Shawn Abernathy    Kindergarten Lead Teacher

Shawn Abernathy is a Kindergarten Lead Teacher at Excellence Boys. He earned his undergraduate degree in Elementary Education from Northern Kentucy University. Prior to joining Excellence Boys, Mr. Abernathy taught Kindergarten with the Harlem Success Charter School. Mr. Abernathy is pursuing a Masters degree from Hunter College School of Education through a unique teacher education program sponsored by Uncommon Schools, KIPP, and Achievement First.

Katherine Barnes   1st Grade Lead Teacher

Katherine Barnes is a First Grade Lead Teacher at Excellence Boys. She earned a B.S. in Health and Sport Studies from Miami University and an M.A. in Education from Ursuline College. Before joining Excellence Boys, Ms. Barnes was a Kindergarten Teacher at Cleveland Lighthouse Community School in Cleveland, Ohio. She also student taught at University School and Lincoln Elementary in Ohio, and was an Account Representative for Canon Business Solutions in New York, New York.

David Berlin   Middle Academy Math Problem Solving Teacher

David Berlin is the Middle Academy Math Problem Solving Teacher at Excellence Boys. Mr. Berlin earned his B.A. in Political Science from Columbia University and his Masters in the Science of Education from Pace University. Before coming to Excellence Boys, Mr. Berlin was a Fourth Grade Teacher at P.S. 135 in Brooklyn. He is an alumnus of the Teach For America program.

Jessica Brunazzi    Science Specialist

Jessica Brunazzi is Excellence Boys’s Science Specialist. Ms. Brunazzi is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, where she earned a B.S. in Psychology, and the University of Pennsylvania, where she earned a Masters in Elementary Education. Prior to joining Excellence Boys, Ms. Brunazzi taught Second, Third, and Fourth Grades at B.B. Comegys Elementary School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

John Burnett    Middle Academy Reading & Writing Teacher

John Burnett is a Middle Academy Reading and Writing Teacher at Excellence Boys.  He earned his undergraduate degree in English from Morehouse College.  Prior to joining Excellence Boys, Mr. Burnett taught Language Arts to high school students at West End Academy in Atlanta, GA.  MR. Burnett was also a Language Arts instructor for Upward Bound in Atlanta, GA.  MR. Burnett is an alumnus of the Teach For America program.     

Pedro Carreño    2nd Grade Teacher

Pedro Carreño is a Second Grade Teacher at Excellence Boys. Mr. Carreño earned a B.A. in Public Policy & Latin American Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While at Chapel Hill, Mr. Carreño served as the Student Body Treasurer. He is a second year corps member with Teach For America.

Shelby Casassa    2nd Grade Lead Teacher

Shelby Casassa is a Second Grade Lead Teacher at Excellence Boys. Ms. Casassa earned a B.A. in Early Childhood Education and Human Development from Boston College, and an Ed. M. in Risk and Prevention from Harvard Graduate School of Education. Before joining Excellence Boys, she was a Prevention Specialist and Counseling Intern at Tucker Elementary School in Milton, Massachusetts. Ms. Casassa also student taught Kindergarten and First Grade in Ireland and Massachusetts.

Lisa Chow    Librarian

Lisa Chow is Excellence Boys’s Librarian. Ms. Chow earned a B.S. in Elementary and Kindergarten Education from Pennsylvania State University, and an M.S. in Teaching Literacy from Touro College. Prior to joining Excellence Boys, Ms. Chow taught First and Second Grade at P.S. 40 and P.S./I.S. 35 in Brooklyn, New York, and Fourth Grade at J.H. Moore Elementary School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She also served as a Corrective Education Teacher for first through seventh graders at Elwyn, Inc., a children’s services organization in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Elizabeth Coffin    Social Worker

Elizabeth Coffin is Excellence Boys’s Social Worker. Prior to joining Excellence Boys, Ms. Coffin was a Case Manager and Program Supervisor with the Lydia Home Association in Chicago, Illinois. Ms. Coffin also was a Social Work Intern at the Mapleton-Midwood Geriatric Program and a Social Work Intern at Partnership With Children/P.S. 93, both in Brooklyn, New York. Ms. Coffin holds a B.A. in Anthropology from Grinnell College and a Master of Social Work from the Hunter College School of Social Work.

Erik Cotton   Daytime Custodian

Erik Cotton is the Daytime Custodian at Excellence Boys. Mr. Cotton is a life-long resident of Brooklyn and a graduate of Bedford Stuyvesant schools.

Amanda DaPonte   Special Education Teacher

Amanda DaPonte is the Special Education Teacher at Excellence Boys. Ms. DaPonte graduated from Rhode Island College with a B.S. in Elementary Education/Special Education, and is currently pursuing a M.Ed. at Bank Street College of Education. Prior to joining Excellence Boys, Ms. DaPonte taught special education at the Providence Center School in Providence, Rhode Island, and was a nanny and therapist in South Salem, New York.

