Faculty

Ms. Albrecht is a first-year corps member of Teach For America, a nationwide teacher corps that recruits and trains outstanding college graduates to serve in public schools. Her prior experiences include serving as the Teach for America Campus Campaign Coordinator in Madison, Wisconsin and spending a summer teaching English to Chinese students in Shanghai, China. Ms. Albrecht received her B.A. in Communication Arts with a Certificate in Business from the University of Wisconsin.

Alexa Andersen Second Grade Lead Teacher

Ms. Andersen previously taught seventh grade math for two years at PS 265 in Brooklyn, New York, through Teach For America. Prior to this, she was a second grade summer school teacher at Excellence Charter School in Brooklyn, New York, and second grade student teacher at Tonda Elementary School in Canton, Michigan. As an undergrad, Ms. Andersen was Founding Secretary of the Student Michigan Education Association and President of the Alpha Delta Pi Sorority. She received her B.S. in Elementary Education (Graduated with High Distinction) from the University of Michigan and received her Certificate in Teaching and Secondary Mathematics from Pace University.

Sonya Bapna Second Grade Teacher

Ms. Bapna is a first-year corps member of Teach For America. She made a shift to education after spending a year as an International Strategic Planning Analyst at Mattel and over two years as a Consultant at The Monitor Group. Ms. Bapna also served as a tutor at Brainfuse in math and reading for elementary students. Ms. Bapna received her B.A. in Finance and General Accounting from New York University.

Nequandra Bowen First Grade Teacher

Ms. Bowen is a first-year corps member of Teach For America. Previously, she founded the Princeton Inmate Outreach Project to help inmates acquire basic educational skills necessary for their reintegration into society once released. She has a strong interest in prison reform and alternatives to incarceration and wrote her senior thesis titled A Mother’s Hope: An Ethnography of a Mother Supporting her Incarcerated Son. Ms. Bowen received her B.A. in Anthropology with a Certificate in African-American Studies from Princeton University.

Nikeya Bridges Third Grade Lead Teacher

Ms. Bridges comes to Leadership Prep with a breadth of teaching experience. She co-designed an introductory college-level writing curriculum and taught an introductory college composition class at the University of Wisconsin. She was also a curriculum specialist at Teach For America where she delivered 150 hours of curriculum sessions to Teach For America corps members. Ms. Bridges also taught second and fourth grade with the Bronx Charter School for the Arts. Prior to that, she was the lead fourth grade teacher and Teacher of the Year nominee for Fisk-Howard Elementary School in New Orleans. Ms. Bridges received her B.A. in English and Minor in Theology from Georgetown University, Masters of Education from Harvard Graduate School of Education and Masters of Arts in Literary Studies (PhD in Literary Studies Candidate) from University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Daniel Cosgrove Third Grade Teacher

Mr. Cosgrove is a first-year corps member of Teach For America. Prior to this, he spent one summer interning at the Development Communications Associates in Boston working with senior executives of non-profit organizations, for-profit organizations and government. He also spent another summer interning with the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services working with beneficiaries and case workers. Mr. Cosgrove received his B.A. in Sociology (Phi Beta Kappa) from Trinity College.

Emily Crouch First Grade Teacher

Ms. Crouch is a second-year corps member of Teach For America, a nationwide teacher corps that recruits and trains outstanding college graduates to serve in public schools. She has had an array of diverse work experiences including serving as a Fitness Consultant and Personal Trainer in Bloomington, IN. She was a Volunteer Coordinator and Mentor at Powerhouse, a program which sponsors beneficial, mostly athletic, activities for 100 at-risk adolescents. Ms. Crouch received her B.A in Religious Studies from Indiana University.

Kathryn Dahlberg Office Manager

Prior to joining Leadership Prep, Ms. Dahlberg worked as the Tutoring Coordinator and Office Manager at The Princeton Review in New Orleans, LA. Ms. Dahlberg recently graduated cum laude from Tulane University where she received her B.A. in Political Economy and Classical Studies.

