ELMCHARTER SCHOOL - Key Persons
AliEpsteinisexcitedtojointheElmCommunityforthe2020-2021schoolyear!AliisaNewJerseynative,andnowlivesinBrooklyn.Sheenteredintoeducationwiththemissionofensuringthatallcommunitieshaveaccesstoexcellentschoolingsothatanyindividualisabletorealizetheirgoals.ShewasafoundingTeachforAmericacorpsmemberintheLouisianaDelta,whereshelearnedfirsthandtheimportanceofbeingresponsivetothecommunitythatsheserved.Fromthere,AlimovedclosertohomewheresheworkedatKIPPNewJersey.AtKIPP,Alihelpedtodevelopacontent-basedliteracycurriculumforKindergartenclassroomsacrosstheKIPPNJnetwork.AfterKIPP,AliservedasResidentDirectoratAscend,whereshebecamecertifiedinResponsiveClassroomandhelpedshifttheschooltoamorelearner-centeredapproachtocurriculumandinstruction.AliiscurrentlyworkingtowardsherMastersinLiteracyCurriculumatTeachersCollege,andisthrilledtojoinElmastheirDirectorofHumanities!
Job Titles:
- Finance
- Treasurer
- Manager Within the Assurance
AnupaJacobisaManagerwithintheAssurancepracticeatPricewaterhouseCoopersLLPservinglargepublicandnon-publicclients.Priortothis,sheworkedasafinancialanalystforSterlingPublishingCo.,Inc.SheearnedherMasterinBusinessAdministrationfromBaruchCollege'sZicklinSchoolofBusinessandholdsanactiveCPAlicenseinthestateofNewYork.Sheenjoysreading,travellingandbeinginthecompanyoffamilyandfriends.ShelivesinAlbertson,NewYorkwithherhusbandandson.
AshleyissoexcitedtobeanewmemberoftheElmCommunity.ShewasbornandraisedinCorona,Queens.ShegraduatedfromHunterCollegewithaBachelorsDegreeinChildhoodEducationandSociology.AshleyiscurrentlyenrolledinaMastersprogramatQueensCollegeforSpecialEducationandBehavioralAnalysis.Shebelievesitisimportanttocreateasafespaceforstudentstolearnandbondwiththeirpeersandteachers.Ashleybelievesallstudentswillsucceedifwetakethetimeandefforttolearnabouttheirinterestsandtheirwayoflearning.Hergoalistohelpthemhavealoveforlearningandtobecuriousabouttheworldaroundthem.
AthenaAmentasisveryexcitedtojointheElmCommunityCharterSchoolthisschoolyear.AthenahasrecentlymovedtotheareaafterteachinginLongIslandforthepasttwoyears.ShehasaMastersdegreefromQueensCollegeinChildhoodEducationandiscertifiedinB-2educationaswell.Inhersparetime,Athenalovesreading,hiking,andexploringnewplaces.Athenaisalifelonglearnerandaimstofosteraloveoflearninginallherstudentsthattheymaycarrywiththemthroughouttheirlives.
BiancaAgronissuperexcitedtobejoiningtheElmCommunityCharterFamilythisyear!BiancaobtainedaBAinPsychologywithaconcentrationinchilddevelopmentandcontinuedherstudiesinEarlychildhoodandEarlySpecialEducationreceivingherMaster'sDegreefromGrandCanyonUniversity.Hereducationalphilosophyisthatallchildrenareuniqueandlearnintheirowndistinctivewaysandeducatorsneedtoprovideeachstudentwithanenvironmentwheretheyareabletogrowacademicallyaswellas:physically,mentally,emotionallyandsocially.Itishermissiontocreatethistypeofsettingwhileusingmodificationsthatwillmeeteverystudent'sneedsandgivethemtheopportunitytomeettheirfullpotential.BiancawasbornandraisedinBrooklyn,NY.
