Welcome to Bank Street

Nathalie Achille, Math Coach & Facilitator, Education Center

Ellie Bibas is a new Humanities teacher in the School for Children. Ellie comes to Bank Street with over a decade of middle school teaching experience, as well as a passion for music, film, and the great outdoors. He believes that the humanities classroom should be a place for students to actively explore, investigate, and inquire about both themselves and the world around them—past and present. Ellie holds an BS in Film & Television from Boston University and an MA in Social Studies Education from Teachers College.

Elizabeth Brown, Associate Teacher, School for Children

The School for Children welcomed Rachel Bruttig as the 13/14s humanities teacher in the School for Children. Rachel arrives with 12 years of experience as both a middle and high school teacher. A passionate educator from San Francisco, CA, she holds a BA in Latin American Studies and an MA in Education. Rachel is committed to developing critical thinking, cultural awareness, and empathy among students, encouraging them to connect history, literature, and current events to their own lives. She is focused on empowering students to become active citizens that understand the importance of their voice in a democratic society. Outside of the classroom, Rachel enjoys exploring new cultures, reading, and spending time with her family.

Cassandra Cloutier joined the Development and Alumni Relations Office as the alumni engagement coordinator, bringing experience in marketing, operations, and student support from previous positions at college admissions coaching and college access organizations. Outside of her roles in the higher education space, Cassandra works as an eating disorder recovery coach and support group facilitator. She holds a BFA from Marymount Manhattan College.

The Graduate School welcomed Chris Cousino as coordinator of supervised fieldwork and partnerships. Chris has focused his career in the public realm in both urban parks and education. He began as a gardener and park manager in Central Park and has since held roles in operations, administration, and program development. As director of national programs and program administration for the Institute for Urban Parks, he built professional networks and shared best practices with park organizations supporting public spaces worldwide. Recently, he taught elementary education in public and private schools in New York City. Chris holds a BA from the University of Michigan and is a Bank Street Graduate School of Education alum, recently completing his MSEd in the teacher residency program. He lives in Manhattan with his son and their cat.

Jonah Daniell, Associate Teacher, School for Children

The Family Center welcomed Huchela De La Cruz as a 1:1 aide. She has prior experience in education and uses a strengths-based approach to teaching and working with children. Huchela considers herself an optimistic educator and loves to watch children’s personalities develop both inside and outside of the classroom. She finds great joy in making an impact on the lives of young children.

The School for Children welcomed Njeri Gachathi as a head teacher. Njeri is not new to Bank Street—she earned her Master’s in Education from the Graduate School and has substituted in various classrooms in the School for Children’s Lower School. With seven years of experience in New York City independent schools, Njeri brings a wealth of knowledge to her role. Originally from Kenya, she taught kindergarten in Vietnam for three years before relocating to New York. Njeri’s interests include jazz, board games, cooking, and exploring different types of tea.

Inés Ellis-Guardiola is a new math coach and facilitator at the Education Center. Inés has been an educator for two decades, starting as an in-school tutor in Boston, becoming a teacher with the New York City Teaching Fellows at PS89 in Brooklyn, transitioning to a math instructional coach, and consulting in schools all over New York City and New Jersey. She holds a BA in Art History from Carleton College, an MS in Childhood Education with a Bilingual Extension from Hunter College, and is an alum of the Principals Institute at Bank Street Graduate School of Education, earning an MEd in School Leadership. When she is not working in schools, she can be found at the ceramics studio making lop-sided pots, cooking some new concoctions in her kitchen, or on occasion, simply reading a novel on an Adirondack chair upstate.

The Family Center welcomed Rodolfo Fabianveras as a 1:1 paraprofessional aide. Rodolfo has lived in the Belmont, Bronx community for 24 years, having gone to public middle and high schools. Prior to Bank Street, he volunteered as an assistant wrestling coach at the Martin Luther King Jr. Educational Campus and also served as a peer mentor to high school students in the wrestling program. He also previously spent four years working at Mike’s Deli.

Clementine Fowle is an associate teacher in the fourth grade (9/10s) at the School for Children. She has previously worked with children as a nanny, after school teacher, and camp counselor. Clementine is a 2020 graduate of the University of Vermont and is currently getting her master’s degree in Childhood General Education at Bank Street Graduate School of Education.

