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Elementary Campus

James Verrilli
James Verrilli is the Co-Founder & Downtown Campus Principal of North Star Academy Charter School of Newark, New Jersey. Mr. Verrilli has been a history teacher and principal to Newark students for two decades. Prior to founding North Star, he began his career as a member of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps and taught at Link Community School in Newark's Central Ward, later he served as the school's principal for three years. As a teacher, Mr. Verrilli has designed his own multi-media software to teach the Civil Rights movement and to this day comes to class in the guise of important historical characters. For the past ten years he has been leading North Star Academy Charter School of Newark and helping it to become one of the highest performing urban schools in New Jersey. North Star has closed the achievement gap in state test scores: results which are typically double the Newark District's average and higher than statewide averages. One hundred percent of North Star’s graduating seniors are attending college. North Star has been nationally recognized by President George W. Bush, and twice by the US Dept. of Education, once as a Title One School of Distinction and second as being one of the top ten charter high school closing the achievement gap. By next year, the school will serve over 500 students in grades K-1 and 5-12 over four campuses: one elementary school, two middle schools and a high school.

Paul Bambrick-Santoyo
Paul Bambrick-Santoyo, Managing Director of North Star, has been teaching for ten years. Bambrick-Santoyo has spearheaded the school's data-driven instruction and interim assessment process, facilitating over 60 quarterly assessments for the school and contributing to North Star's quickly achieving "90/90/90" status (90% free/reduced lunch, 90% students of color, 90% proficient on state assessments). He is a graduate of New Leaders for New Schools, a national organization training the next generation of urban school leaders. A frequent presenter on data-driven instruction, he currently serves as a faculty member for New Leaders for New Schools, is a Trustee of the Board of the New Jersey Charter Public Schools Association, and participates in the national Charter School Leadership Council. Prior to joining North Star, he worked for six years in a bilingual school in Mexico City, where he founded the International Baccalaureate program at the middle school level, led significant gains in English test score results, and was named Teacher of the Year in 1999. He earned a B.A. in Social Justice from Duke University (1994) and completed his M.Ed. in School Administration from the City University of New York - Baruch College (2003).

Julie Jackson
Julie Jackson, former High School Principal and founding Elementary School Principal, has taught mathematics to urban NJ students for 10 years. Jackson moved quickly from full-time teacher to a leadership role at North Star, serving for two years as Dean of Students and then leading the development of the high school program as its principal. In 2002, she was the recipient of a Dodge Leadership Award for principals who have shown strong leadership and initiative. Before coming to North Star, she taught Language Arts and Math at Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School in Paterson for four years, where she co-chaired the school improvement team, coached a competitive girls basketball team, and was honored in 1998 as Teacher of the Year. She earned an M.Ed. in Educational Administration from William Paterson University (2002), a B.A. in Communications from Shippensburg University (1992) and did graduate work in African-American Studies at the University of Wisconsin. She began her career as corps member at Teach For America, where she also served as a professional development advisor.

Michael Mann
Michael Mann is the new Head of School for North Star Academy College Preparatory High School after serving for four years as the Co-Director and Founder of North Star’s Clinton Hill Campus. Mann joined North Star in 1998 and taught History for seven years before entering school leadership. He is a magna cum laude graduate from Harvard College, an M.A. graduate in Teaching and Curriculum from Harvard's Graduate School of Education and an M.Ed. graduate in School Leadership from Columbia University Teachers College. Mann has taught 7th grade English/History, led the 7th grade teacher team, served on the Good-to-Great Council and participated in the Reaching Our Young Men's Committee. Mann is the founding commissioner of the Brick City Soccer League, where he also coached both the boys' and girls' soccer teams at North Star, including participation in the national Youth Soccer Games. He was honored in 2001, as part of the Governor's Teacher Recognition Program, as one of Essex County's Teachers of the Year. After teaching English in China, Mann taught for three years in Washington, D.C., where he was named Teacher of the Year all three years. Before coming to North Star, he taught 7th and 8th grade Arts & Humanities at the Francis W. Parker Charter Essential School in Devens, Massachusetts.

Juliann Harris

Juliann Harris, Ninth Grade Academy Leader, joined North Star in 2001 as a math teacher and later the Mathematics Department Chair. In 2003-04, she coordinated the Community Service Club and formed part of the high school assessment committee. She completed her B.A. in Educational Studies at Brown University, where she was an Honors candidate. Ms. Harris has worked in several urban schools, including Community Preparatory School, Hope High School (both in Providence, RI), El Puente Academy (Brooklyn) and Staten Island Institute of Arts and Sciences. She completed the Urban Education Semester through Bank Street College as a part of her undergraduate studies.

Jesse Rector

Jesse Rector, Clinton Hill Campus Principal, joined North Star in 2004 after seven years in the Newark Public Schools system. In 2005 he became a founding teacher at the North Campus middle school. Mr. Rector leads the Clinton Hill Campus and coordinates math instruction between the two middle school campuses. In his first year at North Star, Mr. Rector led the eighth graders to 80% proficiency on the GEPA (Grade Eight Proficiency Assessment), the school's highest scores ever at that time. While teaching at Newark's First Avenue School, Mr. Rector led a consistent increase in performance on the GEPA, moving the students from 35% proficient in his first year to 73% three years later. Mr. Rector holds a Master’s Degree in Administration from Columbia’s Teachers College and is a graduate of Rutgers University.

Serena Savarirayan, Vailsburg Middle School Principal, joined North Star in 2006 as the 5th Grade Language Arts Teacher after teaching for four years as a Teach For America corps member in Paterson. In 2005 and 2006, Ms. Savarirayan also served as a Corps Member Adviser at the TFA Summer Institute in Philadelphia. Prior to her current position, Ms. Savarirayan taught 8th Grade English, co-led the 8th Grade teaching team, and was an Instructional Leader.  She graduated from Northwestern University with a B.A. degree in History.

