Downtown Elementary Faculty & Staff

Folake Akinola-Pinard

Principal

Wellesley College, B.A.; Columbia University, Teachers College, M.A.

Folake Akinola-Pinard started her career in education in 1997. After teaching Kindergarten, 2nd, 3rd and 4th grades in both public and charter schools for a total of 15 years, she began taking on leadership roles, serving as a Mentor Teacher, Dean of Students, Head of Youth Development and School Culture and Head of Resident Teacher Development.

Principal Akinola-Pinard believes that all children and families should have access to a quality education and has used her leadership roles in schools as tools to serve as an agent of change. Through her work as a teacher, a school leader, and a volunteer for a non-profit dedicated to the spiritual, intellectual, and emotional growth of young people around the world, Principal Akinola-Pinard has seen the power of an education that teaches both academic skills and a strong mindset. She believes deeply in the BPCS mission that charges excellent teachers to prepare a diverse student body to have a positive impact on society and a lifelong passion for learning. By serving as a leader in true partnership with all members of the DTES community, Principal Akinola-Pinard believes that with our mission as the foundation, we can change the world, one student at a time.

Alexandra Copeland

Lead Teacher

George Washington University, B.A.; Relay, M.A.

Amber Brown

Resident Teacher

State University of New York, B.A.

Anabel Rivera

Operations Coordinator

Binghamton University, B.S.

Andrea Gashi

Spanish Teacher

CUNY York College, B.A.; Mercy College, M.A.

Andrea Khan

Head of Operations

Montclair State University, B.A., New York University, M.A.

Andrea Molina

Program Manager

Pace University, B.A.

Andrene Robinson

Learning Specialist

Hunter College, B.S.; Hunter College M.S.

Angela Park

Lead Teacher

SUNY Stony Brook, B.A., Columbia University, Teachers College, M.A.

Anita Walsh

Artist-in-Residence

Parsons School of Design, B.A., George Washington University, M.Ed.

Avery Williams

Registrar

SUNY, College at Westbury, B.A.

Brittany Parker

Learning Specialist

Baylor University, B.S.; Teachers College, M.A.

Deanna Perez

Lead Teacher

Hamilton College, B.A., Charles Sposato Graduate School of Education, M.A.

Diana Wangerin-Foster

Musical Theater/Instructional Support Teacher

SUNY Purchase College, B.A., Hunter College, M.A.

Doreen May-Davis

Program Aide

Boricua College, B.A.

Drew McCann

Learning Specialist

Cornell University, B.S.; Bank Street College, M.A.

Drew Pallas

Classroom Aide

Emily Auchincloss

Lead Teacher

Yale University, B.A.; University of Massachusetts, M.A.

Emily Vandehey

Head of Academics

University of Oregon, B.A.; Lewis and Clark University, M.A.

Erin Shadowens

Lead Teacher

St John's College, B.A.; Relay GSE, M.A.; Columbia University Teacher's College, M.A.

Gabrielle Jarvis

Teacher

Pace University, B.A.

Jacob Kramer

Music Teacher

Northwestern University, B.M.; San Francisco Conservatory of Music, M.M.

Jasmine Best

Culture Assistant

Jasmine Thornton

School Aide

Jenna Talesnick

Dean of Students

George Washington University, B.A.; Columbia University School of Social Work, M.S.S.W.

Jennifer Choi

Lead Teacher

Stony Brook University, B.A.; Columbia University, Teachers College, M.A.

Jessica Snyder

Lead Teacher

Temple University, B.S.; Temple University, M.S.

Jillian Kuhn

Social Worker

Hobart & Wiliam Smith College, B.A.; Columbia University, M.S.W.

Joseph Yun

Resident Teacher

William Paterson University, B.A.

Kara Lesondak

Learning Specialist

Northwestern University, B.S., Fashion Institute of Technology, B.F.A., San Francisco State University, M.A.

Kate Nugent

Lead Teacher

SUNY at New Paltz, B.A.; City College of New York, M.S.

Keeli Davis

Head of Student Support Services

Trinity College, B.A.; Teachers College, Columbia University, M.S.

Kendra Thomas

Lead Teacher

Delaware State, B.A.

Khalea Milligan

Food Service Coordinator

Kingsborough Community College, Culinary Arts Program

Kishan Singh

Lead Teacher

City College of New York, B.A.

Kristin Schaumleffel

After School Program Manager

San Francisco State University, B.A.

Lusdymer Pichardo

Lead Teacher

Yale University, B.A.; University of New Haven, M.A.

Mandy Ip

Lead Teacher

SUNY Binghamton, B.A.; Hunter College, M.S.

Margaret Henderson

Lead Teacher

College of Charleston, B.S.; Teacher's College, Columbia University, M.Ed

Matthew Lazarus

Resident Teacher

Bard College, B.A.

Melina Garcia

Lead Teacher

City College of New York, B.A., Touro College, M.A.

Monica De Jesus

Classroom Aide

Bronx Community College

Monique Sierra

Director of School Culture

UC Santa Barbara, B.A., Columbia University School of Social Work, M.S.

Nairi Touryan

Teacher

Wesleyan University, B.A.; Relay Graduate School of Education, M.A.

Nicholas "Chris" Pappas

After School Program Coordinator

City College of New York, B.A.

Nicole Cheah

Resident Teacher

Brooklyn College, B.A.

Nicole Cimoch

Science Teacher

Grand Valley State University, B.S.; University of Chicago, M.A.

Peyton Clune

Resident Teacher

University of Kansas, B.A.

Paul James

P.E. Teacher

New York Institute of Technology, B.A.

Samantha Joseph

Operations Coordinator

Lehman College, B.A.

Sarah Heffernan

Resident Teacher

Hampshire College, B.A.; Smith College, M.A.

Tanael Booker

Program Aide

Bowie State University, B.A.

Tasha Edwards

Program Aide

Tracy Zhu

Social Worker

Boston University, B.A.; Columbia University, M.S.W.

Victory Calixte

Learning Specialist

City College of NY, B.A.; Touro College, M.S.

Yolande Tyrell

Lead Teacher

Touro College, B.S.

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