Keith Davis    Facilty Manager

Keith Davis is the Facility Manager at Excellence Boys. Mr. Davis has more than ten years experience in construction supervision and educational property maintenance. Mr. Davis is a graduate of New York University’s Building Construction Management Program.

Lisa Dotson    Office Manager

Lisa Dotson is one of Excellence Boys’s Office Managers. A graduate of Howard University, Ms. Dotson holds a B.A. in Business Administration.

Laura Doyle    3rd Grade Teacher

Laura Doyle is a Third Grade Teacher at Excellence Boys.  Ms. Doyle holds a B.A. in Sociology and French Language and Literature from the George Washington University and an M.S. in Education from Bank Street College Graduate School of Education.  Prior to joining Excellence Boys, she was a Third Grade Teacher at Grand Concourse Academy Charter School in the Bronx.  She also served as a Research Associate at the American Institutes for Research in Washington, D.C.

Mia Dunlap    Kindergarten Teacher

Mia Dunlap is a Kindergarten Teacher at Excellence Boys.  Ms. Dunlap holds a B.A. in English from Spelman College.  While in college she interned at the Children’s Defense Fund and co-founded the organization Students Advocating for Youth.

Deirdre Flood    4th Grade Teacher

Deidre Flood is a Fourth Grade Teacher at Excellence Boys.  Ms. Flood holds a B.A. in Communications and Advertising from Loyola College in Maryland and an M.S. in Education from Pace University.  Prior to joining Excellence Boys, she taught at schools in Bangkok, Thailand; Brooklyn; and Quito, Ecuador.  While in Quito, Ms. Flood also served as the English Primary Coordinator at Colegio Americano.

Nora Friedman    Violin Teacher

Nora Friedman is the Violin Teacher at Excellence. Ms. Friedman was the Director of the Violin Program at the High School for Violin and Dance in The Bronx, New York. She is a graduate of Wesleyan University, where she earned a B.A. in Latin American Studies.

Steve Gaffigan    Fitness Teacher

Steve Gaffigan is a Fitness Teacher at Excellence Boys.  Mr. Gaffigan holds a B.S. in Physical Education from Eastern Michigan University.  While in college, he captained Eastern Michigan’s track and cross country teams.

Janna Genzlinger    Fine Arts Director

Janna Genzlinger is Excellence’s Fine Arts Director. Prior to joining Excellence, Ms. Genzlinger taught theater and music, wrote art curricula, and lead professional development art workshops in New York City public schools. Ms. Genzlinger holds a B.F.A. in Independent Theatre Studies from Boston University and is pursuing a Masters degree from Hunter College School of Education through a unique teacher education program sponsored by Uncommon Schools, KIPP, and Achievement First.

Andres Gonzalez Goodman    Middle Academy Math Teacher

Andres Gonzalez Goodman is a Middle Academy Math Teacher at Excellence Boys.  He earned his undergraduate degree in Mathematics from the University of Chicago.  While at Chicago, Mr. Gonzalez Goodman taught college-level mathematics and physics courses to high school students at the Summer Scholars Academy at City College.  Mr. Gonzalez Goodman is pursuing a Masters degree from Hunter College School of Education through Teacher U, a collaboration between Uncommon Schools, KIPP, and Achievement First.

Jocelyn Goodwin    2nd Grade Lead Teacher

Jocelyn Goodwin is a Second Grade Lead Teacher at Excellence Boys. She holds a B.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Syracuse University and a M.S. in Language and Literacy Education from Wheelock College. Prior to joining Excellence Boys, Ms. Goodwin taught a variety of disciplines and grades in public schools, most recently serving as a First Grade Teacher at the Robert Frost School in Lawrence, Massachusetts.

Gordon Hall    Middle Academy Science Teacher

Gordon Hall is the Middle Academy Science Teacher at Excellence Boys. Mr. Hall earned a B.A. in Anthropology from Cornell University and an M.S. in Urban Education from the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to joining Excellence, Mr. Hall was an Eighth Grade Science Teacher at Barratt Middle School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is an alumnus of the Teach For America program.

Tenee Hall    Office Manager

Tenee Hall is one of Excellence Boys ’s Office Managers. A graduate of Temple University, Ms. Hall holds a B.S. in Psychology. She is currently pursuing a Masters of Science in Non-Profit Management at the New School.