Michael Ambriz joined the North Star family in May of 2008 and serves as the Chief Operating Officer.  In this role he is charged with all non-instructional aspects of North Star’s work and supporting its growth to ultimately serve even more Newark students.  Immediately prior to joining staff, he served  as the Managing Director, National Institute Operations for Teach For America, where he was responsible for overseeing all marketing, admissions, technology, human resources, and finance projects related to corps member training.  While at Teach For America, he helped to launch two charter training sites, before then driving operations for all six.  Ambriz holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles, and originally hails from California.  He hopes to someday invent a machine that will transport LA weather to the East Coast.

Pamela Inbasekaran (Director of Programs) joined North Star in 2008. Ms. Inbasekaran previously served as senior associate director of recruitment at Uncommon Schools and worked on teacher recruitment for two years.  Pamela started her career in education by helping place 98% of the seniors in Rewarding Youth Achievement in East Los Angeles at two or four year colleges.  She then joined the Teach For America 2003 New York corps, where she taught special education and mathematics at Middle School 224 in the South Bronx for three years.  In addition, Pamela served as a content specialist and school director for Teach For America to help support the development of new teachers in New York City.  Pamela received her B.A from University of Michigan in 2002 in economics and American culture and her M.S.T. from Pace University in 2005. 

Norman Atkins
Norman Atkins, Co-Founder of North Star Academy Charter School of Newark, is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Uncommon Schools, a nonprofit charter management organization that builds, develops, crusades for, and ensures the greatness of the highest-performing college preparatory charter schools that raise the achievement of low-income students in the Northeast. He is Co-Founder of the New Jersey Charter Public Schools Association and an Adjunct Fellow at the New York Charter School Resource Center. He is also a founder of Excellence Academy Charter School—an all-male elementary school in Bedford-Stuyvesant in Brooklyn, New York. He has spoken widely on charter schools at conferences throughout the country. He formerly served as Co-Executive Director of the Robin Hood Foundation in New York City. He has also written widely on education, poverty and other social issues for such publications as The New York Times Magazine, The New Yorker, Parenting, Family Life, Rolling Stone, The New York Observer, and The Washington Post. He earned his B.A. in History from Brown University in 1984. Shortly after earning his M.A. in Educational Administration from Columbia University Teachers College in 1997, he received the school’s Early Career Award.






 The teachers really take pride in their students. 

Downtown Campus - Middle School

Eliza Armstrong (Math and Computer Teacher) joined North Star this year after a career in finance.  She teaches math and computers in 5th and 7th grades.  Prior to coming to North Star, Ms. Armstrong worked in institutional equity sales and trading.  Ms. Armstrong earned her B.A. in History from Columbia College, a M.P.A. in Education and Finance Policy from The School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University, and is working towards her M.A.T. in Elementary Education from Montclair State University.

Christopher Condron (Physical Education) joined North Star this year. Mr. Condron teaches 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grade Physical Education at North Star’s downtown campus.  Prior to arriving, Mr. Condron was the Associate Sports Director and Director of Coaching at the Madison Area YMCA. Mr. Condron will coach middle school boy’s basketball in the winter and help with the middle school soccer program. Mr. Condron is former Dean of students at Balley Ellard and In-School Suspension teacher at Bound Brook High School. Mr. Condron just received his USSF B license in soccer and also holds the NSCAA Premiere Diploma. Mr. Condron has traveled twice to Bolivia for the U-15 International tournament called the “Mundialito” with Saint Benedict’s Prep. Mr. Condron has coached on the college level with Drew University, Clarkson University (NY), Elizabethtown College (PA), Keuka College (NY) and Rutgers-Newark University. Mr. Condron holds a B.S. in Elementary Education and a Minor in Religion.

Bridgit Cusato (English Teacher) teaches 6th grade English and joined North Star in 2007 after having taught 8th grade for six years at Dr. William H. Horton School in Newark, NJ.  Ms. Cusato teaches dance as an elective at North Star, having previously initiated the Horton Dance Troupe at Dr. Horton that performed at various events throughout the district each year.  She also teaches modern and hip-hop dance for a dance company in Chatham, NJ.  In 2007 she led a group of 48 middle school students from Hudson County on an ambassadorial tour of Fiji, Australia and New Zealand for 21 days. Ms. Cusato earned her B.A. from Drew University in Sociology with a concentration in Latin American Politics and is currently pursuing her J.D. from Rutgers Law School in Newark.

Steve Decina (Science Teacher) came to North Star in 2004 from the Jesuit Volunteer Corps in Tacoma, WA.  He taught 6th, 7th and 8th grade science for three years and left in 2007 to explore Patagonia and pursue a second degree in chemistry.  He has returned for the 2009-2010 school year, again teaching 6th grade.  Steve has an accounting and finance degree from Saint Joseph’s University and is currently working on a Chemistry degree from Rutgers University in Newark.

Kelly Dowling (Dean of Students and Instruction) joined North Star as a teacher in 2005.  Prior to assuming her current role as Dean of Students and Instruction she taught 6th and 7th grade English at North Star.  She also taught for three years at Newton Street School, a Newark public school, where she led a 3rd grade self-contained class and a 4th grade reading class, coordinated Saturday Academies for 3rd graders, and helped lead after school programs. Ms. Dowling earned her B.A. from Montclair State University in Early Childhood Education and is currently pursuing her M.A. at Montclair State University in Administration and Supervision, concentrating on education.

Jennifer Edwards (English Teacher) is the 5th grade Literature teacher at North Star.  Ms. Edwards is a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis, where she received a B.A. with honors in English Literature and Cultural Anthropology.  Ms. Edwards also holds an M.Ed. in Special and General Education from Bank Street College of Education.  Prior to joining North Star, Ms. Edwards was a middle school Special Education teacher in Brooklyn, New York.  She is also an alumna of Teach for America.  Ms. Edwards’ favorite aspect of teaching Literature to the 5th grade students at North Star is sharing in their joy as they meet new and wonderful characters in novels for the first time!