George Davis Kindergarten Lead Teacher

Mr. Davis is in his third year of teaching Kindergarten at Leadership Prep. Mr. Davis previously served as Senior Counselor for Phillips Brooks House Association’s Keylatch Summer Program in Cambridge, MA, and Youth Program Director and Mentor at the Blue Hill Church of Christ in Dorchester, MA. He was selected as one of twelve undergraduate interns to participate in the Harvard Institute of Politics Director’s Internship Program. Mr. Davis has tutored Math and English at Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School. Mr. Davis holds a B.A. in Government from Harvard University.

Celestina De La Garza Instructional Fellow

Ms. De La Garza is the Instructional Leader of Excellence Charter School for Girls, slated to open in August 2009 and an Instructional Fellow at Leadership Prep. She was a founding Lead Kindergarten teacher and Grade Team Chair at Leadership Prep. Prior to joining Leadership Prep, Ms. De La Garza taught 4 years at her original Teach For America placement in the Bronx where she taught first grade her first two years and kindergarten her last two years. Ms. De La Garza received her B.A. in Growth and Structure of Cities from Bryn Mawr College and her M.S.T in Education from Pace University.

Antonio Freitas Second Grade Lead Teacher

Prior to joining Leadership Prep, Mr. Freitas taught the 2nd grade at PS 170 in the Bronx, NY and also served as Math Chairperson for the 2nd grade. He is a former member of Teach For America- a nationwide teacher corps that recruits and trains outstanding college graduates to serve in public schools. Before his teaching career, Mr. Freitas interned at the Lambert House, a Resource Center promoting empowerment through the development of leadership and social life skill for youth. Mr. Freitas received his B.A. in Social Work from Seattle University and his M.S. in Teaching from Pace University.

Anne Glazer Music Teacher

Prior to coming to Leadership Prep, Ms. Glazer was a music teacher at The Portledge School in Locust Valley, NY. While she is proficient on all band instruments, singing, basic keyboard, and guitar, she is at an advanced performance level on oboe and English horn. Ms. Glazer received her Bachelor of Music from Bucknell University and Kodaly Level I Certification from New York University.

David Hartstein Kindergarten Teacher

Mr. Hartstein is a first-year corps member of Teach For America. His previous experiences include working as a Consultant and Youth Educator for the National Conference for Community and Justice and a Complaint Counselor for the American Civil Liberties Union of Easter Missouri. He also spent several summers as a classroom teacher at the Clayton Child Center. During his semester abroad at the University of Cape Town, he taught life orientation classes to low-income high school students at the Leap Academy for Maths and Sciences. Mr. Hartstein received his B.A. in Social Thought and Analysis (Latin Honors) and Minor in Psychology and Legal Studies from Washington University.

Darby Hollinrake Third Grade Lead Teacher

Ms. Hollinrake is an alumna of Teach for America and is in her third year of teaching at Leadership Prep. She has worked as a development associate for Teach For America, a seventh grade research teacher through Breakthrough Collaborative, and as a third grade teacher through the America Reads Tutoring Program. Ms. Hollinrake holds a B.S. in Education and Social Policy from Northwestern and Master’s Degree in Education from Pace University. Ms. Hollinrake also served as the Director of Leadership Prep’s Summer Academy during July 2008.

Brendalyn King Director of Special Projects

Ms. King previously served as the Office Manager at Leadership Prep. Prior to joining the school, she tutored for the STAR Learning Center on the Upper West Side of Manhattan and for Theodore Roosevelt High School in the Bronx. She worked as a Principal Agency Liaison for the Fresh Air Fund where she recruited and maintained relationships with 12 neighborhood agencies throughout the five boroughs, sending nearly 300 children on free summer vacations. Ms. King received a B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Management and a minor in Music from Fordham University.

