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Stories and insights on excellent education.
Success Academy operates 47 high-performing public charter schools serving 20,000 students across New York City.
Congratulations to the 2020 Success Academy Excellence Award Winners!
Success Academy – May 20, 2020
We are excited to announce the 2020 Success Academy Excellence Award winners! This award honors faculty and staff across our schools who exemplify the excellence in education to which our entire community strives. This year, the award recognizes 216 faculty and staff members. Their commitment, talent, and hard work — especially at a time of unprecedented difficulties — are an inspiration to all of us, and we are thrilled to have this opportunity to celebrate them. We recognize excellence in the following four categories:
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT
The Academic Achievement Award recognizes the teachers who have inspired their scholars to perform at the highest academic level based on academic data and meeting school culture goals. Only lead teachers were eligible.
GROWTH
The Growth Award recognizes educators who have exhibited the most significant progress in achieving excellence since the start of the school year. Awards are based on either academic and school culture data or observed growth in practice.
ETHOS
The ETHOS Award recognizes school staff who have best demonstrated the Success community’s values: Excellence, Teamwork, Humor, Ownership, and Scholars.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
The first year of teaching can be tough, and the Rookie of the Year Award recognizes first-year teachers who have embraced the challenge and demonstrated significant growth, based on academic and school culture data or observed practice.
Congratulations to all the 2020 winners. We feel lucky to have you as part of the SA family, inspiring your scholars and serving as role models and leaders for all of us!
Bed-Stuy 1
Emily Peters
Science Associate Teacher
Rookie of the Year
Jason Dobson
3rd Grade Integrated
Co-Teacher
ETHOS
Sherron Davis
1st Grade Integrated
Co-Teacher
Growth
Bed-Stuy 2
Arielle Rosario
2nd Grade Integrated
Co-Teacher
Rookie of the Year
Gabrielle Paciencia
2nd Grade Associate Teacher
ETHOS
Mallam Osman
Operations Manager
ETHOS
Omar Taylor
Science Teacher
ETHOS
Bed-Stuy Middle School
Amy Peabody
5th Grade History Lead Teacher
Rookie of the Year
Brandon Furby
6th Grade Science Lead Teacher
ETHOS
Hannah Buck
6th Grade Math Lead Teacher
ETHOS
Sean Holder
7th Grade Science Lead Teacher
Achievement
Bensonhurst
Amber Gutierrez
Kindergarten Lead Teacher
Growth
Destiny Soto-Osborne
4th Grade Lead Teacher
Achievement
Flo Loisy
Soccer Coach
ETHOS
Jasmine Crespo
1st grade Lead Teacher
Growth
Joseph Criscola
3rd Grade Lead Teacher
Achievement
Joyelle Mills
Science Teacher
Rookie of the Year
Nicolas Cathcart
Sprint Manager
ETHOS
Renée Fannon
1st Grade Lead Teacher
ETHOS
Sanjita Dham
2nd Grade Lead Teacher
Achievement
Bergen Beach
Daneen Monti
2nd Grade Integrated
Co-Teacher
Growth
Emily Yuen
School Psychologist
ETHOS
Hulgrid Gourgue
Science Teacher
ETHOS
Bronx 1
Addiel Sanchez
2nd Grade Lead Teacher
Growth
Adrina Figueroa
2nd Grade Integrated
Co-Teacher
Growth
Brandon Whitaker
3rd Grade Integrated
Co-Teacher
ETHOS
Catherine Anzano
1st Grade Integrated
Co-Teacher
ETHOS
Savannah Fader