Emma Feinstein (Math Teacher) joined North Star in 2007 and currently teachers Eighth grade math.  Before joining North Star, she participated in Teach for America for two years, teaching 7th grade math at a public school in the Bronx.  She graduated from Amherst College with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and in 2007, she earned a Master’s degree in Education from Pace University.

Marie Frost (History Teacher) teaches History to 5th graders.  Prior to joining North Star in 2008, she received two degrees from Rutgers University in New Brunswick NJ: a B.A. in History and Women and Gender Studies through Douglass College and a M.Ed in Social Studies Education at the Graduate School of Education.  Outside of her time here at North Star, Ms. Frost is an active member of the Middlesex County Citizen’s Campaign Organization, a non-partisan organization that promotes active citizenship and has been a Citizen Teacher at McKinnley Middle School in New Brunswick, N.J.

Pamela Gary (Mathematics Teacher) came to North Star Academy in 2009.  Prior to coming to North Star, Ms. Gary brings many years of successful teaching and instructional coaching in mathematics on the K-12 grade levels, as well as an Adjunct Mathematics Instructor.  She earned her B.S. in Biology from Morgan State University (1997), M.ED from Cambridge College (2002), and M.ED in Administration and Supervision from St. Peter’s College (2006).  Ms. Gary is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. where she provides countless community service hours.  She is truly passionate about Mathematics, and will provide a solid mathematics education to the children of North Star!

Kristi James (History Teacher) joined North Star in 2008 for her third year of teaching.  Prior to coming to North Star, Ms. James was a Teach For America corps member and taught 7th and 8th grade Social Studies at a public middle school in the South Bronx.  In addition to teaching, Ms. James is a Social Studies Content Specialist at Teach For America, providing professional development to corps members teaching history and social studies in the New York City area.  Originally from Virginia, Ms. James earned her B.A. with High Honors from the College of William & Mary with a major in History and double minor in International Relations and Russian Language and Literature.  She is currently working towards a Masters Degree in Social Studies Education. 

Diane Jenkins joined Uncommon Schools in November 2008 and serves as the Special Assistant to the Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of North Star Academy. Prior to joining Uncommon Schools, Ms. Jenkins served as the Executive Assistant to the Executive Vice President of Growth Strategy and Development for Teach For America, where she assisted in the cultivation and development of new sites. During her time with Teach For America, she also held a position with the Administration team. Prior to working with Teach For America, Ms. Jenkins earned a B.A in English from The State University of New York at Geneseo. During her undergraduate years, Ms. Jenkins served as a tutor with the Advancement Via Individual Determination program. She also volunteered with the Xerox Center for Multicultural Education, where she developed and implemented academic enrichment programs in underprivileged urban schools.

Nikki Jones (English Teacher) joined North Star in 2003 as an 8th grade English teacher. She brings six years of experience teaching middle school Literacy at Newton Street School in Newark. In 2001 and 2003 she was the recipient of the award for Best Practices in the district of Newark. In addition to literacy, Ms. Jones has been teaching dance for the past five years and has toured several schools in Newark. In 2000, her Kwanzaa program was featured in the Star Ledger. Ms Jones has participated in No Child Left Behind committees, Principal's meetings and Read-a-thons.  She earned her B.A. in 1999 in Urban Education and Anthropology.

Monica Jordan (Director of Special Projects) joined North Star in 2006. Ms. Jordan has over 10 years of office managerial/administrative experience. She has tutored K-6 students in Washington, D.C. in math and reading. Ms. Jordan graduated magna cum laude from Bowie State University. She earned a B.S. in Business Administration with a major in Marketing.

Sarah Lynch (English Teacher) joined North Star in 2008 after having taught for 4 years at The Young Women’s Leadership School in North Philadelphia.  Prior to coming to North Star, Ms. Lynch taught 7th and 8th grade English and Social Studies.  In addition to teaching, Ms. Lynch served on the Leadership Team at her school as the English department lead teacher, coached Softball and Basketball, and was the faculty advisor for the GSA.  Ms. Lynch worked as a Fellow Advisor for the Philadelphia Teaching Fellows, instructing new teachers before they began work in the Philadelphia Public Schools.  Ms. Lynch worked as a social worker at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Pinellas County, Florida.  Ms. Lynch is a Teach For America Alumnae and Athletes in Service, Americorps, Alumnae.  Ms. Lynch graduated with a degree in Psychology from Boston College, received a MSW from the Simmons Graduate School of Social Work, and received a MA in Elementary Education from St. Joseph’s University.

Ken Mason (Office Manager) joined North Star in 2007.  Prior to that, Mr. Mason was a Marketing Representative for HealthFirst in New York City.  He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business from Pace University, where he was the Pforzheimer Scholarship Recipient.  In addition to this work here at North Star, Mr. Mason is the President of a music production company called Soulful Dynamics Productions.

Clarence McNeil, esq. (Science Teacher) joined North Star in 2005 after having taught for seven years at Our Lady of Good Counsel Elementary School in Newark, NJ. At North Star, Mr. McNeil teaches 5th and 6th grade science. A versatile teacher, Mr. McNeil taught many subjects at OLGC including science, religion, language arts, social studies and literature. Prior to becoming a teacher, Mr. McNeil worked in the criminal justice system as a municipal prosecutor as well as a criminal defense attorney. A lifelong resident of Newark and a graduate of the Newark public schools, Mr. McNeil earned his B.A. in Religion from Wesleyan University and his Juris Doctor from Rutgers Law School.

Allison Metz (English Teacher) joined North Star in 2009 and teaches sixth grade English. Prior to joining North Star, she was a Teach For America corps member in Denver, CO where she taught high school English. She graduated from Mount Holyoke College in 2007 with a Bachelor's Degree in English.

Anne O'Brien (School Nurse) joined North Star in 2002. Ms. O'Brien is a registered nurse (RN), having worked as a school nurse for seven years prior to coming to North Star. Ms. O'Brien earned her B.A. in social work from King College (Union, NJ) and attended a three year certification program at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Brighton, MA.

