Team Members

Noemi Alvarez recently retired from the New York City Department of Education. Noemi Alvarez began her career as an educational assistant in District 10 and then earned her way through various titles and positions such as teacher, staff developer, bilingual coordinator, dean of discipline, UFT chapter leader, School Leadership Team Chair, Building Response Team Coordinator and Data Specialist, etc. Noemi briefly left District 10 when she began her career as an assistant principal and served her first year in that capacity in District 7 where she herself had been educated. Throughout her time as an administrator Noemi supervised English Language Learners, Bilingual Education, School Budget, Health, Science, Gifted and Talented Middle School Program and the Arts. She has demonstrated strength in working with all students especially with those experiencing social/emotional issues and needs. Her work with families, teachers and entire school community has given her great acknowledgement and recognition as a dedicated true professional educator.

Bianca Ambrosio holds an MFA in Writing from Sarah Lawrence College. She worked as an English professor and is currently a writing coach. A trained dancer, she has appeared in several off broadway producrions, even writing and starring in her own play that was a finalist at Manhattan Repertory Theatre. Bianca is a published book reviewer and writer.

Patricia Beresford, MSW, CSW has worked in youth development with at-risk children and adolescents for over 30 years. The retired, former New York City regional director for NY State Office of Children & Family Services, she was the former assistant executive director for programs at Inwood House, a youth development and foster care agency in New York City.

Cornell Carelock aka Lord Judah has over 10 years of K-12, mental health, and adult age experience through music. Lord Judah has done hands-on training for years in the music industry Judah teaches a hip hop workshop and has developed residencies based on career pathways in the fields of audio and video production, and digital technology. Lord Judah provides healing through art practices and strategies, combined with social justice and wellness for youth and adults.

Migdalia Carrillo retired as a DOE high school principal in 2012. As a graduate of Fordham University, she has worked as a mentor for aspiring supervisors and teachers at Fordham University. Mrs. Carrillo founded and created a high school in the Bronx for the DOE’s small schools initiative. She currently works as a consultant for educational organizations that provide support to New York City and Yonkers public schools. With a special interest in English Language Learners, Mrs. Carrillo also conducted several workshops on classroom management, transitioning from elementary to middle and middle to high schools for teachers and parents. Mrs. Carrillo personally enjoys helping teachers find creative ways to engage students in the learning process – making learning fun!

Diana Diaz began her career as an impassioned educator. After several years of successful teaching, the opportunity to become an Assistant Principal propelled her into School Administration. Ms. Diaz was then appointed principal of the K-8 NYC public school aptly named “The STEM Institute of Manhattan”. She helped to successfully implement the first fully integrated STEM curriculum which has been widely utilized and duplicated throughout the United States and abroad. Her service is ongoing, as she continues to enthusiastically provide Professional Development to teachers and other pedagogical staff members in the areas of Classroom Management, Lesson Planning and Student Engagement.

Dr. David Fletcher is recognized as an educational leader in the Bronx. He is a faculty member and former chair of Lehman College’s School of Education. Dr. Fletcher has a special focus on restorative practices, restorative justice and social justice-based service-learning in K-12 schools, higher education, school health, career explorations, and in collaboration with community educational partnerships. One of his major goals is to support students continuous achievement and participation in their communities to contribute to the improvement of the quality of life for themselves, their families and neighborhoods. Dr. Fletcher has earned a PHD from New York University in English Education, a Master of Arts in Special Education from the University of Michigan, and is currently completing a second masters in restorative practices at the International Institute for Restorative Practices. He has also managed and participated in a variety of school and extended school day programs for Lehman College and CUNY, including Advantage Afterschool, GEAR-UP and 21st Century Community Learning Centers.

Kenyatta Tyehimba Funderburk is the founder and Executive Director of Community Change, Inc.. He developed the CareerVisions, Community Change, Legacy and Peace Models as approaches for career explorations, community organizing, cultural awareness and restorative practices/relationship building, respectively. These models are at the foundation of all CareerVisions, LTD. programs. He has taught these models as courses at Lehman College, and has trained several adjuncts who have also taught separate courses on each model there. He has raised more than $25 million for his programs over the years. In 1999, he achieved his Masters Degree in Human Services at Lincoln University, PA. In 2009, Mr. Funderburk worked with U.S. Department of Education–21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLCs) through Development Without Limits to identify and examine the best practices in high school 21st CCLC programs across the country. Additionally, he has won numerous awards in recognition of his innovative programs for young people, including The After-School Corporation’s (TASC) Promising Practice Award and the Partnership for Afterschool Education’s PASEsetter Award.