BrendaisexcitedtobeginherjourneyatElm!ShehasrecentlymovedbacktoNewYorkfromNorthLasVegas,Nevadawhereshewasaresourceroomteacher,literacyspecialistandinstructionalcoachforthepastsevenyears.Sheispassionateabouteducatingchildrenandhasastrongbeliefthatallchildrenhavetherighttoanequitableeducation.Shefirmlybelievesthatfamilyandcommunityplayanintegralpartinsupportingstudentsuccessandlooksforwardtobuildingthosekeyrelationships.ShecurrentlyhasadualmastersdegreeinSpecialandGeneralEducationfromMolloyCollege.
BrianWrightisapassionateandenthusiasticmusiceducatorwithnearly10yearsofexperienceinmusiceducationandleadership.HeobtainedhisBachelorsofArtsDegreeinMusicfromBenedictCollegeinColumbia,SouthCarolinawithaconcentrationinvoice.Hisloveformusichasallowedhimtosinginover6countriesincluding:Japan,Germany,Italy,France,Singapore,andIndia.
CamilaRojasjoinsElm'sOperationsTeamwithexperienceworkingintheoperationsworldwithinschoolforthelastthreeyears.CamilawasborninBogota,Colombia,buthascalledNYChomeforthelastnineyears.Asanimmigrant,shevalueseducationasapointofaccessandopportunity,andthus,hasdevotedhertalentsandtimetoworkinginschools.Camilabelievesingivingbacktothecommunityandultimatelycontributingtoaschoolthathelpsstudentsachievetheirdreams.CamilagraduatedfromHunterCollegewithaBachelor'sdegreeinSociologyandaminorinWomenandGenderStudies.ShealsoholdsadegreeinHumanServices.
CarolineEastonisexcitedtobejoiningElmCharterCommunitySchoolasaSTEMteacher.Shehas9yearsofexperienceteachingwithinNewYorkCityschoolsandhasaloveforthecreativityanddiscoverythatoccurswithinanelementaryschoolscienceclassroom.Carolinefeelspassionatelyaboutherroleinfosteringasenseofcuriosityandhelpingstudentstodeveloptheskillstheyneedtobecomecriticalthinkersandlifelonglearners.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Board
- Finance
- Sales Executive at Hanweck
ChrisKongisaSalesExecutiveatHanweck,aleadingproviderinoptionsdataandanalytics.HebeganhiscareeratMetlifebeforespendinganumberofyearswithMoody'sAnalyticsinvariousfrontofficeandsalesroles.ChrisgraduatedfromBinghamtonUniversitywherehestudiedBiology,andmethiswife.Inadditiontohisprofessionalcareer,heisafatherto3beautifulchildren,andanactivememberatalocalchurchinElmhurst,Queens.
ClaudiaCowan-Josephsisanenergeticanddedicatededucatorwithapassionforqualityeducation.Herphilosophyisgroundedinequityandholisticdevelopment.Claudiastronglybelievesthateverychildcanlearnifgiventherightsupportsystem.Claudiawantstoinspireherstudentstodevelopaloveforlearning.Creatingahealthyclassroomenvironmentthatsupportsstudents'social-emotionalandacademicgrowthisofutmostimportancetoher.ClaudiawasbornandraisedinJamaica,wheresheservedasaneducatorforover12years.PriortojoiningElm,ClaudiahasbeenteachingearlychildhoodstudentsinQueens,NewYork,forfouryears.Sheholdsamaster'sdegreeineducationandcertificationinearlychildhoodB-2andgrades1-6.ClaudiaisexcitedtojointheElmCommunityCharterSchoolandislookingforwardtoagreatandfulfillingschoolyear.
DebbieThomasisafirstgenerationIndian-American,bornandraisedinQueens,NewYork.SheearnedherundergraduatedegreeinGovernmentandPoliticsfromSt.John'sUniversityandherJ.D.fromHofstraUniversitySchoolofLaw.DebbiehasexperienceworkingwiththeDepartmentofHomelandSecurity'sBureauofCitizenship&ImmigrationServices,theDepartmentofLabor,theExecutiveOfficeforImmigrationReview,andtheNewYorkCityAdministrationforChildren'sServices,litigatingchildabuseandneglectcasesinManhattanFamilyCourt.DebbieiscurrentlyaStaffAttorneyfortheNewYorkCityOfficeofAdministrativeTrialsandHearingsandservesasafacultymemberfortheAdministrativeJudicialInstitute,trainingfacultyandnewlyhiredHearingOfficersinsubstantiveareasoflaw.