Ken Schultz (Director of Operations) joined North Star Academy in 2008. Previously Mr. Schultz practiced law for more than 6 years in both the public and private sector.  In addition to working at Lowenstein Sandler and Skoloff & Wolfe, Mr. Schultz worked in the housing and income maintenance unit at Essex-Newark Legal Services, litigating cases in the state and federal courts.  Among other achievements, Mr. Schultz played an instrumental role in revising landlord-tenant practice to further protect low-income tenants, many of whom hold section 8 vouchers.  In 2006, Mr. Schultz was awarded a Legal Services of New Jersey Equal Justice Medal. Mr. Schultz also is actively involved in managing Ecosandals.com, a Kenyan-based company, which manufactures sandals out of recycled tires and sells them both locally and globally.  This past spring Mr. Schultz taught International Social Work at the Rutgers School of Social Work.  Mr.  Schultz presently serves on the board of the Apostles’ House and is a graduate of the Leadership Newark program.  Mr. Schultz has a joint degree in law and social work from Washington University in St. Louis. 

Tina Scorzafava (Skills Teacher) joined North Star in 2007 after graduating with honors from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.  Mrs. Scorzafava earned a M.A. in Elementary Education and was elected into the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society for outstanding academic achievement.  Prior to that, she was an Account Executive for the advertising agency Ogilvy and Mather working on television campaigns for Kodak and IBM.  She currently teaches 5th through 8th grade Skills. 

Rachel Shapiro Cooper (Theater Teacher) joins North Star Academy in 2009 as the Theater teacher. Ms. Shapiro Cooper has always been a champion for the arts. Prior to coming to North Star, Ms. Shapiro Cooper worked as an actress in television and theater. For the past three years she has worked in the New York City public schools teaching theater along with violence prevention and conflict resolution. She earned her B.F.A in Acting from Carnegie Mellon University and her M.A. in Educational Theater from New York University. Ms. Shapiro Cooper lives in Brooklyn with her husband and her dog Winston. She loves to scuba dive, travel and cook.

Brett Smiley (Language Teacher) joined North Star in 2008 as the 5th grade Language teacher.  Ms. Smiley graduated magna cum laude from Seton Hall University with degrees in History and Religious Studies.  Prior to coming to North Star, she taught for two years at P.S 71 in the Bronx, where she taught 7th and 8th grade English and Special Education classes. She graduated with honors from Mercy College, receiving her Masters in Urban Education.

Brian Smith (Science Teacher) joined North Star in 2007.   Mr. Smith teaches 7th and 8th grade Science.  He has been connected with North Star since 1999 through Brick City Soccer and previously taught for nine years at the Dr. William H. Horton School in Newark. Mr. Smith teaches Robotics as an elective at North Star, having previously coached teams to 1st place in the District and 1st in Robot Performance, 1st in Design, and 1st in Research at the State Tournament. He coached soccer for eight years and consistently had 50 or more participants playing on four teams per season. In 2007 he lead a group of 44 high school students from Essex County and Spokane Washington on an ambassadorial Tour of China for 18 days. He commutes daily using two bikes and the train. Brian graduated from Rutgers University in 1995 with a degree in Art History and English was awarded The Governor’s Award for Teaching Excellence in 2005.

Christie Van Dyke (Special Education Coordinator) joined North Star in 2000 teaching literacy and providing specialized learning support. She coordinates and provides services for students with special needs through the work of the school's Skills Room. In the past four years she has also led small group instruction for students with less developed skills in literacy, math and organizational/study skills. Ms. Van Dyke has devoted significant time to assess the literacy skills of new students and provide the necessary intervention to bring students to grade level. Ms. Van Dyke came to North Star after teaching pre-kindergarten for one year at the Village Child Development Center in Manhattan. She earned a B.A. in Special Education from Penn State University in 2000.

High School

Lina Almanza (Spanish Teacher) teaches high school Spanish after having taught middle school Spanish and social studies for one year in Florida. Ms. Almanza also worked for over four years with Quality Services for the Autism Community in NY as an Assistant Behavior Evaluator. Ms. Almanza earned her B.A. from Queens College, with a major in Psychology and a minor in Spanish.

Robert Bonner (Director of Operations) joined North Star in January 2009.  Before joining North Star, Mr. Bonner served as Project Development Manager for The Center for Healthy Schools, Families & Communities (CHSFC), a community-mental health center charged with program planning and policy consultation.  At CHSFC, Mr. Bonner was responsible for the design, implementation, coordination and evaluation of a range of programs and interventions (academic, behavioral, mental health) geared toward improving the academic and psychological well-being of students in New Jersey’s inner-city public schools.  Mr. Bonner began his experience in education teaching a 6th grade LEP class in Lynwood, California as part of the second cohort of Teach For America corps members in 1991.  He earned a B.A. from Haverford College in Sociology/Anthropology, a J.D. from Harvard Law School, and a Psy.M. in Clinical Psychology from Rutgers University. 

Stephen Chiger (Journalism / English Teacher) joined North Star in 2008 after having worked for five years at University Academy in Jersey City, where he was humanities director and founder of a nationally recognized journalism program.  He now works with students to publish North Star’s newspaper, The Messenger, which was recognized in its first year by the New York City Society of Professional Journalists.  Mr. Chiger is the past president of the Garden State Scholastic Press Association, a non-profit resource group for the state’s scholastic media.  He also founded a separate non-profit in 2006 to operate the Hugh N. Boyd Journalism Diversity Workshop, a free summer program for high school students interested in media careers.  Before teaching, Mr. Chiger reported on local and national politics for news media including PCworld.com and The Courier News (Bridgewater).  He continues to freelance when time permits.  Mr. Chiger received a B.A. in English from Lafayette College and an M.S.J. in journalism from Northwestern University.  He is currently pursuing a M.Ed. in educational leadership at Columbia University.

Joanne Doherty (Skills Room Teacher) joined North Star in 2009 as the High School Skills Room teacher. Prior to joining North Star, Joanne worked as a Product Manager for Evergreen Investments. She comes to North Star as a 2009 Teach For America corps member. Joanne holds a BA in English and Economics from the University of Massachusetts, and a Masters of Education, also from the University of Massachusetts.