Sharon Gilham was engaged as a School Social Worker with the New York City Department of Education for over twenty-five years. As a member of the IEP Team her responsibilities, included interviewing families, consulting with classroom teachers and administrators. Assessing data collected, collaborating with team members, submitting a recommendation to address students behavioral and / or academic difficulty. Pre-K through high school age students in various Bronx neighborhoods were serviced. This clinician facilitated parenting workshops within the school and community setting. Sharon has conducted staff development seminars regarding the “at risk” student in the Ossining and Greenburg school districts. She acts as private educational consultant via her venture, Educated Choices. Sharon’s philanthropic interests were evidenced by fundraising for Train to End Stroke-American Heart Association. Sharon has been recognized by Abbott House as one of it’s outstanding mentors and acted in that capacity from 2003 -2011. Currently, Sharon is a member of the Kairos Outside N.Y.C. (KONYC) prison ministry. Credentials include a Bachelors Degree from George Williams College, a Masters in Social Work from New York University and School Administrator Certificate of Qualification, from the College of New Rochelle.

Isaac Kalsky is a 3D Animator with over 10 years of digital media experience. He has created animations for advertising agencies, film, television and fine art companies. He is the owner of Kalsky Animation & Design, Inc. and teaches Animation and Motion Capture at New York Film Academy. Mr. Kalsky graduated from Jerusalem School of New Media, Jerusalem, Israel, with a Bachelors of Science. in Multimedia, Video and Sound with special honors in Computer Animation. He also graduated from Animation Mentor, the leading online animation school with a diploma in Advance Character Animation Studies. Additionally, Mr. Kalsky is a licensed Bureau of Proprietary School Supervision teacher and a Musician (bass player).

Nancy Maloy is a theatre artist and teacher who is also a professional actor. She has a B.S. in Education from Central Michigan University. Her teaching background includes working as an artist in residence for many years and for 16 years was the theatre director at a high school where she directed and produced plays and musicals. Most recently Nancy worked as the production designer on the award winning short film, “Streetwrite.” When she is not acting or teaching she is coaching and leading workshops on developing communication skills in her business, Speak UP Speak OUT with Confidence.

Robert Natal has worked in education since 1981 as an Administrator, Researcher, Professor/Instructor, Dean, Counselor, Grants Writer, Recruiter and Tutor. He has completed his B.S. in Science Education (1979), an M.A. in Educational Administration (1981) and completed his course work for his PH.D. in Higher Education Administration all from New York University (NYU). Mr. Natal’s professional experiences include working in a variety of genre including: College/University (NYU, Hunter College, Touro College and Lehman College), Public Education (recently retired after 23+ years teaching math and science for the NYC/DOE) and Non-Profit funded programs (Health Career Opportunities Program/ HCOP/NYU; Science Technology Enrichment Program/STEP/Hunter College; and Recruitment Academic Program for Sciences/RAPS/NYU). He has worked with gifted and talented, as well as, the academically challenged student and has used his bilingual skills (English/Spanish) to work with students at all levels. His extensive grant writing experienced has served Mr. Natal well, in being able to acquire funding from external sources to service the needs of the student cohorts he has had the pleasure to work with.

Eva Olivo began her educational career as a paraprofessional before becoming a teacher, which she did for sixteen years. Most recently, Mrs. Olivo was an Assistant Principal, where she oversaw 6th and 7th graders, ELL students, registration, and several departments, including the Arts Department, the Physical Educational Department, and the Health Department. As the Building Response Leader, she was responsible for conducting safety meetings, submitting the safety plan of the school and teaching the staff and students about soft and hard lockdowns. Previously, she acquired an administrative license, which enabled her work to at the District Office in the Bronx for nine years as the Director of Student Support Services and then as a Regional Administrator.In this capacity, she oversaw programs for students in temporary housing, attendance, suspensions, registration, and school transfers. She also provided professional development to the guidance counselors and secretaries of the 168 schools in the district.

Elizabeth M. O’Raffity is a well-rounded, school administrator who has made great strides in educating students, teachers, and parents in diverse communities. Over 31 years with the NYC school system has molded Elizabeth into a leader with the ability to assess needs, develop a plan, and facilitate change both academically and within the culture of an organization. With certification in Physics, Chemistry and Biology and integral knowledge of the creative and performing arts standards, her capacity and skills include professional development, curriculum design, assessment/data analysis linked to learning improvement, budgeting and resource management, STEM and STEAM expertise, and communication media design. Her own recent learning includes digital media at NYC STEM Institute and Intro to Coding at Touro Graduate School. Her future goals include working with community organizations, school districts, and home school parents engaging students in “knowledge fascination” and developing the “skills for success” in 21st century learning.