ErikaWilliamsearnedherBachelor'sinEnglishfromOhioUniversityandherMasterofArtsinTeachingfromAmericanUniversity.Sheispassionateaboutteachingandenjoyswatchingthejoyandcuriosityofherstudents.Sheisfocusedoncreatinganinclusiveanddiverseclassroomandensuringallstudentsfeelathome.ThoughoriginallyfromAthens,OH,ErikarecentlymovedtoNewYorkfromRichmond,VA,whereshetaughtinvariouspreschoolclassroomsandworkedasa4thgradeteacherforthepublicschoolsystem.Whiledoingso,shealsotutoredandservedasherschool'sHistoryandSocialScienceInstructionalLead.Inherfreetime,Ms.Williamslikestocrochet,read,anddoyoga.SheissoexcitedtojoinElmCommunityCharterforthe2022-23schoolyear!
EvaisveryexcitedtobepartoftheElmCommunityTeam!SheisreturningtoArteducationafterworkingthepast7yearsasMandarinlanguageconsultantinmiddlehighschool,andasleadteacherinvariousstyledpreschoolinLongIslandandNewYorkCity.ShehasaB.A.inFineArtsfromSichuanFineArtInstituteinChina,andaM.A.inChildhoodEducationfromQueensCollege.Throughyearsofteaching,shehaspromotedtheimportantrolethatcreativityplaysinlearning.Shelikestoexposestudentstoavarietyofdifferentartmaterialsandintroducethemtodiverseartworksbyartistsfromallaroundtheworldandthroughouthistory.
FarhiaNihaisathoughtfuleducatorwhoisexcitedtostartherfirstyearasaSpecialEducationTeacheratElmCommunityCharterSchool.HavinggraduatedwithaBachelor'sdegreeinHistory,sheisnowworkingtowardsadualcertificationinSpecialandGeneralEducationfor1stto6thgrade.Farhiabelievesinmaintainingstrongcommunicationwithfamiliesinregardtotheirchild'seducation.HavinggrownupinQueensherself,herconnectiontothecommunityisstrong,andstrivestoprepareallherstudentsforMiddleschool.
GinaSpriggsisapassionateandenthusiasticeducatorwhoisdedicatedtoenrichinganddevelopingthemindsofchildren.Shecreatesanengagingandnurturingclassroomthatbuildscommunityandaloveforlearning.Shefindsjoyinhelpingchildrenmeettheirgoals,andempowerschildrentobecomeadvocatesforthemselvesandothers.Shebelievesinstrengtheningchildrens'social-emotionalandacademicskills,creatinganenvironmentwherechildrenareexcitedtolearn,andintegratingfunbackintoeducation.GinaishonoredtobringelevenyearsofearlychildhoodeducationexperiencetotheElmcommunity.SheholdsaMaster'sDegreeinEducationalLeadershipfromTowsonUniversity,inadditiontoaBachelor'sdegreeinFamilyandConsumerSciencesfromMorganStateUniversity.
Job Titles:
- Director of Support Services
- Academic Committee Special Education
GraceYunistheDirectorofSupportServicesataUnityCharterSchoolinBrooklyn,NY,wheresheoverseesthespecialpopulationsprogramsforgrades6through9.Priortothisrole,Gracetaughtstudentswithspecialneedsfor7years.ShealsohelpedlaunchaGreenDotcharterhighschoolinLosAngelesasamemberofthefoundingteam.Shehasexperiencecreatingspeciallydesignedinstructionforstudentswithspecialneedsinmultiplecontentareas.Graceobtainedhermaster'sdegreefromLoyolaMarymountUniversityineducationwithaspecializationinspecialeducation.