Matthew Fabricant (Spanish Teacher) teaches high school Spanish.  Prior to North Star, Mr. Fabricant taught Spanish on the high school level also in Newark.  Mr. Fabricant spent two and a half years in Honduras while serving as a Peace Corps volunteer teaching computer and English classes.  He has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame in Sociology and Computer Applications. 

Dianne Hardcastle (Director of College Placement) joins North Star this year after working as the Math Specialist at Excellence Charter School of Bedford-Stuyvesant, another school in the Uncommon network. She started her career in education as a middle school learning support teacher and Special Education Liaison in Philadelphia, PA. While in Philadelphia, she worked for Teach For America’s Mid-Atlantic Region, managing professional development and organizing corps member training. Ms. Hardcastle graduated from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, with a B.A. in Political Science, and Chestnut Hill College with a M.Ed. Born and raised in beautiful Southern California, Ms. Hardcastle looks forward to visits home, especially during the winter.

Timothy Haugh (Math Teacher) joined North Star Academy in 2009 where he teaches algebra II and precalculus. Since 1992, he has taught all levels of math as well as physics and computer technology at high schools in his native Illinois and then, after moving East, in New York and New Jersey. He is a graduate of the Loyola University of Chicago Honors Program with a degree in physics. He did graduate work in physics at the University of Texas, Austin, before earning his M.S. Ed. at Quincy University.

Adam Kendis (Director of College Studies) joined North Star in 2006 as the school’s first College Alumni Liaison, designing systems to support North Star’s graduates during post-secondary education. While increasing student performance and retention in college he also gathered data that has helped North Star refine its approach to preparing students for college and life beyond. Kendis previously taught math, founded an internship program and was part of the leadership team at Pablo Neruda Academy in the Bronx, NY. He earned his B.A. in Anthropology from Brown University and his M.S. in Special Education from Mercy College.

Jessica Rodriguez Lisboa (Theatre Teacher) teaches theatre at both the Downtown Middle and High School. She joined North Star in 2005 after having been a teaching artist performing historically based one-woman shows in schools, libraries, and large companies around the country. She earned her B.A. from Rutgers University (1993) and recently obtained her M.A. in Educational Theatre from New York University. She has performed in shows at the Provincetown Playhouse in New York City and Talento Bilingue de Houston in Texas. Ms. Rodriguez is the former Artistic Director for Jefferson Lakes Day Camp and teacher for the Montclair State University Gifted and Talented program. She continues to teach young professional actors in an acting
studio in Nyack, New York.

Emily McCord Mann (9th Grade English Teacher) joined North Star in 2002 as a learning specialist. In 2005 she became a founding teacher at the Clinton Hill Campus middle school. In her first three years with North Star, Mrs. Mann helped coordinate the school's Skills Room and SPED services. Eventually, she became the Literacy Instructional Leader for the middle schools, and now she teaches English I at the high school. In addition to her work at North Star, Mrs. Mann is the MS English Professor of Record for Teacher U at Hunter College, training teachers in best literacy practices. Mrs. Mann earned her M.A. as a Reading Specialist from Teachers College Columbia University in 2001, and her B.S. in Special Education (magna cum laude) from Boston University in 1997.

Shana Pyatt (Science Department Chair) is one of North Star's founding teachers. Ms. Pyatt spent 2005-06 in an extensive home-grown leadership training program which included teacher supervision, shadowing Ms. Jackson, and assuming leadership of the High School in the Spring. Ms. Pyatt designed the North Star science curriculum, orchestrated the Kwanzaa celebration, co-led the school's Homegirls Only club, and organized student trips to four national parks: Yellowstone (Wyoming), Mammoth Caves (Kentucky), Acadia (Maine), and the Everglades (Florida). She was honored in 2000, as part of the Governor's Teacher Recognition Program, as one of Essex County's teachers of the year. Before arriving in 1997, Ms. Pyatt taught high school English for four years in Yonkers and Greenburgh, New York. She earned a B.A. in English and Secondary Education from Rutgers University ('92), a Master's degree in Multicultural Education from Iona College ('96), and a second Master's in General Science Education from Southern Connecticut State University ('98). Currently she is pursuing a doctorate in Health through Lancaster University in England.

Victoria Ramirez (10th and 11th Grade Spanish) joined North Star in 2008 after working as an Engineer for Glasseal Products/Ametek for 4 years.  She also worked as an ESL teacher at Berlitz back in her native Colombia for over 6 years where she had the opportunity to work with a wide variety of students from elementary school to top executives of different companies.  Ms. Ramirez earned her B.S from Universidad Autónoma de Occidente (an accredited university in the U.S.) with a major in Industrial Engineering and a minor in Logistics.

Kelly Schrepfer (Math Teacher) teaches Algebra II to 9th graders at North Star Academy High School. Before joining North Star, she taught and was an after school program director at a public charter school in Washington, DC. Ms. Schrepfer holds a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics and Italian from the University of Illinois, and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Johns Hopkins University.

Beth Verrilli (English Teacher/English Department Chair) joined the North Star staff in 2003 as the SAT Prep teacher. In 2005, she launched the AP Language and Composition course, and alternates between teaching that course and the AP Literature and Composition course while chairing the English Department. She graduated cum laude from the College of the Holy Cross with a B.A. in English and from Brown University with an M.A.T. in English. Prior to her arrival at North Star, she enjoyed a variety of teaching experiences from first grade to twelfth grade, in public and private schools, and in suburban and urban settings.

Art Worrell (Dean of Students, History Instructional Leader) joined North Star in January 2005 as a Language Arts teacher. In August 2005 he became a founding teacher at the North Campus middle school. Mr. Worrell teaches 9th grade World History and serves as the Dean of Students for the entire High School. Until this past school year, he coached 5th and 6th grade basketball. Mr. Worrell earned his B.A. from Rutgers University with a major in History and a minor in Religion.

