Elementary School Staff

Administration

Mike Ferrara

Elementary School Co-Principal

Yvette Ferrara

Elementary School Co-Principal

Jacqueline Abreu

Dean of Academics and Culture

Lindsay Bergh

Dean of Academics and Culture

Cristal Rodriguez

Director of Special Needs Supports

Michael Copeland

Director of Operations

Katherine Rodriguez

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Kindergarten

Donna Ogle

Class KA

Johnnie Watson

Class KA

TBD

Class KB

Eliana Garcia

Class KB
Grade Team Leader

First Grade

Sarah Bligen

Class 1A

Reyna Morel

Class 1A

Denisse Rivas

Class 1B
Grade Team Leader

Claudia Peralta

Class 1B

Second Grade

Fabiola Valcin

Class 2A

Amber Parkin

Class 2A

Mike DiGregorio

Class 2B
Grade Team Leader

Carly Haber​

Class 2B

Third Grade

TBD

Class 3A
Grade Team Leader

TBD

Class 3A

Aleisha John

Class 3B

William Hackel

Class 3B

Fourth Grade

Yaron Gal-Zur

Class 4A
Grade Team Leader

Lily Chen

Class 4A

Lauren Strumpf

Class 4B

TBD

Class 4B

Fifth Grade

Don Gilbert

Class 5A

Caitlin Chavez

Class 5A

Jennifer Barnes

Class 5B
Grade Team Leader

Arlene Toussaint

Class 5B

Specialists

Robert Collazo

Music Teacher

Allie Lan

Art Teacher

Eddy Correa

PE Teacher

David Rodriguez

Science Teacher

Louise Sanchez

School Librarian

Student Supports

Ashon Ware

SETSS Teacher Grades K-2

Adanna McMayo

SETSS Teacher Grades 3-5

Elisa Velazquez

ENL Teacher Grades K-5

Operations & Family Engagement

Lidia Gonzalez

Office Manager Parent Coordinator

Noemi Espinal

Operations Associate

Sarina Gutierrez

Afterschool Coordinator

Carmen Delgado

Operations Associate & School Librarian

Karelee Guerrero

School Aide

Isabel Galarce-Garcia

School Aide

Valeska Torrez

School Aide

Anthony Bhimsain

Senior Data Associate, All Schools

Founders Joe and Carol Reich

The principles we were building our school on, presented something potentially huge in education reform. These principles-parental choice, freedom to operate in a manner consistent with the needs of specific children, parent involvement, longer school days and a longer school year, merit compensation for teachers-could be a game changer for children of poverty. It was the growing sense of this possibility that re-energized us and gave us the strength to push on, for as long as necessary.

We both shared a common and basic belief: families of means can afford to send their children to private schools or relocate to an affluent neighborhood where public schools have greater resources. The poor cannot. We recoiled against this injustice. We made it our own struggle.