Gaelle Frilet as the French teacher in the Upper School in the School for Children. She has been teaching languages for 19 years in different countries and has taught elementary grades as well as adults in private and public schools, but she has spent most of her career with middle schoolers. She has an MA in English from La Sorbonne Nouvelle and holds both the CAPES and Agrégation teaching certifications.

matthew goodman is the new Upper School learning specialist in the School for Children. matthew is passionate about possibilities and learning anchored in belonging and solidarity. His novel, Hold Love Strong, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers Book and was nominated for an Alex Award by the American Library Association. He has designed and led empowerment and literacy programs for formerly incarcerated men and women and youth on the spectrum of the criminal justice system and he has taught in a variety of contexts, including internationally and on the college level.

The School for Children welcomed Elizabeth (Liz) Henderson as an associate teacher in the kindergarten (5/6s) and will be starting a Bank Street graduate program in Spring 2025. She is a scientist by training, but a teacher at heart. She has a background in biophysics, with a BA from Hunter College. Before coming to Bank Street, she taught pre-K and first grade at a progressive elementary school for two years.

Nicole Jones is the new chief of staff in the Education Center. Nicole is a vision architect and operational strategist with a proven track record of scaling non-profits and startups to new heights. With a passion for empowering organizations to achieve their strategic goals, she excels in streamlining processes and implementing efficient operational systems. Nicole thrives on building solid foundations and guiding transformative initiatives that drive innovation and success. She has a creative approach and innate talent for aligning cross-functional teams while remaining dedicated to optimizing executive leadership and ensuring organizational growth.

The Education Center welcomed Hannah Kang as a research and data analyst. Hannah is a math enthusiast with a passion for data-driven solutions. Before joining Bank Street, she spent nine years teaching high school math, from Algebra 1 to AP Calculus. Now, she is excited to apply her knowledge and skills to improve educational outcomes. She recently earned my master’s degree in Quantitative Methods in Social Sciences from Columbia University, where she developed skills in data analysis and educational research. She is eager to use data to drive positive changes in education at Bank Street.

Chishty Khaled is new to the Information Technology (IT) team as a help desk technician. Chishty is in his senior year at CUNY Baruch College, where he is pursuing a degree in Computer Information Systems (CIS). His role at Bank Street marks his first introduction to the IT field, and he hopes to leverage this experience for his career.

Jason Kohler joined the School for Children as the Lower School music teacher. Most recently, Jason was an elementary music teacher at Manhattan Country School and the German School in Brooklyn. He has also worked as a teaching artist and after school music teacher at various schools in New York City. He holds a BA in Music from the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, and has held many roles alongside working as a private music lessons instructor and freelance musician for the past 14 years.

The Education Center welcomed Matthew Lee as a math coach/facilitator on the K-12 Math Education team. In his role, Matthew supports school leaders and teacher teams to familiarize, implement, and reflect on high-quality instructional materials. Matthew began his career 12 years ago as an elementary school teacher in West Philadelphia. His passion for math helped students investigate and engage in math in real world contexts. Matthew then relocated to Brooklyn, where he taught middle school math and served as a mentor coach. His teaching experience and relationship-building helped inspire a culture of collaboration among his colleagues. In his spare time, Matthew loves to travel and experience different cultures.

Vibha Mahadeo, Math Coach & Facilitator, Education Center

Xán Miñán has joined the Development and Alumni Relations Office as alumni engagement manager. Prior to Bank Street, he served as an enrollment coordinator at The School at Columbia. Previously, Xán served as a Woodbridge Fellow with the Yale University Chaplain’s Office, providing administrative and operational support to the team of chaplains and their affiliates. Xán holds a BA from Yale University in Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies with a focus in Education Studies and an MA from Teachers College, Columbia University in Anthropology & Education, where he focused on institutional histories of higher education.

The Education Center welcomed Velvet Pierre, CPA, as director of operations, finance, and analytics. She brings over 15 years of finance and accounting experience. Velvet began her career as an auditor after graduating from Baruch College, working in various New York State government agencies. After receiving her CPA license, she transitioned to providing finance, risk management, operational compliance, and strategic support to midsize and large not-for-profit organizations. Velvet also serves on the Board of Directors for a New York-based non-profit organization that provides support to individuals who are battling breast and ovarian cancer.

Maiea Polanco, Teacher Aide, Family Center

Kimberly Scher (she/her/hers) joined the School for Children as a third grade (8/9s) head teacher. She earned a BA in Political Science and Art History from Binghamton University, a MA in Social Studies Education from Teachers College, a Master’s Certificate in Environmental and Sustainability Education from Teton Science School (in Kelly, Wyoming), and a Master’s of Education in Leadership for Educational Change from Bank Street Graduate School of Education. Kimberly started her teaching career in schools in New York City and Boston before moving to Wyoming to teach outdoor education in Grand Teton National Park. She then moved back home to New York City and spent over a decade working at Expeditionary Learning Schools as a social studies teacher, coach, and dean of students. For the past three years, Kimberly has been a curriculum designer at EL Education, designing a national social-emotional learning curriculum for students in grades 6-12. Kimberly enjoys reading, hiking, and camping, going on long walks and spending time with family and friends.