Clinton Hill Campus - Middle School

Amir Ballard (Dean of Students) joined North Star in 2007 after spending six years as a drug and alcohol prevention educator. He also currently serves as pastor of Wells Chapel AME in Toms River, New Jersey. Mr. Ballard holds a Masters in Divinity from Drew University and is a graduate of Morehouse College.

Tonya Ballard (7th grade English Teacher) joined North Star in 2007 after spending nine years teaching English and Language Arts in the Plainfield School District and in Cape May, New Jersey. She is a consultant for the National Writer’s Project and the College Board Springboard program. Mrs. Ballard attended Seton Hall University.

Derrick Bell (5th Grade Math Teacher) joined North Star as the 5th grade math teacher in 2009.  After graduating from Indiana University with a BA in History, he taught 6th grade for two years in Phoenix as part of the Teach for America program.  He then moved on to teach 5th grade math at Elm City College Prep in New Haven, CT for another two years before moving to Venezuela where he taught 6th, 8th, and 10th grade math at Colegio Internacional de Carabobo in Valencia, Venezeuela.  He returned to the United States and taught 7th grade math for one year at Achievement First Endeavor in Brooklyn, NY before moving to New Jersey.

Deena Bernett (6th Grade Science Teacher) joined North Star in 2008 after spending four years teaching in Brooklyn, NY as a New York City Teaching Fellow. In 2007, Ms. Bernett also served as a Field Visitor for the New York City Teaching Fellows, training the incoming cohort of Teaching Fellows. Ms.Bernett graduated from Brown University a B.S. in Biology. She also earned a M.A. in Biology Education from the City University of New York through the Teaching Fellows program.

Leah Bromley (7th Grade Science Teacher) joined North Star in 2007 after spending three years teaching middle school science at Edison McNair Academy in East Palo Alto, California. Previously, Ms. Bromley spent two years teaching math in Tanzania as a Peace Corps volunteer and three years as a mechanical engineer in Boston. She holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Policy from Harvard University and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Tufts University.

Andy Chen (8th Grade Algebra I Teacher, 8th Grade Team Leader) joined North Star in 2008 from Excellence Charter School, another school in the Uncommon network, in Bedford-Stuyvesant Brooklyn where he was the Math Specialist.  Prior to that, Mr. Chen taught 5 years at Edison McNair Academy in East Palo Alto, California, where he taught middle school Science and then Algebra I.  Before launching his teaching career, he was a Financial Analyst for Goldman, Sachs, & Co in San Francisco in Corporate Bond Sales.  Mr. Chen has a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Systems Engineering from Stanford University.  Mr. Chen always is looking forward to his next ski trip to Utah.

Paul Chin (6th Grade Math Teacher) joined North Star in 2008 after spending two years teaching in Los Angeles, CA as a Teach for America corps member.  While in Los Angeles, Mr. Chin served as one of the founding teachers at a new charter middle school in Huntington Park.  In addition to teaching 5th and 7th grade math and science, Mr. Chin helped create the school’s first boy’s and girl’s basketball teams as well as its first journalism club.  Mr. Chin graduated from Princeton University with a B.A. in Sociology in 2006 and earned his preliminary K-8 teaching credential from California State University at Dominguez Hills in 2007.

Talia Crofut (8th Grade English Teacher) joined North Star in 2007 after student teaching at the Buffalo Academy of Science Charter School. She graduated magna cum laude from the State University of New York at Buffalo.

Michelle DaSilva (7th Grade History Teacher) joined North Star in 2009 after teaching at the high school level in the Hillside Public Schools. Ms. DaSilva is a Teach For America corps member and was a tutor for Citizen School’s after-school program at Ivy Hill Elementary School. She earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from the Pennsylvania State University in Secondary Education with a specialization in the Social Studies and a minor in History.

Eric Diamon (8th Grade English Teacher, Language Arts Instructional Leader) joined North Star in 2006 after spending two years teaching in Brooklyn, NY as a Teach For America corps member. While in Brooklyn, Mr. Diamon taught 5th grade. His favorite aspect of teaching writing at North Star is being able to help students continue to develop into independent writers. One of his favorite aspects of working at North Star is the high level of commitment that all teachers share in ensuring that each child is successful now and in the future. Mr. Diamon graduated from Bowdoin College in Maine with a B.A. in Sociology, and he has a Masters in Education from Pace University.

Erin Dillane (6th Grade Language Arts) joined North Star after three years as a Teach For America corps member in East Palo Alto, California.  Ms. Dillane taught 7th and 8th grade Reading Intervention, as well as 8th grade Language Arts, Science, and English Language Development.  Prior to moving to New jersey, she was her school’s community service coordinator and played cello with the Redwood Symphony.  She graduate summa cum laude from St. Olaf College (Northfield, Minnesota) with department distinction in Interdisciplinary Fine Arts and has a M.A. in Education from Alliant International University.

Kathleen Farley (5th Grade Science Teacher) joined North Star in 2006 after graduating with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Ecology and Natural Resource Management from Cook College at Rutgers University. She is interested in helping students make connections between the fifth grade science curriculum and current events.  In addition to her teaching duties, Ms. Farley is the Athletic Coordinator for Clinton Hill and the Yearbook Advisor. Currently Ms. Farley is pursuing her masters in Environmental Studies at Montclair State University.

Jody Jones (5th Grade History Teacher, 5th Grade Co-Team Leader) joined North Star in 2006 after graduating from Cornell University with a Master’s degree in Africana studies. Ms. Jones also holds a B.A. degree in English and Africana studies from Rutgers University (magna cum laude). She had previously taught in the New Jersey SEEDS program and coordinated an after-school program in the New Brunswick area.

Scott Kern (6th Grade History Teacher, History Instructional Leader) joined North Star in 2007 after completing his Master’s of Science Degree in Education from Northwestern University in August 2007. Mr. Kern also received a Master’s Degree in History from the University of Toronto in 2005 where he was pursuing a Doctorate in Medieval History before deciding to teach.  He earned his B.A. from Western Michigan University (magna cum laude) in 2003 with a double major in History and Classics.  