Office Coordinator
ETHOS
Seema Baez
2nd Grade Integrated
Co-Teacher
Growth
Wesley Garcia
Science Teacher
Rookie of the Year
Bronx 2
Alta Markley
1st Grade Lead Teacher
Achievement
Gabriela Cabral
4th Grade Integrated
Co-Teacher
Rookie of the Year
Nakyna Garfield-Desphy
2nd Grade Lead Teacher
Growth
Nia Blackmon
Chess Teacher
ETHOS
Bronx 2 Middle School
Danielle Rias
Assessment Specialist
ETHOS
Serena Molina
7th Grade ELA Lead Teacher
Rookie of the Year
Bronx 3
Angelica Barbosa
2nd Grade Integrated
Co-Teacher
Growth
Carli Haggerty
Kindergarten Lead Teacher
Achievement
Christina Leone
Science Teacher
ETHOS
Mame Seck
1st Grade Lead Teacher
Growth
Maureen Dougherty
2nd Grade Integrated
Co-Teacher
Growth
Shanae Spruill
Kindergarten Integrated
Co-Teacher
Rookie of the Year
Bronx 4
Cheyenne Melendez
1st Grade Integrated
Co-Teacher
Growth
Chloe Walker
1st Grade Integrated
Co-Teacher
ETHOS
Evelyn Gonzalez
1st Grade Integrated
Co-Teacher
Growth
Fatimah Majors
1st Grade Associate Teacher
Rookie of the Year
Bronx Middle School
Hannah Pearl
7th Grade Science Lead Teacher
ETHOS
Integra Jones
6th Grade History Lead Teacher
Growth
Julius Collier
7th Grade Math Lead Teacher
Rookie of the Year
Safa Naibzada
6th Grade Science Lead Teacher
Achievement
Bushwick
Jane Oberman
Kindergarten Lead Teacher
Growth
Kelsey McInerney
Community Relations Coordinator
ETHOS
Scott Bennatan
3rd Grade Integrated
Co-Teacher
Rookie of the Year
Zoe Calish
Kindergarten Integrated
Co-Teacher
Growth
Cobble Hill
Dana Caspari
3rd Grade Integrated
Co-Teacher
Rookie of the Year
Devin Caravello
School Psychologist
ETHOS
Madeline Meaders
Kindergarten Lead Teacher
Growth
Crown Heights
Aaliyah Ransome
1st Grade Integrated
Co-Teacher
Growth
Anais Kingsberry
School Psychologist
ETHOS
Brithney Orosco
3rd Grade Associate Teacher
Rookie of the Year
Cat Romano
Kindergarten Lead Teacher
Growth
Erica Baah
1st Grade Integrated
Co-Teacher
Growth
Kay-Lee Ebanks
Kindergarten Integrated
Co-Teacher
ETHOS
Ditmas Park Middle School
Eliza Weisberg
6th Grade ELA Lead Teacher
ETHOS
Ray Carroll
5th Grade ELA Lead Teacher
Growth
Ryan Long
7th Grade ELA Lead Teacher
Achievement
East Flatbush Middle School
Imani Whitfield
School Psychologist
ETHOS
Michelle Jones
6th Grade ELA Lead Teacher
Rookie of the Year
Oyindamola Lawal
Community Relations Coordinator
ETHOS
Far Rockaway
Gabrielle Fox
Kindergarten Lead Teacher
Growth
Jevaun Grant
Community Relations Coordinator
ETHOS
Rachel Thomas
3rd Grade Integrated
Co-Teacher
Growth
Sylvie Noel
Kindergarten Lead Teacher
Rookie of the Year
Flatbush
Ashley Cortez
Kindergarten Integrated
Co-Teacher
Growth
Chandel Smith
Operations Manager
ETHOS
Deborah Brown
1st Grade Integrated
Co-Teacher
Growth
Hunter Zwack
Assessment Specialist
ETHOS
Melanie Castillo
Art Teacher
ETHOS
Stephanie LeClair
3rd Grade Associate Teacher
Rookie of the Year
Fort Greene
Brianna McIntosh
Kindergarten Integrated
Co-Teacher
Growth
Carla St. Louis
School Psychologist
ETHOS
Holly Paetz
2nd Grade Lead Teacher
Rookie of the Year
Karla Moronta
Kindergarten Integrated
Co-Teacher
Growth
Magda Diaz
1st Grade Integrated
Co-Teacher
Achievement
Sara Bell
1st Grade Integrated
Co-Teacher
Achievement
Harlem 1
Alex Belden
Sprint Specialist
ETHOS
Alexa Hernandez
1st Grade Integrated
Co-Teacher
Growth
Andie Goodman
2nd Grade Integrated
Co-Teacher
Rookie of the Year
Corey Inslee
2nd Grade Integrated
Co-Teacher
ETHOS