Mollie Stern joined the Family Center as a teacher aide in Room 1. She has worked with children in a wide variety of settings, from teaching youth figure skating classes to working as an English teaching fellow in a dual-language kindergarten classroom in Greece. Mollie holds a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Creative Writing as well as a minor in Psychology from Emerson College. Currently, she is working to obtain a Master’s in Early Childhood Education – General Education and Special Education at Bank Street Graduate School of Education.

Kate Sussman joined the Education Center’s Early Childhood Education team as an early childhood coach, facilitator, and content creator. began her career at Bank Street in 1994, designing after school and summer programming for the Liberty Program (now Liberty LEADS). After receiving her MEd in Special Education from Bank Street Graduate School of Education, Kate worked with a Bank Street team to provide coaching on inclusive practices for teachers in the New York City public high schools, while also working as an adjunct at the Graduate School. From 2005-12, she was the director of professional development at the Opportunity Charter School, a middle and high school with a focus on supporting students with special needs. From 2013-15, Kate was the regional director of special education for KIPP NYC, a network serving grades K-12. Kate has consulted with public, private, and charter schools, as well as with the Bank Street Education Center.

The Education Center welcomed Berivan Tamsen as a math coach and facilitator. A passionate math coach and educator, Berivan has expertise in implementing high-quality instructional materials and research-based instructional strategies. To her new role, she brings years of experience in supporting student growth and coaching teachers to strengthen their practice. Berivan holds an MAT in Middle Childhood Education and a Special Education certification from Relay Graduate School of Education. She later expanded her skill set to pursue a Master of Public Administration from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, merging hands-on experience with systems-level thinking.

Michelle Tanella, Security Guard, Strategy & Operations

Dwight Williams is a math coach and facilitator on the K-12 Math Education team in the Bank Street Education Center. In his role, Dwight leverages over a decade of experience as a math teacher, instructional coach, and assistant principal to improve math instruction and student outcomes. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Andrews University, a Master’s in Teaching from Relay Graduate School of Education, and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Educational Leadership from Bank Street Graduate School of Education. Dwight is passionate about advancing educational equity and empowering students through high-quality math education.

Liya Yussubaliyeva is the annual funds coordinator in the Development and Alumni Relations Office. Before Bank Street, she worked as a marketing assistant at St. Lawrence University, leading promotional campaigns and outreach initiatives to connect students with alumni and career opportunities. She also interned with Benvenuti Arts, assisting in securing grants for non-profit arts organizations across the United States. Liya holds a BA in Performance and Communication Arts from St. Lawrence University.

The Education Center welcomed Fenot Aklog, EdD, as the new director of research and evaluation. She brings over two decades of experience in research and evaluation in K-12 and higher education, both domestically and internationally. Prior to Bank Street, she was the director of monitoring evaluation and research at the Institute of Student Achievement and the director of research and development at the National Center for Restructuring Education Schools and Teaching. She also is an adjunct associate professor at CUNY–College of Staten Island. Fenot holds an EdD from Teachers College, Columbia University, an EdM from Harvard University, and a BA from Brandeis University.

Marleny Figuereo joined the Facilities team as a security guard and is responsible for all safety entering the building, which includes monitoring surveillance cameras, performing conduct checks during her evening shift, and more. Marleny has experience working with children of all ages from birth to 18 years old in 1:1 settings, as well as in summer camp, after school, and daycare programs. She has a bachelor’s degree in Children & Adolescent Development.

Dana Massie is the new associate director of finance, operations, and analytics at the School for Children. Dana is a native New Yorker from Harlem where she was born, raised, and still calls home. Dana is driven by a profound passion for knowledge, the ever-evolving landscape of technology, the complexities of the human psyche, and the profound impact of community service on people’s lives, particularly in underserved communities. Dana earned both her bachelor’s degree in Applied Psychological Studies and her master’s degree in Management and Systems, Database Technologies from New York University. Dana has lent her expertise to diverse industries and environments, including healthcare, tech startups, non-profit and social action organizations, and K-12 and higher education. When she’s not immersed in data, policies, and procedures and championing causes close to her heart, Dana is an avid Wander Luster, her adventurous spirit taking flight as she explores destinations across the US and around the world.