Kathleen Lane (7th and 8th Grade Skills Room Teacher) joined North Star in 2008.  She works collaboratively with faculty to coordinate and implement services for students with special needs in grades 7 and 8.  Prior to working at North Star, Ms. Lane taught students with special needs in grades 4-6 for 3 years in Connecticut. Ms. Lane earned a BA in Elementary/Special Education (K-12) from Providence College in 2004.  

Michael Lemaster (Theater Teacher) joined North Star in 2009 after teaching 11th and 12th grade literature for three years in Baltimore, Maryland.  For two of those years, he served as a Teach For America corps member.  Mr. Lemaster is honored to be part of such an enthusiastic staff that is dedicated to ensuring that each of North Star's students will make to and through college.  Furthermore, he is excited that North Star recognizes public speaking to be a vital skill our students will need in college, and is thrilled to work with each of his students as they develop into more confident and effective public speakers through Drama.  Mr. Lemaster is a graduate of the University of Kentucky with a B.A. in English and Spanish.  

Jenean Lytle (Office Manager) joined North Star in 2005 after serving as office manager at Discovery Charter School in Newark. Mrs. Lytle’s son Kamonie graduated from North Star’s high school in 2007; he currently attends Lehigh University. Mrs. Lytle’s daughter Kenyatta is currently a sophomore at North Star’s High School.

Katie McNickle (7th Grade Math Teacher) comes to North Star as a member of the 2009 Teach For America-Newark Corps.  She received her BS in Management Science from Massachusetts Institute for Technology.

Tara Mead (5th Grade Literature Teacher, 5th Grade Co-Team Leader) joined North Star in 2008 after teaching 10th Grade English in the South Bronx as a Teach for America corps member. Ms. Mead graduated from Georgetown University with a B.A. in English and Psychology.

Jessica Mitchell (7th Grade Math Teacher, Mathematics Instructional Leader) joined North Star in 2007 after teaching middle school math for ten years in the Newark Public Schools system. She served as a Corps Member Advisor at the Philadelphia Teach For America summer institute and she has facilitated a variety of workshops for Teach for America and the Newark Public Schools math department. Ms. Mitchell holds a Master's Degree in Mathematics Education from Montclair State University and is a graduate of Dartmouth College.

Cristina Perla (5th and 6th Grade Skills Room Teacher) joined North Star in 2007 after substitute teaching in Westwood, New Jersey. She is an accomplished artist and has earned a BFA and an MS from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York.

Monica Starks (5th Grade Language Arts Teacher) joined North Star in 2008.  She attended Syracuse University and graduated with a B.S. in Magazine Journalism from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communication. Prior to joining North Star, Ms. Starks was a public relations specialist for the city of Norfolk in Virginia. She has also worked as a freelance writer for large newspapers such as The Record and The Virginian-Pilot. Ms. Starks was drawn to North Star because the school not only provides a rigorous, top-notch education, but also builds and instills character and values in its students.

Kyle Steele (Physical Education Teacher) joined North Star in 2008.  Previous to North Star, Mr. Steele taught in Irvington High School where he also coached wrestling and football. 

Mike Taubman (8th Grade English Teacher, Literature Instructional Leader) helped found the Clinton Hill Campus in 2005. Previous to his current position, Mr. Taubman taught 5th grade Literature at North Star Clinton Hill for 3 years. He also coaches the school basketball team. Mr. Taubman attended Stanford University, graduating in 2005 with a BA in English (focusing on Modernist poetry and painting) and an MA in Education. Mr. Taubman is an avid traveler and has spent several years living in foreign cities, including Moscow, Venice and Rome.

Alandrea Timmons (Director of Operations) joined North Star Academy in May of 2009.  Prior to joining North Star Academy - Clinton Hill Campus, Ms. Timmons developed a strong background in operations and project management as a healthcare professional working at both Kaiser Permanente and Mayo Clinic Rochester where she participated in management training programs.  Her financial acumen was fine tuned as an intern and an Associate with Bank of America Securities within their Real Estate, Gaming and Lodging Investment Banking Group.  Ms. Timmons received her MBA from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a Masters in Healthcare Administration from The University of Southern California.  She also earned a Bachelor’s in Public Administration from Virginia State University.

Marleyne Tronchin (Nurse) joined North Star in 2008.  Ms. Tronchin has been a school nurse for ten years and a bedside nurse for twelve years.  Following in the footsteps of her mother, a retired nurse, Ms. Tronchin’s love and care for children enables her to deliver the treatment and counseling necessary in grooming our children to good health and wellness.

Elementary Campus

Brett Baker (Second Grade Teacher) joined North Star in 2008 and comes to North Star as a member of the 2008 Teach For America-Newark Corps. A lifelong Spartan, he attended Michigan State University where he received his BA in Public Administration and Public Policy with honors.

Tamika Boykin (Kindergarten Teacher), a native of New Jersey, joined North Star Academy in 2008. Prior to North Star, she taught kindergarten for four years in Paterson, NJ and fourth grade for three years in New York City. She continues to work with the youth in Paterson teaching drama, dance, and hosting a bi-monthly forum for young adults to discuss issues concerning urban youth in today’s society. Ms. Boykin earned B.S. degrees in Elementary Education K-6 and Interdisciplinary Studies from Virginia State University in 2000.

Devon Buchanan (Physical Education) joined North Star in 2009 after 3 years of After-School and summer camp programming with Loudoun County Parks and Recreation and The City of Gaithersburg Parks and Recreation.  He earned a B.S. in Recreation and Leisure Services Management from East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania.   He is a certified Archery and Canoe Instructor as well as an active mentor in Philadelphia with the future goal of opening a youth recreation center called the F.O.C.U.S. Center (Finding Ourselves Creates Unlimited Success) to offer all youth the opportunity for growth. 