LaTisha Habersham
Community Relations Coordinator
ETHOS
Michelle Mitchell
3rd Grade Integrated
Co-Teacher
Growth
Yeonjeong Bang
Kindergarten Lead Teacher
Growth
Harlem 2
Allie O’Hair
Community Relations Coordinator
ETHOS
Amanda Adler
Sprint Specialist
ETHOS
Hannah Balzer
3rd Grade Lead Teacher
Rookie of the Year
Jessica Sklar
1st Grade Lead Teacher
Growth
Nicole Gilliam
Kindergarten Lead Teacher
ETHOS
Harlem 3
Amanda Metzger
3rd Grade Lead Teacher
ETHOS
Dellshanna McGregor
Science Teacher
Growth
Jacqueline Theal
3rd Grade Lead Teacher
ETHOS
Kaylin Carlucci
Dance Teacher
ETHOS
Veronica Csak
4th Grade Lead Teacher
Rookie of the Year
Harlem 4
Alyssa Sherry
Assessment Specialist
ETHOS
Julie Friedman
1st Grade Integrated
Co-Teacher
Rookie of the Year
Taylor Hamerman
3rd grade Lead Teacher
Achievement
Harlem 5
Komal Junejo
Community Relations Coordinator
ETHOS
Kyle Chittum
Science Teacher
Rookie of the Year
Harlem 6
Aleah Tarnoviski
Kindergarten Lead Teacher
Achievement
Gina Tomaj
1st Grade Integrated
Co-Teacher
Rookie of the Year
Johanna Vargas
Science Teacher
ETHOS
Michelle Higuera
1st Grade Lead Teacher
Growth
Harlem East
Amdy Fall
6th Grade Math Lead Teacher
Achievement
Bristol Francis
7th Grade ELA Lead Teacher
Growth
Chia Chong
Art Teacher
ETHOS
Edward Escano
5th Grade Math Lead Teacher
Achievement
Jasmaine Quashie
Community Relations Manager
ETHOS
Justin Hong
Assessment Associate
ETHOS
Kelly Morris
8th Grade ELA Lead Teacher
Growth
Matthew Relyea
8th Grade History Lead Teacher
Achievement
Rachel Ohayon
6th Grade Science Lead Teacher
Rookie of the Year
Harlem North Central
Amy Rasmus
6th Grade Science Lead Teacher
ETHOS
Helen Ventura
6th Grade ELA Lead Teacher
Rookie of the Year
Kelly-Ann Gajadhar-Merkel
6th and 7th Grade History Lead Teacher
Growth
Marné Gallant
5th Grade Science Lead Teacher
Achievement
Harlem North West
Alexandra Zieminski
5th Grade History Lead Teacher
Growth
Julia Ferra
Dance Teacher
Rookie of the Year
Kayla Sinclair
5th Grade Science Lead Teacher
Rookie of the Year
Kevin D’Alton
8th Grade Science Lead Teacher
Achievement
Mackenzie Horl
5th Grade History Lead Teacher
ETHOS
Marisa Drogan
7th Grade History Lead Teacher
Growth
Sarina Bajwa
School Psychologist
ETHOS
Vena Reed
7th Grade ELA Lead Teacher
ETHOS
Harlem West
Abigail Khaishgi
5th Grade History Lead Teacher
Growth
Andrés Anderson
5th Grade Science Lead Teacher
Achievement
Johanna Enger
5th Grade ELA Lead Teacher
Growth
Madison Tulp
7th Grade ELA Lead Teacher
ETHOS
Marcela Madero
6th Grade Math Lead Teacher
Rookie of the Year
Nana Alawiye
Operations Manager
ETHOS
Hell’s Kitchen
Joyce Chung
Kindergarten Lead Teacher
ETHOS
Kristina Loy
Theater Teacher
Rookie of the Year
Taylor Gordon
4th Grade Integrated Co-Teacher
Growth
High School of Liberal Arts
Julietta Garbasz
High School Math Lead Teacher
Rookie of the Year
Michelle Elsas
AP Biology Lead Teacher
Achievement
Shaquille Williams
Physics Lead Teacher
Growth
Hudson Yards
Cathleen Pomeroy
1st Grade Lead Teacher
Growth
Dianna Devito
Community Relations Coordinator
ETHOS
Maame-Serwah Afriyie
Science Associate Teacher
ETHOS
Maria Lazgin Ciercielli
Assessment Associate
ETHOS
Hudson Yards Middle School
Afia Obeng
7th Grade Science Lead Teacher
Achievement
Courtney Erickson
6th Grade ELA Lead Teacher
Growth
Dominique James
5th Grade Math Lead Teacher
Achievement
Jess Nelson
Sprint Specialist
ETHOS
Kaitlyn Walsh
