at the University of Miami. After spending 7 months in Thailand, she moved to Brooklyn, NY in 2016 where she has been teaching second and third grade in various general and special education settings in Bed Stuy and Brownsville. She earned her dual masters in General Elementary and Special Education. She is excited to join the Community Roots family teaching 5th grade.
Richard was born and raised in the Boston area, and is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin - Madison, where he majored in Anthropology and English. He received his M.A. in Creative Writing from City University New York. Richard has worked with youth and adults in a variety of contexts, including education, recreation and counseling. He has lived and worked in Spain and has traveled in Central America, Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. He now lives in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn with his wife and two children.
Sandy moved to the U.S. from Seoul, Korea at the age of 5 and grew up in 4 of the 5 boroughs of NYC. She is a hardcore Brooklynite for the past 20 plus years with her husband and son. Sandy attended Pace University and Baruch College while working full time in the international shipping industry. After 20 years of shipping goods and humanitarian aid resources and circus animals (!) all over the world, Sandy made the switch to education and helped to open Community Roots in 2006. Sandy has discovered the logistics of "shipping" children home safely on buses is not at all easier than the complicated logistics of international shipping, but definitely much more rewarding.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Trustees
- Member of the LEADERSHIP Team
- Co - Founder & Co - Director / Community Roots Charter School
- Co - Founder and K - 5 Co - Director
Sara Stone has been working in public education since 1999. After graduating from Syracuse University with a degree in Inclusive Education Sara began her teaching career working with students as a learning specialist and then as a fourth and fifth grade teacher at a small progressive public elementary school in New York City. While teaching at Midtown West, Sara attained a Master's degree in Educational Leadership from Bank Street College of Education. Through this program Sara met co-founder and co-director of Community Roots Charter School, Allison Keil. This is where the blueprints were drawn up for a school that would later become the foundation for a progressive and inclusive public school. Sara continues to be driven by the need to further develop and sustain a highly successful school that meets the needs of all students through collaboration and creativity.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Trustees
- Board Co - Chair / Managing Partner / Perennial Advisors, LLC
Susan has taught elementary education for the past 17 years in both private and public schools. Every year, she hopes to help cultivate a classroom where there is a lot of laughter and joy and where her students will feel a deep sense of belonging. She is committed to anti-bias education and believes one of her greatest responsibilities as a teacher is to equip her students with a lens towards social justice and action. Susan hopes to instill her students with a desire to share their own stories and experiences, as well as, value those of others. She received her Bachelor of Arts from Bryn Mawr College and her Master of Science from Bank Street College of Education. Outside of work, Susan's three children who are CRCS students, Minki, Mina and Mino, like to keep her on her toes.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Trustees
- Head of School / Chapin
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Trustees
- Corporate Development & Strategy
Tabitha was born just across the street at the Brooklyn Hospital Center and grew up in East New York, Brooklyn. She attended NYC public schools throughout her K-12 education. Then, she attended Colgate University in Hamilton, NY. During her time there, she spent some time living in Kyoto, Japan studying linguistics and learning Japanese. When she came back, she fell in love with the education field and interned at YouthBuild Charter School in Philadelphia. She stepped into her own classroom in 2019 at Uncommon Schools, where she taught Kindergarten for 3 years. She is excited to continue her journey teaching Kindergarten here at Community Roots!
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Trustees
- Board Co - Chair / Operating Partner
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Trustees
- Deputy of the Office of Organization, Development, Talent & Culture / NYC Department of Education
Walter was born and raised in Michigan. He lives in Yonkers with his fiancee (we are getting married in December) and dog, Cooper. This is Walt's 17th year teaching and having began at Community Roots in 2015. He has a Bachelor's degree from Wayne State University and Master's degree from Marygrove College. Math has been a passion since an early age. When he is not teaching, Walt enjoys reading, playing trivia, and watching sports.
Job Titles:
- Operations and Teaching Assistant
Xiomara was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. She spent most of her life living in Fort Greene, growing up only two blocks away from P.S 67 which now houses Community Roots Charter School. Prior to joining CRCS, Xiomara serviced at-risk families through her work at Dr. White Community Center located minutes away from CRCS. While working there, she learned of a new charter school in need of a home within Fort Greene. Moved by this school's mission, Xiomara educated her neighbors and petitioned this school for her community. She had no idea that this school, Community Roots, would later become her second home. She became a founding member of CRCS' staff in 2006.