The Education Center welcomed Shantay Mobley as executive director of K-12 Math. She has extensive experience in educational leadership, having previously served as director of Algebra Success at The Urban Assembly, academic dean and dean of school culture at Achievement First, and dean of instruction at Ascend. Shantay holds a master’s degree in Teaching from Relay Graduate School of Education and a bachelor’s degree in Sociology with a minor in Spanish from Davidson College. She is dedicated to improving student outcomes and teacher effectiveness through program development and instructional coaching.

Usmaan Saeed has joined the Information Technology team as a help desk technician. Usmaan is a recent graduate and looks forward to starting a career pathway in Information Technology with this new role. Usmaan holds a bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from Rutgers University–New Brunswick.

Raymond Acevedo, Strategy & Operations Manager, School for Children 

Cherie Austin is the director of Human Resources. Her career in human resources started 14 years ago at Teach For America on their national recruitment team and, since then, her work has spanned across the field including HR operations, talent management, total rewards, technology, and strategy. Cherie holds a BA in Broadcasting, Telecommunications & Mass Media from Temple University and a Master of Professional Studies in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University.

The Development and Alumni Relations Office welcomed Matthew Biskup as a development associate. Matthew comes to Bank Street after two years of working in higher education for a non-profit trade school. Matthew holds a bachelor’s degree from Eastern University and is passionate about helping schools help students thrive in their education.

La Toya Caton (she/her) is a math and coach facilitator in the Education Center. La Toya began her career as a middle and high school math teacher and enjoys using her experience to help preservice and in-service teachers navigate the challenges and joys of the teaching profession. La Toya is a proud child of immigrant parents, and from a young age, she witnessed their unwavering belief in the power of education as a tool for advancement. Their journey and sacrifices have deeply influenced her perspective, and as an adult, she wholeheartedly acknowledges the transformative power of education. In her new role, she looks forward to helping all students access equitable and high-quality instruction and experiences, ensuring that each child has the opportunity to thrive.

Shannon Craig (she/her/hers) joined the Education Center as a math coach and facilitator. Prior to Bank Street, Shannon worked as a math specialist in New York City Public Schools and a master teacher with Math for America. Shannon holds an MEd from Boston College with a specialization in math/computer science and special education.

The Education Center welcomed Jere Davis as an early childhood coach. Jere is an early childhood educator, coach, and facilitator who has been working in the education field for over 15 years. As a teacher, she implemented activities in which children learned through play in a classroom environment where they felt seen, heard, and valued. As a coach, Jere’s mission is to support and empower educators to be creative, intentional, and responsive to the young children they work with. Jere holds a MSEd in Early Childhood Special and General Education from Bank Street Graduate School of Education and is currently enrolled in its Early Childhood Leadership program. She has hopes of operating her own local early care center, and until then, she’ll continue to soak up the wisdom and knowledge from the community of colleagues around her.

The President’s Office welcomed Carolina E. González, PhD, as the new chief of staff. Dr. González is an educator and higher education leader with nearly 20 years of experience focused on educational access, student success, and organizational effectiveness. Prior to Bank Street, she was the associate dean for student success at Montclair State University, where she led initiatives on access, retention, graduation, marketing, partnerships, and diversity. An active scholar, Dr. González researches college persistence and success for marginalized students. She holds degrees from SUNY New Paltz, SUNY Albany, and Seton Hall University.

Tabbytha Greene is a new research & data analyst in the Bank Street Education Center. With a background in child education and early school systems, Tabbytha has a passion for academics, children, and community. She is adept at client-relations and data analysis and enjoys fostering professional relationships. She graduated with a BS from Buffalo University and went on to teach, as well as performing consultant work, in the New York City area.

The Graduate School of Education welcomed Christopher Gu as the senior director of finance, operations, and analytics. Prior to Bank Street, Christopher worked at Columbia University as the director of administration for the undergraduate enrollment group. Christopher also serves as a lecturer at the Columbia University School of Professional Studies and an adjunct professor at the Fordham University Gabelli School of Business. He holds an MBA from New York University’s Stern School of Business and a BA in Journalism, also from New York University.

Grace Handy is Bank Street’s new archivist and special collections librarian, working to increase access to the archives and preserve and expand the College’s collections. With a dual master’s degree in Library Science and History from Queens College, CUNY, Grace has worked at Teachers College Library, Brooklyn Public Library, and the Center for Book Arts. Interests include critical archival theory, filmmaking, slow reading, and close listening. Grace currently also does archival work for The City University of New York and with Librarians and Archivists with Palestine.