Jessica Hayes    4th Grade Lead Teacher

Jessica Hayes is a Fourth Grade Lead Teacher at Excellence Boys. Ms. Hayes, prior to joining Excellence Boys, was a First Grade Teacher at Brooks Elementary School in Shelby, Mississippi. Ms. Hayes is a graduate of Cornell University, where she earned a B.A. in Philosophy. She also is pursuing a Masters degree from Hunter College School of Education through a unique teacher education program sponsored by Uncommon Schools, KIPP, and Achievement First. Ms. Hayes is an alumna of the Teach For America program.

Rachel Hemsey   Kindergarten Teacher

Rachel Hemsey is a Kindergarten Teacher at Excellence Boys. Ms. Hemsey holds a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. She is a second year corps member with Teach For America.

Zachary Hilty   1st Grade Teacher

Zack Hilty is a First Grade Teacher at Excellence Boys. Mr. Hilty holds both a B.A. in Rhetoric and a B.A. in Philosophy from the University of California-Berkeley. He is a second year corps member with Teach For America.

Nicole Javier    Middle Academy Reading Teacher

Nicole Javier is a Middle Academy Reading Teacher at Excellence Boys. She graduated from the University of Southern California with a B.A. in International Relations, and from the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education with a M.S. in Education. Ms. Javier was a World History and African-American History Teacher at Olney High School 704 and a Seventh Grade Social Studies and Science Teacher at Turner Middle School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, before joining Excellence Boys. Ms. Javier is a Teach For America alumna.

Keisha John    Special Projects Coordinator

Keisha John is Excellence Boys’s Special Projects Coordinator. A graduate of Trinity College, Ms. John holds a B.S. in Psychology and Educational Studies. She is pursuing a Masters degree from Hunter College School of Education through a unique teacher education program sponsored by Uncommon Schools, KIPP, and Achievement First.

Charlotte Johnson    Middle Academy Reading Teacher

Charlotte Johnson is a Middle Academy Reading Teacher at Excellence Boys. A graduate of Skidomore College, Ms. Johnson holds a B.A. in Spanish. She also holds a Master of Science in Childhood Education from Pace University. Prior to joining Excellence Boys, Ms. Johnson was a Sixth Grade Teacher ar P.S. 58 in the Bronx. She is an alumna of the Teach For America program.

Katlin Kowalkowski    1st Grade Lead Teacher

Katlin Kowalkowski is a First Grade Lead Teacher at Excellence Boys. Ms. Kowalkowski holds a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is an alumna of the Teach For America program.

Jarell Lee    2nd Grade Teacher

Jarell Lee is a Second Grade Teacher at Excellence Boys.  Mr. Lee holds a B.A. in Sociology and African American Studies from Harvard University.  He is a first year corps member with Teach For America.

Teddy Ligon    Fitness Teacher

Teddy Ligon is a Fitness Teacher at Excellence Boys.  Mr. Ligon holds a B.A. in African American Studies from Bowdoin College and an M.Ed. from the Risk and Prevention Program at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.  Prior to joining Excellence Boys, he was a Group Leader at Lincoln Elementary Extended Day School in Brookline, MA and was a Physical Education Teacher at Horace Mann Elementary School in Washington, D.C.

Melissa Martin   3rd Grade Teacher

Melissa Martin is a Third Grade Teacher at Excellence Boys. Ms. Martin holds a B.A. in International Relations from Boston University and a Masters in Childhood Education from Pace University. Prior to joining Excellence Boys, Ms. Martin was a Third Grade Teacher at P.S. 243 in New York City. She is an alumna of the Teach For America program.

Matthew Mason    Fitness Teacher

Matthew Mason is a Fitness Teacher at Excellence Boys. Mr. Mason holds a B.S. in Physical Education from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

Jamila McGill    1st Grade Teacher

Jamila McGill is a First Grade Teacher at Excellence Boys.  Ms. McGill holds a B.A. in English from Spelman College.  Prior to joining Excellence Boys, she participated in the Summer Teaching Fellows program with Teacher U.

Justin McLennan    Kindergarten Lead Teacher

Alison McSheehy    Kindergarten Teacher

Alison McSheehy is a Kindergarten Teacher at Excellence Boys. Ms. McSheehy earned a B.A. in Political Science from Vassar College. She is a second year corps member with Teach For America.

Jessica Meitzer    Learning Support Coordinator

Jessica Meitzer is Excellence Boys's Learning Support Coordinator. Ms. Meitzer earned a Bachelor of Arts and Science in Strategic Communication and Spanish. She earned a Masters in Childhood Education from Pace University. Prior to joining Excellence Boys, Ms. Meitzer was a Special Education Teacher at P.S. 241 at the Family Academy in New York City. She is an alumna of the Teach For America program.