8th Grade ELA Lead Teacher
Achievement
Mabel Polanco
7th Grade History Lead Teacher
ETHOS
Mary Kate McGetrick
Music Teacher
ETHOS
Prachi Patel
Debate Teacher
Rookie of the Year
Lafayette Middle School
Christine Hands
Dance Teacher
Growth
Colby Wagenbach
6th Grade Math Lead Teacher
ETHOS
Gillian Ricci
Art Teacher
ETHOS
Luke Bean
5th Grade History Lead Teacher
Rookie of the Year
Sariba Levin
Sprint Associate
ETHOS
Midtown West Middle School
Allegra Neely-Wilson
Community Relations Coordinator
ETHOS
Jinad Blake
7th Grade History Lead Teacher
ETHOS
Julia Pressler
5th Grade ELA Lead Teacher
Achievement
LaToya Brooks
Dance Teacher
Rookie of the Year
Matt Ng
8th Grade History Lead Teacher
Growth
Uzair Saleh
8th Grade Math Lead Teacher
Achievement
Myrtle Middle School
Alex Mangus
Art Teacher
ETHOS
Hanisha Harjani
5th Grade Science Lead Teacher
Rookie of the Year
Kijhe Combs
6th Grade History Lead Teacher
ETHOS
Maggie Callan
8th Grade ELA Lead Teacher
Achievement
Oyemwen Edebiri
5th Grade ELA Lead Teacher
Achievement
Sofia Harris
6th Grade ELA Lead Teacher
Growth
Prospect Heights
Brian Dinizio
Kindergarten Lead Teacher
Growth
Erin Gauck
Kindergarten Lead Teacher
Growth
Lucy Bailey
2nd Grade Integrated
Co-Teacher
ETHOS
Ycole Boncamper
Science Teacher
Rookie of the Year
Queens 1 Middle School
Aldwin Villanueva
6th Grade ELA Lead Teacher
ETHOS
Harrison Beer
Theater Teacher
ETHOS
Henry Kraft
5th Grade History Lead Teacher
Rookie of the Year
Le’Shelle Joseph
Sprint Specialist
ETHOS
Rosedale
Lindsey Ganslow-Mirabito
Science Teacher
ETHOS
Melissa Marcus
4th Grade Lead Teacher
ETHOS
Monet Lewis
Theater Teacher
Growth
Savannah White
1st Grade Lead Teacher
Rookie of the Year
South Jamaica
Champaigne Young
1st Grade Lead Teacher
Rookie of the Year
Cherry Grant
Kindergarten Lead Teacher
Growth
Derek Santo
3rd Grade Lead Teacher
ETHOS
Springfield Gardens
Ashley Kuehn
2nd Grade Integrated
Co-Teacher
Rookie of the Year
Chelsea Stahurski
Kindergarten Integrated
Co-Teacher
Achievement
Tara Kilderry
3rd Grade Integrated
Co-Teacher
Growth
Tatiana DiLanzo
Science Teacher
ETHOS
Tiffany Fox
Kindergarten Integrated
Co-Teacher
Achievement
Union Square
Brandon Phillips
2nd Grade Integrated
Co-Teacher
ETHOS
Mire Ajeti
Kindergarten Integrated
Co-Teacher
Growth
Nicole Janoff
Kindergarten Integrated
Co-Teacher
Rookie of the Year
Sara Araujo
4th Grade Integrated
Co-Teacher
Achievement
Upper West
Ashliann Arditi
Science Teacher
Rookie of the Year
Joanna Ademuwagun
Operations Manager
ETHOS
Lizzie Fox
1st Grade Lead Teacher
Growth
Sarah Chen
School Psychologist
ETHOS
Washington Heights
Alexandra Cabrejos
2nd Grade Associate Teacher
ETHOS
Amanda Ramppen
3rd Grade Lead Teacher
Achievement
Ashley Felix
4th Grade Lead Teacher
ETHOS
Edward Powers
Theater Teacher
Growth
Gretchen Riker
Kindergarten Lead Teacher
Achievement
Halle Saghian
1st Grade Lead Teacher
Growth
Kailah Kaner
1st Grade Associate Teacher
Rookie of the Year
Kara Hammond
Science Teacher
Growth
Williamsburg
Anna Light
Kindergarten Integrated
Co-Teacher
Growth
Christopher Faraone
Soccer Coach
ETHOS
Joanna Malaszczyk
Music Teacher
ETHOS
Lorraine Smith
1st Grade Integrated
Co-Teacher
Rookie of the Year
Monica Houghton
4th Grade Integrated
Co-Teacher
Growth
Olivia Tunall
Kindergarten Integrated
Co-Teacher
Growth
Virginia Exley
Science Teacher
Rookie of the Year
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