About Us

MISSION
East New York Prep addresses the specific needs and challenges of children in East New York to ensure students achieve or exceed grade-level mastery of academic content, knowledge and skills. We provide a rigorous and NYS Standards aligned curriculum, disciplined environment, and supportive community, where our students are academically and socially prepared to excel in demanding college preparatory high schools.

VISION
Elementary school is the bedrock upon which all further education rests. We envision a high-performing, achievement-oriented environment where children in grade K - 8 learn, master, and eventually apply foundational skills in a sequence that logically builds from the most basic elementary content to increasingly higher-order conceptual thinking.

From this vision comes East New York Prep.

Literacy and numeracy are critical for lifelong success. As the core building blocks upon which all future education rests, the ability to read fluently, write effectively, compute accurately, and speak persuasively form the foundation of all academic disciplines. We believe that building a strong foundation of content knowledge and skills ensures our students will be prepared to excel in all future pursuits. Our job then is to lay that foundation.

Administration

SCHOOL LEADER - Shelia Joseph, Esq.
A New York City native, founder and parent, Sheila Joseph, brings over a decade of experience as an educator and attorney to the design of the East New York Preparatory Charter School. As part of a year-long leadership fellowship, Ms. Joseph has also visited and interviewed leaders of dozens of the nation's highest performing public and private schools. During her fellowship, Ms. Joseph pulled together best practices and proven strategies of educational excellence to create a school model particularly well-suited for the children of East New York. Her work and advocacy on behalf of children in New York City and the District of Columbia have informed her vision to design a school of exemplary rigor that will remain accountable to its mission of ensuring outstanding student academic performance.

Ms. Joseph is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley, where she received a dual degree in Legal Studies and Psychology with a minor in Education. Ms. Joseph also received her Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center and a Master's in Elementary Education from Queens College.

Director of Curriculum and Instruction - Dellianna Burrows
A native of the Bahamas, Ms. Burrows completed her undergraduate studies in Political Science with a minor in Business at CUNY Baruch College. After earning her BA, she was accepted into the highly competitive New York City Teaching Fellows Program and taught 4th grade in East New York at PS 224. As a New York City Teaching Fellow, Ms. Burrows completed her first Master's in Childhood Education at St. John's University. It was during her tenure at PS 224, that Ms. Burrows' passion for providing superior education to urban underprivileged children grew. She saw the disparity between low performing schools and their counterparts and decided to assist in any way necessary to close the achievement gap. To achieve this goal she joined the Achievement First Charter School team and earned her second Master's in School Building Leadership. With growth hi mind and a continued desire to bring about equality hi education to the urban school system, Ms. Burrows has returned to the East New York section of Brooklyn, at East New York Preparatory as the Director of Curriculum and Instruction.

Operations Manager - Khalilia Southerland
Ms Southerland is currently a student a Medgar Evers College, pursuing a degree in with a concentration in Community Health. She has extensive customer service experience and has created courses of action for various areas of business throughout her time with various employers. Her belief is: "You are as strong as your course of action". Her background should prove to be a great benefit and asset to the ENYP Charter School.

Kindergarten

Kindergarten Teacher (Class: Miles College) - Candice McPherson
Ms. McPherson is a native New Yorker and was born and raised in Brooklyn. Ms. McPherson attended SUNY Oswego and earned her BA in Broadcasting and Mass Communications. Ms. McPherson worked with the Fox network before following her passion and returning to school to earn her Masters in Elementary Education at Brooklyn College. She is currently working on a second master's hi Special Education. Candice loves to read, write stories and traveling and hopes to become an author of children's books. She is honored to be a part of the wonderful faculty and staff of East New York Preparatory. Ms. McPherson is also a proud member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc.

Kindergarten Teacher (Class: Virginia State University) - Christine Rivera
Christine M. Rivera graduated from St. Francis College in February 2007 with a BS in Childhood Education and a concentration in Mathematics. She is currently pursuing her Master of Arts Degree in Mathematics at Brooklyn College. East New York Prep is Ms. Rivera's first teaching position.