Job Titles:
- Counselor
- School Counselor
HaleyRamirezisalicensedSchoolCounselorthrilledtobejoiningtheElmCommunityCharterSchoolteam!Passionateaboutsupportingeachstudent'soveralldevelopmentandrealizationoffullpotential,HaleyhasservedasaSchoolCounselorsince2015inbothpublicandprivateschoolsinKansas,Georgia,andNewYork.HaleyholdsaMastersinCounselingandStudentDevelopmentfromKansasStateUniversity.NowcallingCorona,Queenshome,HaleyremainspassionateaboutherhometownKansasCitysportsteamsandbarbecuewhilealsoenjoyingtherichculture,flavors,andexperiencesfoundinQueens.Inherfreetime,Haleycanusuallybefoundspendingtimewithherfamily,tryinganewrecipe,orgettingactiveonabasketballcourtorsoccerfield.
Job Titles:
- Lead Teacher
- Teach for America Corps Member
AsanaspiringteacherandTeachforAmericaCorpsMember,JamesPerezisexcitedtoworkwithElmCommunityCharterSchoolandhelpredefinetheclassroom.GrowingupinQueens,NY,Jameshaslearnedhowimpactfulandimportantitistohaveaqualityeducationandrolemodeltohelpguideyouonthepathtobecomingthebestpersonyoucanbe.Throughtutoringandguidingclassmatesinvarioussubjectsandskillssuchas:musictheory,microbiology,step,andFilipinoculture,herealizedthevalueandimportanceofteachingandsupportingothers.Jamesstrivestocreateaclassroomenvironmentthatiswelcoming,supportive,interactive,andengagingforallstudentssothattheycanbeexcitedtocomebackandalsodevelopaloveforlearning.HegraduatedMagnaCumLaudeandholdsaBachelorofScienceinNursingfromAdelphiUniversity.
Ms.MeliisnotonlyaFoundingElmParent,butsheisalsoasubstituteteacher/operationalassistantatElm.Shelovestousehercreativitytoengagewithourcommunityandisafirmbelieverofdancinglikenobody'swatching.Ms.Meliencourageslearnerstobetruetothemselvesnomatterthecircumstances,towalkandtalkwithconfidence,andtoalwayslovethemselves.
Jessicalovestoinspireallchildrentobecomelifelongreaders.Shecultivatesaclassroomthatsupportschildreninboththeirsocial-emotionalandacademicgoals,andcreatesaspaceforchildrentolearn,grow,anddiscovertheirindividualgiftsandtalents.JessicabringstenyearsofearlychildhoodclassroomexperiencefromPre-Ktofirstgrade.SheholdsaMaster'sDegreeinLiteracyfromWesternMichiganUniversity,inadditiontoaBachelor'sdegreeinEarlyChildhoodEducation.
Job Titles:
- Sports & Movement Teacher
Katherine(Kate)BacaniisexcitedtojointheElmCommunityCSfamily.ShelivedinElmhurstasababybeforemovingtoLongIsland,whereshecurrentlystilllives.Shehas14yearsexperienceincharterschools,workingwithstudentsingradesK-8invariousroles.Shehasalsolead100thDayofSchool,MathMonth,andAwardsDaycelebrations.KatehasaBachelor'sinInclusiveChildhoodEducation,withaminorinmathematicsandherMaster'sinEarlyChildhoodEducation.Sheisexcitedtobringherknowledgeandpassionbacktothecommunityshecamefrom!
Job Titles:
- SUBSTITUTE TEACHER & OPERATIONS ASSISTANT
Job Titles:
- Assistant Principal
- Leader at Elm Community CS
KaylaCobbisafoundingschoolleaderatElmCommunityCS.KaylawasbornandraisedinDetroit,Michigan,buthascalledNewYorkCityhomeformorethantenyears.ShebeganhercareerineducationwithTeachForAmerica,workingatacharterschoolinHarlemwheresheservedasateacher,leader,andeventuallyanInstructionalManager.AsanInstructionalManager,shedevelopedaninquiry-basedsciencecurriculumforanetworkofcharterschools,designingengagingassessments,andprovidingprofessionaldevelopmenttomorethan100teachersandleadersacrossseveralelementaryschools.KaylaholdsaBachelorofArtsinPsychologyfromColumbiaUniversityandaMasterofArtsinTeachingfromRelayGraduateSchoolofEducation.