John E. King Learning Interventionist

Mr. King is a former corps member of Teach For America and taught First Grade at Leadership Prep. Through TFA, he was a 3rd Grade Teacher at Dysart Elementary where he was a TFA Team Leader, a Learning Club Sponsor, and the School Test Coordinator. Mr. King was also a Corps Member Advisor at Teach For America Atlanta Summer Institute. Prior to teaching, he was a Peer Coordinator at Commonwealth College where he supervised 18 undergraduate peer advisors in an academic dean’s office. He holds a B.A in English and a B.A in Biological Anthropology from the University of Massachusetts, and an M.Ed in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Arizona.

Erin Larkin Learning Support Coordinator

Ms. Larkin has had previous teaching experience with third and fourth grade students at P.S. 206M Jose Celso Barbosa Elementary School in New York City. She has also mentored teachers-in-training at the Hunter College Learning Lab. While at Hunter, Ms. Larkin tutored kindergarteners with ADHD, creating and implementing special behavior plans and teaching methods. Ms. Larkin holds an M.A. in Education with a concentration in Learning Disabilities from Hunter College and a B.A in sociology from Wesleyan University.

Hilary Lewis First Grade Lead Teacher

Ms. Lewis is an alumna of Teach for America and is in her third year of teaching at Leadership Prep. Prior to joining the Leadership Prep staff, she worked as a Teaching and Resident Assistant for Goldman Sachs’ I-LEAD Program, in which she organized study groups, created extracurricular activities and instructed various academic programs. Ms. Lewis also served as a Resident Counselor through Amherst College’s Dean of Students and a Campus Center Manager through Student Activities. She holds a dual degree in Psychology and Women’s and Gender studies from Amherst College in Massachusetts and a Master’s Degree in Education from Pace University.

Hannah Lofthus Third Grade Teacher

Hannah Loftus is a second year Teach For America corps member. Before joining the Leadership Prep staff, Ms. Loftus was a Teacher’s Assistant at University Academy Charter School. In this role, Ms. Loftus taught lessons and aided in all classroom activities. Ms. Loftus also interned in Kansas City, KS, at the Kauffman Foundation where she researched and interviewed various non-profit leaders with the hope of devising creative solutions to the most pressing issues facing Kansas City’s youth. She holds a B.S. in Political Science and a B.S. in Philosophy, both from the University of Missouri- Kansas City.

Katie Melcher First Grade Lead Teacher

Ms. Melcher is a veteran of Teach For America, after teaching for two years at PS 224 in East New York. While in East New York, she was also the Head Coach for the girl’s track team. Prior to this, she was an HR consultant at the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics. Ms. Melcher received her B.A. in Religious Studies and Political Science from University of Wisconsin-Madison and Masters of Education from Pace University.

Annie Olsen Social Worker

Annie Olsen is the Social Worker at Leadership Prep Charter School. Before joining the Leadership Prep community, Ms. Olsen was an Outpatient Mental Health Therapist at the Wyandot Mental Health Center in Kansas City, KS. At Wyandot, Ms. Olsen had many responsibilities including conducting psychosocial evaluations for children and adults and implementing group therapy for clients 5-18 years old. She also worked as the House Manager for KEYS Youth Services, a program that provides impoverished boys with housing. As House Manager, Ms. Olsen supervised a team of 8 and provided monthly treatment plans for the individuals involved in a given youth’s case. She earned both her B.A. and her M.A. in Social Welfare from the University of Kansas.

Andrea Palmer Kindergarten Teacher

Ms. Palmer is a first-year corps member of Teach For America. She has experience teaching elementary students literacy, math, and science exercises as a Summer Learning Initiative Corps Member with the Partnership for After School Education in New York. Ms. Palmer also was the Program Chair and a mentor for the Tucker Foundation Book Buddies Program geared towards disadvantaged children. Ms. Palmer received her B.A. in Linguistics and Minor in Art History from Dartmouth College.