Barbara Dixon (Second Grade Lead Teacher) joined North Star in 2009, having previously taught 5th grade for two years in the Newark Public School District as a Teach For America corps member. She previously taught boys hip-hop at the North Star Elementary Campus and has her B.A. in Political Science and Classics from Howard University.

Connie Graham (Performing Arts Teacher) spent years as a professional actress performing leads in musicals on Broadway, National Tours and regional theatre. After running her own musical theatre school and teaching preschool in Montclair, NJ, she joined North Star Elementary as a founding teacher. She earned her B.A. in Psychology at Dickinson College and attended the Teacher's Certification Program at Seton Hall University.

Shona Hendry (Skills Teacher) recently joined the North Star team in 2007 after serving as a SPED teacher for the former All Can Excel (ACE) Academy of Newark, NJ. She earned her BA in Anthropology from Lehigh University, with coursework in Sociology and African American Studies.

Merry Kappes (Kindergarten Teacher) joined North Star in 2009 after spending the past five years teaching grades Kindergarten through Second Grade in both Lancaster, PA and Boston, MA.  She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Education and Communications from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. After college, Merry began her career teaching Kindergarten then moved to Massachusetts in 2005 to teach for Boston Public Schools (BPS).  While working as a Kindergarten and Second Grade teacher in BPS, Merry completed her Master’s of Education in Elementary Education from Lesley College.  When she is not at work you can find Merry in the nearest local bookstore reading about her next destination of travel.   

Rachel Kashner (Kindergarten Teacher) joined North Star in 2010. She graduated from the College of Charleston in South Carolina where she received her B.S. in Elementary Education with a minor in Spanish. 

Ema Land (Second Grade Teacher) joined North Star as a member of the 2009 Teach for America - Newark Corps. She received her BA in International Studies and the Comparative History of Ideas with a minor in African Studies.

Jennifer Marin (Kindergarten Teacher) joined North Star in 2009 as a member of the Teach For America 09 Corps.  In 2004, she earned a BS in Communication Studies from New York University.  Prior to joining North Star, she spent four years traveling around the country as Grant Coordinator of the Baseball Tomorrow Fund, the grant-making arm of Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association.  She is excited to join the NSA team and work with such an accomplished staff. 

Erin K. Michels (First Grade Teacher) joins us as a Teach for America corp member in 2008 after having worked at the New York City Department of Education (DOE) in the Office of Accountability and the Chancellor's Office.  Ms. Michels earned her B.A. from Loyola College in Baltimore, Maryland in political science with a minor in Economics. 

Shadell Noel (Kindergarten Lead Teacher) was formerly a second grade teacher at West Oak Lane Charter School in Philadelphia, PA.  She received her B.S. from Temple University in Elementary and Early Childhood Education with a minor in General Strategic Management/Entrepreneurship.

Jillian Ottaviani (First Grade Co Teacher) joined North Star in 2009. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communication and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art History from Rutgers University. She received the High Impact Teacher of the Summer award from the TeacherNex program. Prior to joining North Star, Ms. Ottaviani worked in Philadelphia as a business and public relations associate.

Laura Palma (First Grade Teacher) joined North Star in 2008. She graduated from Elizabethtown College in Pennsylvania with a degree in Elementary and Early Childhood Education.  Ms. Palma joined Teach For America to address educational inequity and to teach in an area of immediate need.

Erin Renz (First Grade Teacher) comes to North Star after a year of travel as leadership consultant for a women’s fraternity.  She is a 2008 Teach for America Corps member. Ms. Renz recently graduated from the University of Vermont with a BA in History and a minor in Archaeology. 

Michael Rolek (Physical Education/Art) graduated from Marist College with a B.A. in Communications and a minor in business.  He is a 2008 Teach for America corps member. 

Aja Settles (Hollyhock Instructional Fellow, Second Grade Instructional Leader) joined North Star in 2007 after teaching for three years as a Teach for America corps member in Camden, NJ. She received her B.A. in Sociology from Temple University.

Andrea Somerville (Kindergarten Teacher) joined North Star in 2008. She graduated from Canisius College in Buffalo, NY with a degree in special education and early childhood education.

Christian Sparling (Director of Operations) joined North Star in 2007 after working as Director of Special Projects at Uncommon Schools. Mr. Sparling was a 2001 Teach For America corps member in New York City. He taught first grade at PS 65, Mother Hale Academy, and second grade at PS1x, the Courtlandt School, both in the South Bronx. In 2003 he joined the Teach For America recruitment team and later the admissions team as an Applicant Communications Associate. He graduated from Columbia University with a BA in Urban Studies, specializing in Sociology.

Gladasia Tatum (Skills Room Teacher) joined North Star in 2006. She coordinates and provides services for students with special needs. Ms. Tatum graduated from Syracuse University with a B.A. degree in Inclusive/Special Education and African American Studies.

Yasmin Vargas (First Grade Lead Teacher)joined North Star in 2008. Ms. Vargas previously worked for the Paterson, NJ Public School District for five years as a first and second grade teacher. She receive an associate's degree from Nassau Community College in 1999 and a bachelor's degree from New York University in 2002. Ms. Vargas was awarded the opportunity to present her senior thesis on Latino Studies in Havana, Cuba. Her hobbies include dance, visual arts, and travel.

Lauren Whitehead (First Grade Teacher) recently graduated from Muhlenberg College, in Allentown, PA with a BA in History and Business Management. She is a member of the 2007 Teach For America corps and specifically requested placement in Newark so she could serve the children of her native New Jersey.

Shannon Williams (Kindergarten Lead Teacher) joined North Star Academy in 2009 after completing two years with Teach for America where she served as an elementary teacher in Newark, NJ. She also served as an extracurricular dance instructor at NSAE for one year. She attended the State University of New York at Albany, where she double majored and received her B.A. in Political Science and Africana Studies.

Juliana Worrell (Kindergarten Lead Teacher and Grade Level Leader) comes to North Star after completing two years with Teach For America where she was an elementary teacher at Dr. Martin Luther King Elementary School here in Newark. She attended Rutgers University, where she received her BA in Political Science with a minor in Africana Studies.