KayleenEstevezisthenewestadditiontoourElmCommunityCounselingDepartmentandissupereageraboutmeeting&beginningtoworkwithallofourlearnersandtheirfamilies.Ms.Estevezstronglybelievesthateverychilddeservestofeelrecognizedandempowered.Thus,shepridesherselfinbuildingpositiverelationshipsthatwillhelppushourlearnerstotheirlimitsandultimately,encouragetheiroverallgrowth.Ms.EstevezisaDominican-AmericanQueensnativewhoearnedherBachelor'sDegreeinPsychologyatCUNYQueensCollegeandherMaster'sDegreeinSchoolCounselingatAlfredUniversity.Sheisextremelyexcitedaboutjoiningourteam&can'twaitfortheupcomingschoolyear!
KimberlyPlacenciawasborninBrooklynandcurrentlyresidesinQueens.ShehasaBachelor'sinPsychologyandaMinorinSociologyfromJohnJayCollegeofCriminalJustice.Ms.Placenciaisverypassionateaboutmakingalastingimpactinunderservedcommunities.Shehasworkedwithseveralnon-profitssupportingfamilieswithnavigatingservicessuchashousing,publicassistance,SSI,childcareearlyintervention,andimmigration.Shebelievesthatoptionsandopportunitiesbecomeavailableonceachildhastheeducation,services,andsupporttheyneed.Asafirst-generationcollegestudent,sheunderstandstheimportanceofschoolsupport,advocacy,strongrelationships,equitablesupportsystems,andqualityinstructions.Ms.PlacenciahassixyearsofexperienceinschooloperationsandisexcitedtobejoiningElmCharterSchool!
Job Titles:
- Director of Student Supports
KizzyHodgejoinsElmCommunityCharterSchoolastheDirectorofStudentSupports.ShehailsfromQueens,NY,wheresheexperiencedfirsthandthedisparityinoureducationsystem.Thishasfueledhercommitmenttoensuringthatallkidshaveaccesstoaqualityeducation.HodgejoinsElmfromAscendPublicCharterSchoolswhereshewastheDirectorofTeachingFellowsProgramming,designingandimplementingrichprogrammingandsupportsfornewteachersandaspiringleaders.Priortothisrole,Hodgewasateacher,schoolleader,andnetworkleaderinthechartersector.HodgeholdsaMaster'sinSpecialandGeneralEducationandisexcitedtobringherpassionforeducationreformtosupportthestudents,families,andstaffintheElmcommunity!
Job Titles:
- Facilities Chair Property Management & Real Estate
LawrenceZhouisthesonofimmigrantsfromShanghai,China.HegrewupinQueensandcurrentlyresidesinElmhurst.LawrencehasearnedaCertificateinCommercialPropertyManagementfromNYU'sSchackInstituteofRealEstate.Hehasheldvariousrolesintherealestateindustry,includingasPropertyManagerofHudsonRiverParkTrust,aNewYorkStatepublicbenefitcorporation,wherehemanagedaportfoliooftwenty(20)commercialpropertiesconsistingof2.5millionsquarefeet.LawrenceiscurrentlyaRealEstateAnalystatConsolidatedEdisonCompanyofNewYork,Inc.
LeonRamotarfirmlyaffirmsthataneducationalspaceshouldbewarm,inclusive,community-minded,rigorousandachild-centeredspacethatsupportseachlearner-andthecommunityatlarge.Iembodyaninclusive,anti-racist,culturallyreponsiveapproachwhilepresumingcompetenceinalllearners.Listeningdirectlytotheheartbeatsofourchildrenthroughcultivating,supporting,andnurturingeachbodyandmindinthecommunitytofullydevelopisatthe-core-ofmytenets.Intandemwithotherlinesofdevelopment,thereisasurgeofawakeningofthewholechild-whichIseektofullyembodyatElmCommunityCharterSchoolsbyalwaysputtingstudentsfirst.Asalifelonglearner,Leonseekstoinquire,imagineandcreatelearningexperiencesthatstimulateengagementandtailorfortheneedsofalllearners.LeonhasservedasaHeadTeacher,GradeTeamLeaderandTeacherLeaderFellowinelementaryeducationinthechartersector.LeonholdsaBachelorsofArtsinPsychology&SpecialHonorsCurriculumfromHunterCollege,CityUniversityofNewYork(CUNY)wherehegraduatedSummaCumLaudeandMasterofArtsinElementaryInclusiveEducationwithaGiftedExtensionfromTeachersCollege,ColumbiaUniversity.LeonwasaproudgraduatefromtheTeacherOpportunityCorps(TOCII)atTeachersCollege,ColumbiaUniversitywhereteachersofcolorsupportunderrepresentedstudents.