Jennifer Quinn Second Grade Teacher

Ms. Quinn is a first-year corps member of Teach For America. Ms. Quinn’s diverse previous experience includes acting as the Campus Team Recruiting Coordinator for Cargill and Psychiatric Business Office Patient Representative for the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. She also spent a summer in London organizing and mobilizing 40 street teams to complete weekly promotional activities across the UK. Ms. Quinn received her B.A. in Journalism & Mass Communications and Women’s Studies from the University of Iowa where she received the Presidential Scholarship.

Analiza Quiroz Operational Fellow

Analiza Quiroz joins Uncommon Schools as an Operational Fellow. Prior to joining Uncommon Schools, Analiza developed strong leadership skills through 5-years in the Air Force and 2-years at Colgate-Palmolive managing teams with intricate program details, strapped budgets, tight timelines, and multiple stakeholders to align. As an Associate Brand Manager at Colgate, Analiza led cross-functional teams to develop marketing strategy and launch new products. In the Air Force, she held leadership positions in program management, international relations (China, Taiwan, and the Philippines), and internal consulting advising senior officers at the Pentagon on strategy and operations. Analiza is also the co-founder of Island Girl Power, a nonprofit that aims to build self-esteem in girls and counter high suicide and pregnancy rates. Analiza received her MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management where she was an Austin Scholar, Kellogg's most prestigious honor based on academics and leadership. She earned her B.S. in Industrial Engineering and B.A. in Economics from Stanford University.

Farrell Sharkey Kindergarten Lead Teacher

Ms. Sharkey comes to Leadership Prep as a Teach for America alum. She spent one of her two years at P.S. 75 in the Bronx as a First Grade Inclusive Special Education Teacher and the other year as a First Grade General Education Teacher. During her undergraduate experience, Ms. Sharkey was a Head Peer Counselor at the Lafayette College Dean of Studies Office and the President of Amnesty International in Easton, Pennsylvania. She is a member of the Gotham Women’s lacrosse team and involved with CityLax, a nonprofit organization providing lacrosse opportunities for inner city students. Ms. Sharkey received her B.A. in History, Government and Law from Lafayette College and Masters of Science in Teaching from Pace University.

Suzanne Vera Director of Arts Education

Ms. Vera is the founding Art Teacher at Leadership Prep. She previously served as the K-5 Art Teacher at Community Partnership Charter School in Brooklyn where she organized annual student exhibitions and Family Arts Workshops, tracked the progress of 300 students, led staff development workshops, and designed and managed a digital student portfolio system and assessment tools. She has also worked as the Education Director at Cypress Hills Development Corporation in Brooklyn. Ms. Vera holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and a minor in Education from the Pratt Institute.

Lisa Wilcoxen Kindergarten Lead Teacher

Before coming to Leadership Prep, Ms. Wilcoxen spent two years as a Teach for America corps member teaching third grade at PS 149 at Danny Kaye Elementary School in New York. Prior to that, she spent a summer as a first grade teacher with Achievement First in Brooklyn. As an undergrad, she was a Research Assistant at the Berkeley Social Interaction Laboratory where she conducted a comprehensive review of current literature about power and risk. Ms. Wilcoxen received her B.A. in Psychology (Cum Laude) and Minor in Education from the University of California, Berkeley and Master of Arts in Education from Pace University.

Erica Woolway Staff Developer

Ms. Woolway most recently served as the founding Dean of Students at Leadership Prep. Prior to joining Leadership Prep, Ms. Woolway was a co-chair for the Kindergarten grade level and a Kindergarten teacher at Agnes Elementary School in Lynwood, CA through Teach For America. She taught English to business executives in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and also has an extensive background in social services and education. Ms. Woolway counseled at both Orange High School in New Jersey and Hunter College High School in New York City, and worked with families as a case worker in Camden, New Jersey. She holds a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Spanish from Duke University and has received both her Ed.M and M.A. in Psychological Counseling with a specialization in school counseling from Columbia’s Teacher’s College.