K-2 Reading Intervention Specialist - Sarah Davis
Sarah Davis graduated from Vassar College with a bachelor's degree in Psychology in 2001. Throughout college, she volunteered regularly with children, first as a teacher's assistant in a first-grade classroom, then as an after-school program counselor. She has always enjoyed being with children. After college, she worked at the SYDA Foundation, a non-profit organization in upstate New York, in a supervisory position as a department coordinator. In 2003, she moved back to Long Island. Ms. Davis earned her in Master's Degree in Childhood Education from Hunter College in May 2007.

First Grade

First Grade Teacher (Class: Hampton University) - Sheena Panicker
Sheena Panicker graduated from Adelphi University with a Bachelors degree in English and a Masters degree in Education. Ms. Panicker joined the staff of East New York Prep after student and substitute teaching on Long Island. Her passion for teaching and love for children goes beyond the school walls. She is actively involved with sports activities, song, dance and charity work. This is Ms. Panicker's first year as a classroom teacher.

First Grade Teacher (Class: Clark Atlanta) - Janell Wright
Ms. Wright was born and raised in the East New York section of Brooklyn and looks forward to giving back to the community. Ms. Wright is dedicated to helping children and their families. She especially enjoys working with young children. For the past eight years Ms. Wright has worked as an Early Childhood Teacher in Head Start and Daycare. She recently graduated with honors from Brooklyn College with a Masters of Science in Early Childhood Education. She received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and Sociology from Hunter College.

Second Grade

Second Grade Teacher (Class: Grambling University) - LaTrace Finney
LaTrace Finney is a graduate of Long Island University (C.W. Post Campus). With a degree in Early Childhood Education, Ms. Finney enjoys working with students in grades K-2. Her most enjoyable classroom experience thus far, was student teaching a 2nd grade class. As a result, she is very excited to be working with the same grade at East New York Prep. Ms. Finney is fluent in Spanish and is a member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated.

Second Grade Teacher (Class: Tuskeegee University) - Renee Johnson
Ms. Johnson was born and raised in Queens, New York. She joined the ENYP family in September 2008. Ms. Johnson has 10 years experience in Elementary Education as well as Early Childhood Education. Prior to joining ENYP she worked at South Huntingdon Union Free School District as Head Teacher. She also worked at Montessori Progressive Preparatory School in Queens, N.Y. Ms. Johnson worked with children and adults with special needs due to traumatic brain injuries as well as high, moderate, and low mental retardation. She looks forward to going back to school for this Springs Semester to finish her education. Ms. Johnson aspires to be a college professor. Her ultimate goal here at ENYP is to effectively promote positive growth among the staff and students she interacts with. With adoration, faith, and love she believes she can do just that.

Third Grade

Third Grade Teacher (Class: Florida A&M) - Lisa Darress
Ms. Darress is extremely excited to have the opportunity to give back to the city that she grew up around and is a part of today. This past school year, Ms. Darress taught as a Science Cluster teacher in Queens and for three years before that, she had the opportunity to work on Long Island as a Permanent Substitute. Ms. Darress has worked across the grades, kindergarten to six as well as collaborated with teachers and administrators. Her Masters of Science in Childhood Education with a specialization in Science Degree is from Queens College of the City University of New York. Ms. Darress completed her undergraduate studies at Long Island University, C.W Post Campus, where she graduated with a Bachelor's Degree on Childhood Education with a concentration in History. She believes that any child can succeed as long as they do hard work and believes that they can.

Third Grade Teacher (Class: Morgan State) - Rochon Evertz
Rochon Evertz graduated from Brooklyn College with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education. Over the last 13 years, she has worked with a variety of programs involved in student learning and development, including the Children's Science Materials Workshop and the Science Council of New York City. Prior to making the transition to teaching seven years ago, Ms. Evertz worked as a paralegal, office manager and Verizon telephone representative. Although she wasn't in the classroom at the time, she was an active member of Verizon Pioneer's Big Brother/Big Sister Program. Ms. Evertz is currently a member of the National Association for the Education of Children and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.