Asalicensedmentalhealthcounselor,Melisabelievesthateverychilddeservestobeseen,heard,andunderstood.Melisafocusesoncultivatingasafeandsecureenvironmentbuiltonwarmth,respect,careandtrust.AsaSchoolCounselor,Melisa'sgoalistohelpchildrenidentify,regulate,andexpresstheirfeelings.Indoingso,theyareequippedtoresponsiblymakelifedecisions,ultimatelydevelopingself-confidence,highself-esteem,andahealthyemotionaloutlookonlife.Melisaworkedasamentalhealthprofessionalsince2011.ShereceivedherBachelorsofArtsinPsychologyfromPaceUniversityin2008andreceivedherMastersofArtsinMentalHealthCounselingin2012.
Job Titles:
- Director of Teacher Development
Job Titles:
- Culture Associate
- Substitute Teacher & Operational Assistance
Ms.MeliisnotonlyaFoundingElmParent,butsheisalsoasubstituteteacher/operationalassistantatElm.Shelovestousehercreativitytoengagewithourcommunityandisafirmbelieverofdancinglikenobody'swatching.Ms.Meliencourageslearnerstobetruetothemselvesnomatterthecircumstances,towalkandtalkwithconfidence,andtoalwayslovethemselves.
Job Titles:
- Director at Frederick Douglass Academy II
- Secretary Education & Community - Based Org
MichaelDorcellyisaCommunitySchoolDirectoratFrederickDouglassAcademyIIthroughapartnershipwiththeRaisingEducationalAchievementCoalitionofHarlematTeachersCollege,ColumbiaUniversity.HebeganhiscareerinNewYorkCitypublicschoolsin2013byservingasaLeadershipTrainer/ProgramFacilitatorwiththeLeadershipProgram,Inc.MichaelcompletedhisundergraduatestudiesatWilliamPatersonUniversity,obtainingabachelor'sdegreeinEnglishwritingandinterpersonalcommunication.Heobtainedhismaster'sdegreeincomparativeandinternationaleducationfromTeachersCollege,ColumbiaUniversity.
Job Titles:
- Director of Finance at NYU Langone Health
PrijoThomasisaDirectorofFinanceatNYULangoneHealthwithintheSchoolofMedicine.Priortothisrole,hewasanAnalystandthenAssociateatGoldmanSachsinJerseyCity,NJ.HeholdsaBachelorsdegreeinFinanceandInvestmentsfromMacaulayHonorsCollegeatBaruchCollege.Inhiscurrentrole,PrijooverseestheFinanceteamresponsibleforbudgeting,fiscalmanagement,forecasting,andstrategicplanningfortheResearchandEducationMissionsoftheNYUSchoolofMedicine.HeismarriedtoJocinThomas,anAssociateAreaDirectorforIntervarsityChristianFellowshipinNewYorkCity.
,isaQueensnativewhogrewupinQueens,attendedQueenspublicschools,andspentmostofherdaysplayinghandballinGrandAvePark.Priscillahasoveradozenyearsofexperienceasateacher,curriculumwriter,andschoolleaderinindependentcharters,districtschools,andcharternetworks,whichequipshertoleadauniquelydesignedforthechildrenofQueens.Sheholdsabachelor'sdegreefromGoucherCollege,aMastersofEducationinAt-RiskStudentsfromGoucherCollege,andaMastersofEducationinSchoolLeadershipfromTeachersCollegeinColumbiaUniversity.