The Education Center welcomed Crystal Herrera as the associate director of equity and implementation at the Center on Culture, Race & Equity, where she co-designs engaging professional development for educators that interrogates the role of racism in their personal and professional lives. Her commitment lies in centering the voices of communities and partnering with families to create anti-racist and rich, culturally responsive experiences in early childhood. She earned her BA in Ethnicity and Race Studies from Columbia University.

Paula Lee Poy (she/her/hers) is new to the Education Center as a senior research & data analyst. Prior to her full-time role, she had been working with the Education Center in a consulting capacity. In addition to education, Paula has worked as a consultant across many sectors, including housing, food systems, healthcare, and international aid. She comes to Bank Street with a broad spectrum of experience in data analysis, program evaluation, strategic planning, and operations. Paula holds a BA in Geography and Statistics from Mount Holyoke and a Master of Public Administration from Baruch College.

Isabel Lewis (she/her/hers) is a new program associate at the Education Center, working on High 5s. Prior to Bank Street, Isabel worked at OPEN Impact Real Estate, a New York nonprofit real estate firm. She graduated from Princeton University with a BA in Politics and a minor in French.

The Graduate School welcomed Nica Marcellus as budget administrator. In her role, Nica supports management for all budgeting initiatives. Over her 20+ year career, she has worked across various organizations and roles, ranging from finance to healthcare. Her academic background includes a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Hunter College, as well as an MPA-Inspector General track from John Jay College of Criminal Justice, where she majored in Fiscal Policy, Analysis, and Oversight: Investigation and Operational Inspection.

Hanna Nichols is a new research & data Analyst in the math portfolio at the Education Center. Hanna graduated from Teachers College, Columbia University with her master’s in education policy this December. During her time at Teachers College, Hanna served as a research assistant at the Community College Research Center. Prior to this, Hanna was a 2nd grade teacher in Brooklyn and received her master’s degree in Childhood Education grades 1-6 from Relay Graduate School of Education. She is excited to leverage her experiences in education both inside and outside of the classroom in her new role.

Phelina Robinson (she/her) is a program associate on the Networks for School Improvement (NSI) team in the Education Center. Holding a bachelor’s degree in Education Studies from Spelman College and currently pursuing a master’s in Mental Health Counseling from CUNY Hunter College, Phelina brings a rich academic background to her work. With experience in at-risk school counseling at the elementary level and high school placement counseling in a middle school in The Bronx, she is deeply familiar with the challenges facing students in underserved communities. Passionate about closing the educational gap for Black and Brown children, Phelina is enthusiastic about contributing to the impactful efforts of Bank Street in ending educational disparities.

Ivy Ryan (she/her) joined the Education Center as a project manager supporting the Responsive Design portfolio and business development. Prior to Bank Street, Ivy ran a summer day camp on the Upper West Side with a philosophy of self-directed learning. For seven years, Ivy taught theatre in public, private, charter, university, out-of-school time, and non-profit settings across nine states. She holds a master’s degree in Education Leadership, Organizations, and Entrepreneurship with a concentration in Identity, Power, and Justice in Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting from Boston University.

The School for Children welcomed Gerard Sargent as the associate director of the Upper School. Gerard has been working in the youth development field for over a decade. Prior to Bank Street, Gerard worked at New York Jeter’s Leaders as a director of career development and college transitional programming. Gerard also worked at the National Urban League and Jewish Community Center in Youth Development programming.

The Education Center welcomed Meredith Somsel as a math coach and facilitator. Meredith has worked in education for nearly two decades, with extensive work in public, private, and charter school classrooms. She began her career in education as a sixth-grade math teacher and taught in Maryland and New York City before becoming a math coach. Meredith spent the last eight years developing a deep understanding of mathematics across the elementary and middle school grades. She has worked in school communities across the five boroughs, thinking about ways to increase students’ access and engagement in a math lesson. She became a math storyteller, always thinking about the stories behind the numbers. She is a skilled workshop facilitator, inviting adult learners to think about math differently.

The Family Center welcomed Tatianna Taylor as a 1:1 aide. Tatianna has a youth development background and has been working with kids for 10 years from kindergarten through high school. Most of her time was spent as one of two adults in a classroom with 25 students, and she is excited to have more one-on-one time with children in her new role in the Family Center. Tatianna looks forward to continuing to develop as an educator in Room 3 and values the warmth of the Family Center community that she has experienced so far.

Brooke Tucker (she/her/hers) joined the Education Center as a research & data analyst. Brooke has over a decade of hands-on early childhood teaching experience in nursery through pre-K. Her commitment to the field led her to transition into early childhood administration, where she spent three years. Brooke holds a MEd in Educational Leadership from the University of North Florida and a MA in Education Policy from Teachers College, Columbia University.