Third Grade Teacher (Class: Medgar Evers) - Evelina Kola
Miss. Kola graduated from Bloomsburg University with a Bachelors of Science Degree in Elementary Education. She is currently pursuing her Masters of Arts Degree in ESL. Miss. Kola is also fluent in Albanian. Prior to joining East New York Prep, She worked as a fourth grade teacher for three years in Virginia. During these years, Miss. Kola was a member of Math, Multicultural and Instructional Consultant Teams. During two summers, she taught fourth grade and Kindergarten students and substituted in an urban Philadelphia area for one year. Miss. Kola loves working with children and she is determined to help every child succeed.

Support Staff

Cultural Arts Teacher - Dominique St. Louis
Ms. St. Louis graduated from College at Old Westbury with a degree in Psychology in May 2008. Throughout her college education she worked as an assistant teacher with many different grade levels. In her final year of college, Ms. St. Louis had the privilege to work in her own classroom as a pre-school teacher. She has always enjoyed working with children and notes that her past experiences have proven that she has a special rapport with children. St. Louis has a strong interest in art and music which she often uses to reach and keep children interested in learning. Ms. Louis is looking forward to new challenges in her position as a Cultural Arts teacher here at East New York Prep; she plans to make every effort to contribute to the level of excellence sought.

Head Educational Assistant - Narissa Reid
Narissa Reid is delighted to be working for East New York Prep for a second year and looks forward to future years in the school family. She is a devoted teacher's assistant to first graders and a former after-school tutor for high school students. Beginning in 2005, she has helped students with their classroom assignments and prepared them for their statewide Regents exams at Acorn Community High School.

Operations Assistant - Jessica Varricchio
In 2006, Jessica Varricchio joined the staff of East New York Prep as a School Aide. Prior to that, she worked for The Josephine Foundation, which helps young children and teenagers by providing grants in the Arts and Sports. She has also worked as an in-home care taker. As a resident of East New York, Ms. Varricchio takes great pleasure in working with East New York Prep.

Operations Assistant - Lisa Varricchio
Lisa Varricchio joined the staff of East New York Prep in September 2006 as a School Aide. Prior to coming to East New York Prep she worked for several families as a child caretaker and for The Josephine Foundation, which provides grants in the Arts and Sports for youth.

School Aide - Milton Rosado
Milton Rosado is currently attending NYACK College. He joined the East New York Prep family as a School Aide in March, 2008. He enjoys working with children, and currently works as a Sunday School teacher at the church he attends. Prior to joining the East New York Prep family, Milton was a construction worker.

Teacher Assistant - Julio Castillo
Mr. Castillo is a Brooklyn native still residing in Brooklyn. He is coming from the hospitality industry with experience in health & fitness and office management. Mr. Castillo also comes from a Christian upbringing and pastoral family, rising up leaders for a bright future. He is very excited to be a part of ENYP and honored to have an opportunity to make a great contribution to the lives of our students.

Teacher Assistant - Paula Dominguez
Ms. Dominguez is a graduate of the Borough of Manhattan Community College. She received her Associates degree in Early Childhood Education and will continue forward with her studies in the educational field. Ms. Dominguez has always had a passion for working with children and is honored to become a teacher's assistant at the East New York Preparatory School. She is looking forward to working with parents, students and the faculty.

Teacher Assistant - Jasmine Jeanty
Ms. Jeanty currently attends Medgar Evers College. She is majoring in Childhood Education with a Minor in Foreign Languages. Ms. Jeanty has a passion to become a teacher within the next two years. She speaks fluent Haitian-Creole and is able to communicate well in French. Ms. Jeanty enjoys traveling and learning more about different people. Last summer she was picked out of many CUNY students to do a study abroad in Paris. There, she studied Francophone and culture and was able to leam French.

Teacher Assistant - Ms. Nicole Kidd
Ms. Kidd is pleased to join the staff at East New York Prep. Beginning this year Ms. Kidd worked with the community organization CAMBA as an After School Youth Facilitator. Ms. Kidd is currently pursuing a degree in Sociology at the CUNY City College of New York. Nicole enjoys working with k-2 school age children, and looks forward to making a difference in the lives of the children at East New York Prep.

Teacher Assistant - Stephanie Lambert
Ms. Lambert is a graduate of the Borough of Manhattan Community College, and is currently a student at York College majoring in Psychology. Ms. Lambert loves working with children of all ages. This will be her first year at East New York Preparatory, and looks forward to joining our team.