Nowinit'sfourthyearofoperation,ElmCommunityCharterSchoolisnotonlyhometoover300CentralQueenschildren,butisalsoattendedbyMs.Walton'sowndaughteraswellasthechildrenofotherElmStaffMembers.
PriscillaWaltonisarelentlessandpassionateeducatorseekingtoservestudentsthrougharich,holistic,andrelevanteducation.Herdedicationisdrivenbythebeliefthatallchildrenareempoweredwhentheirsenseofwonderisignitedbyengagingcurriculum.Since2007,Priscillahasservedasateacherandleaderinelementaryandmiddleschoolsettings,bothdistrictandcharter.ShehasdesignedanddirectedinstructionalprogramsattheK-5gradelevels,aswellasprofessionaldevelopmentbothonschool-wideandnetwork-widelevels.PriscillaholdsaMastersinEducationinSchoolLeadershipandAt-RiskStudents.
RickFranchellaisanempatheticandfun-lovingteacherwhoisdedicatedtoprovidingallstudentswithmeaningfuleducationalexperiencesthroughthelensofhands-onscience.Asaneducator,Rickbelievesthatallchildrendeservetheopportunitiesandtoolstosucceedinanever-changinglearningenvironment.HehastaughtelementaryschoolstudentsfortenyearsinConnecticut,Washington,D.C.,Manhattanandworkedasaseniormanagerofahands-onscienceafterschoolandschoolresidencybusinesscalledTheTinyScientistinBrooklyn.Rickbelievesthatchildrenareattheirbestwhentheyareinpursuitoftheaspectsoflifewhichmostfascinatethem.Thiswonderandquestioningoftheworldaroundstudentshelpstoestablishaconcreteeducationalapproachtoinquirybasedandmasterylearningmodels.HeholdsaBachelor'sDegreefromtheCollegeoftheHolyCrossandMasterintheArtofTeacherGraduateDegreefromManhattanvilleCollege.
RosaliaGattusoisaavideducator,singer,actress,performerandsongwriter.ShehasearnedherBachelorofArtsinSociologyandMastersofArtsinEducationfromQueensCollege.Shehasbeenteachingfor9yearsandworkingwithchildrenforover15years.Shehastaughtadiversegroupofstudentsincatholic,charterandpublicschools.ShealsohastaughtanddevelopedSTEAMcurriculumandtaughtinprojectbasedlearningapproach.AsamusicianShehaspioneeredachildren'schoirandanafterschoolmusicaltheaterartsprogram.AsaworshipleaderandcantorinchurchesoftheBrooklynandQueensDioceseshehasleadmanyinsong.AsanactressandsingershehasperformedinseveralcommunitytheaterperformancesinQueensandLongIsland.
ShanshanXiaoiscurrentlyanearlychildhoodteacherinQueens,NYwholovestoworkwithchildren,providingthemwithaninteractiveandhands-onexplorationthroughallclassroomactivitiesandlessons.Shehasbeenteachingforthepast3yearsdesigningfullyearsofcurriculumandlessonplans.ShehasalsodevelopedavirtualondemandEnglishandMathlearningvideowith"TheWorldBook"withover1,000studentslearningalongsideShanshan'scoursewhichspanstoover2monthsanddailyclassenrichment.Shanshanhasalsobeensingingprofessionallyformorethan10years,performinginvenuesandconcertssuchasLincolncenterandCarnegieHallforthousandsofaudiences.Shehopestocombineherextensivemusicalbackgroundandteachingtogethertoengageyoungchildren.
StefanieChanisaQueensnativeandisveryexcitedtobeginherteachingcareerintheneighborhoodshegrewupin.StefanierecentlygraduatedfromHunterCollegewithaMastersofEducationinEarlyChildhoodEducationandreceivedherBachelorsofScienceinChildhoodEducationfromPaceUniversity.Stefaniebelievesinmotivating,challenging,andencouragingherstudentstobetheirbestselves.Sheisdedicatedtomakingsureeverychildreceivesanindividualizededucationthatcaterstotheiruniqueneeds.StefaniepracticedChinesetraditionaldancefromayoungageandoccasionallyworksinthetelevisionandfilmindustryinhersparetime.Growingupasaperformer,Stefanieenjoysincorporatingtheartsintoeducationtoenhancelearning.