Caleb Miller    Fine Arts Teacher

Caleb Miller is the Fine Arts Teacher at Excellence Boys. Mr. Miller is a graduate of Oberlin College, where he received a B.A. in Visual Arts, and is pursuing a Masters degree from Hunter College School of Education through a unique teacher education program sponsored by Uncommon Schools, KIPP, and Achievement First.

Damilola Okuboyejo    3rd Grade Teacher

Damilola Okuboyejo is a Third Grade Teacher at Excellence Boys.  Ms. Okuboyejo holds a B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Houston and is expected to complete an M.A. in Education Leadership Studies from Teacher College, Columbia University in December 2010.  Prior to joining Excellence Boys, she was a Fourth Grade Teacher at Barbara Jordan Elementary School in Richmond, TX.  She also served as an Assistant Principal Intern at PS 59 in Manhattan.

Catherine Prefontaine    Reading Teacher

Catherine Prefontaine is a Reading Teacher at Excellence Boys. Ms. Prefontaine is a graduate of Boston College. She holds a B.A. in History. Ms. Prefontaine is a first year Teach For America corps member.

Christina Richards    1st Grade Teacher

Christina Richards is a First Grade Teacher at Excellence Boys. Ms. Richards is a graduate of Hofstra University. She holds a B.A. in Public Relations. Ms. Richards is a second year Teach For America corps member.

Madeline Scheffler   Kindergarten Teacher

Madeline Scheffler is a Kindergarten Teacher at Excellence Boys. Ms. Scheffler is a graduate of Northwestern University. She holds a B.S. in Theatre. Ms. Scheffler is a first year Teach For America corps member.

Naomi Skolnik    1st Grade Lead Teacher

Naomi Skolnik is a First Grade Lead Teacher at Excellence Boys. Ms. Skolnik is a graduate of Cornell University. She holds a B.A. in Human Development. Ms. Skolnik is an alumna of the Teach For America program.

Andrew Stephenson    4th Grade Teacher

Andrew Stephenson is a Fourth Grade Teacher at Excellence Boys. Mr. Stephenson graduated from the University of Rochester, Eastman School of Music, where he earned his Bachelor of Music in Music Education and Applied Music. Before joining Excellence Boys, Mr. Stephenson worked in Rochester, New York, teaching music to pre-schoolers at the Eastman Community Music School and tutoring Urban Choice Charter School’s students in math and reading as part of a daily after-school program. Mr. Stephenson is a second year corps member with Teach For America.

Kellie Tice    2nd Grade Lead Teacher

Kellie Tice is a Second Grade Lead Teacher at Excellence Boys. Ms. Tice graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a B.A. in History, and from Pace University with a Masters in Teaching. Before coming to Excellence Boys, Ms. Tice was a Fourth Grade and Sixth Grade Lead Teacher at C.S. 67 in The Bronx, New York. Ms. Tice is an alumna of the Teach For America program.

Doron Townsell   Middle Academy History Teacher

Doron Townsell is a Middle Academy History Teacher at Excellence Boys.  He earned his undergraduate degree in History from the University of Kentucky.  Prior to joining Excellence Boys, Mr. Townsell taught Eight Grade Social Studies and Sixth Grade Geography and Science at KIPP Lead College Prep in Gary, Indiana.  Mr. Townsell also taught Seventh Grade History at the Cincinnati College Preparatory Academy in Cincinnati, OH.  Mr. Townsell previously taught Reading, Writing, and Social Studies at Harmony Community High School in Cincinnati, OH.

Joel Tracy   Math Procedures Teacher

Joel Tracy is the Middle Academy Math Procedures Teacher at Excellence Boys.  He earned his undergraduate major degree in American History and minor degree in Political Science from Brown University.  Prior to joining Excellence Boys, Mr. Tracy taught 9th Grade Ancient World History at Pace Academy in Atlanta, GA.  Mr. Tracy also served as an Americorps member through the Civic Works Teach Baltimore program.  Mr. Tracy is pursuing a Masters degree from Hunter College School of Education through Teacher U, a collaboration between Uncommon Schools, KIPP, and Achievement First.

Lyssandra Walsh    Music Teacher

Lyssandra Walsh is a Lead Music Teacher at Excellence Boys.  She earned her undergraduate degree in Music from the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam.  Prior to joining Excellence Boys, Ms. Walsh taught violin, voice, and piano to students of various ages at both the Ganea Academy of Music in Manhattan, as well as the Harmony Program in Brooklyn, New York.  Lyssandra was also the strings teacher at the Rhapsody Arts Center in Verona, Wisconsin.

Ashley Woods    Kindergarten Teacher

Ashley Woods is a Kindergarten Teacher at Excellence Boys.  Ms. Woods holds a B.A. in Communication Studies and African American Studies from Loyola Marymount University.  She is a first year corps member with Teach For America.