TajiaIslamisacaringanddedicatedteacherwhoisexcitedtobejoiningtheElmCommunityCharterSchool!ShehastaughtKindergartenfor8yearsinMichiganandtakesprideinnurturingandguidingherstudentstodeveloptheirloveforlearning,whichenhancestheirabilitytobecomecontributingcitizensintheircommunity.Shetrulylovesteachingandbeingabletohavechildrenincreasetheirknowledgeandunlocktheirfullpotential.Shebelievesthatapositiveelementaryeducationisessentialtocreatingsuccessfullifelonglearners.ShehasgraduatedfromWayneStateUniversityinDetroit,MichiganwithaBachelorsofScienceinElementaryEducationandMastersofEducationinEarlyChildhoodEducation.
Hi!MynameisTehyaBowersandIamaSouthernBellemakingherwayalongtheEastCoast.BeingbornandraisedinMemphis,TN,Ihavehadalotofexperienceofrepresentationlackingbetweenmycolleaguesandmyadmin.teamsaswell.AsIbegunmyinitialyearsofbeinganeducator,Ihavethroughlyenjoyedlearningthedifferentaspectsofbecomingalifelonglearnerwithinmyself.EnsuringthateachstudentthattouchesaseatinmyclassroomhasthefeelingofsafetyintheirlearningexperiencebywayofremainingtransparentinmyeffortsastheireducatorwillremainkeyinmyteachingphilosophyandalsoasImoldmyimpacthereatElm.Providingmystudents,andmycolleague,thissafespaceforgrowthdemonstratesrealisticexpectationsformyselfandmystudentswhichinreturndemonstratestomystudentsthattheirlearningwillbealifelongstair-stepofknowledgethattheyobtaineachyearbuildingontothemeachyeartofollow.Iamconfidentinmyeffortstowardawell-roundedcommunityaswellasthewell-roundedstudentsthatIwillbereleasingintosocietyandIamsoelatedtostartmyjourneywithElmCharterCommunitySchool.
YazmineCarretowasbornandraisedinNewYork.Shewasateacherassistantinaspecialeducationschoolwheresheprovideda‘1:1teachinginstruction'stylewithstudentsbetweentheagesof5and18yearsold.Additionally,Yazminealsoteachessecondgrademath.Hergoalforherstudentsistomakethemfeelwelcomedandtomakesuretheylookforwardtolearningnewthingsdaily.Shewantsherstudentstogrowandbecomecriticalthinkers.ForYazmineItwouldmeanmorethananythingtomakeadifferenceandtoinspireothers.YazminegraduatedfromQueensCollegewithaBachelorsofArtinPsychologyandaimstoachieveacareerineducation.YazminewillbestartinggraduateschoolinthenexttermtoearnherMastersofArtsinTeachingatRelayGraduateSchoolofEducation.SheisextremelyexcitedtobejoiningElmCommunityCharterschool.
YingGaowasborninChinaandimmigratedtoNewYorkwithherfamilywhenshewas15
yearsold.ShegraduatedfromQueensCollegewithamaster'sdegreeinchildhoodeducation.
Yingbelieveseverychildhasinfinitepotentialtosucceedinvariousareas;theyalldeservea
Job Titles:
- Education Leadership Academic Committee
ZainebHussainisapassionateanddedicatededucatorandleaderwhobelievesallstudentsdeserveawell-roundededucationthatunlockstheirtruepotential.Currently,sheistheDirectoroftheMiddleSchoolatChristinaSeixAcademy;responsibleforoverseeingthedevelopmentofthe5th-8thgradeprogramofanewMiddleSchool.RaisedinQueens,NewYork,ZainebfoundherwayintoteachingthroughTeachForAmericaaftercompletingherundergraduatestudies.ShehasservedasaStaffandCurriculumDeveloperofScience,andleaderinbothcharterandprivatesettings.ZainebholdsherMastersinEducationatBankStreetCollegeofEducation.ANewYorkeratheart,shelovesthecity,goodmusic,goodfoodandgoodcompany!