Jim O’Toole began his 30-year career in education in catholic schools in the Bronx. With a BS in English Literature from Cathedral College of the Immaculate Conception and MS in Secondary English Education Jim taught in various public schools throughout the Bronx. After attaining his leadership certification from the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, Mr. O’Toole worked as an assistant principal on the Theodore Roosevelt Educational Campus and for the past 12 years of his career at IN-Tech Academy in District 10. During his time as an assistant principal, Mr. O’Toole supervised almost all subject areas in the grades 6-12 spectrum.

Kamau Ptah is a nationally renowned educator who specializes in facilitating the healthy transition from childhood to young adulthood. Additional specialty areas include building school culture and community;identity restoration;transformative experiential learning;social and emotional development;and the education and socialization of children of color. Mr. Ptah has been a keeper and a practitioner of the rites of passage system of transformative teaching and learning since 1992.He earned his BA from Hampton University in History/Social Science and Education and his Master’s Degree in School Administration from Cambridge College; Additionally, Mr. Ptah was the co-founder and Program Director of the Urban Assembly Academy of History and Citizenship for Young Men (UAAHC) (one of the first all boy Public High Schools in New York City since the 1960s) and was the brainchild of the Coalition of Schools Educating Boys of Color’s Sankofa Passages Program in Philadelphia. Mr. Ptah believes that identity determines activity and that the primary function of education is to lead learners to the threshold of their own minds.

Joseph Ransom has worked at the senior management level in the public administration and non-profits sector since 1995. He has managed program portfolios, ranging from $2M -$41M, on both the grants allocation and recipient sides of the sector. Recently, he was the Executive Director of a Bronx-based, multi-service, Catholic Charities affiliated agency, with an operating budget of $1.25M. Currently, Ransom is a Senior Consultant with Capacity Building Consulting, providing administrative, development, and organizational support to non-profit agencies in diverse at-risk communities in New York and New Jersey.

Susana Rivera earned both her Bachelors and Masters degree from Lehman College. She has over sixteen years of experience working with The City University of New York (CUNY) and the New York City Department of Education. She is currently the Assistant Director of the College Now Program at Bronx Community College.College Now is CUNY’s largest collaborative program with the New York City secondary public school system.

Sonia M. Toledo has over 25 years of experience working in the youth development field building quality programming for students in elementary through high school. Sonia is the founder and president of Dignity for Children, and has worked for Boys & Girls Clubs, YMCA, Children’s Aid Society, Child Care Inc., and served as President of the After-School Works NY. When she founded Dignity of Children, Inc., she decided that the best approach for child and youth development was to educate adults to help them create environments for children that would make them feel emotionally safe while allowing them to develop their self-worth. She has served child care programs across the five boroughs and surrounding counties leaving each client satisfied and returning for more of Sonia’s intoxicating attitude towards child and youth development. With trainings fit for anyone working with school aged children, and workshops that encourage programs to include the entire family in helping their child develop, Sonia has become a leader in child and youth development in New York City.

Maria A. Thomas began her teaching career in day care, then moved over to the Board of Education as a fourth grade teacher. The two combined teaching positions totaled 28 years. For the remaining 10 years, she be came a techie and Math Coordinator for District 8, where she set-up Apple labs for 27 schools; and trained parents, teachers and administrators. She was an assistant principal for District 7, then moved on to become a Math supervisor for the Bureau of Nonpublic Schools for 4 years. She ended her career as a technology teacher for a school in District 3. She has been retired for 5 years, occasionally subbing as a technology instructor and technician.

Dr. Carolyn Tyson is prolific and dedicated educator who recently retired as an Assistant Principal from the New York City Department of Education. Her permanent certifications include those in School District Administration and School Administration and Supervision. Dr. Tyson received her Doctorate in Education and Leadership from Saint John Fisher College, Rochester;Master of Science in Education and Administration from Fordham University;Master of Science in Education, Language and Learning from the College of New Rochelle;and a Master of Science from the State of New York. In addition, she is a licensed Chaplin for New York Task Force and recipient of her Bachelor of Science in Speech Pathology from Lehman College. Dr. Tyson’s passion is social justice for incarcerated youth and advocates for services and supports for students with disabilities and English as a New Language.

Tinnycua Williams believes in the power of strength based programming for children and families through empowerment. Tinnycua serves as the facilitator and coach for Dignity of Children, Inc., where she works with youth development professionals to realize their uniqueness and gain self-empowerment while aiding them in creating a world where children are self-expressed and can thrive. Previously, Tinnycua worked with Homes for the Homeless for seven years where she was responsible for the operational success of afterschool and summer day camp programs at the Saratoga Family Inn serving more than 600 residents. Tinnycua has also worked for Harlem Children’s Zone and the Samuel Field YM & YWHA. Presently, Tinnycua is a research fellow for National Afterschool Matters and has just recently obtained her New York State School Age Credential. Tinnycua earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Colgate University where she studied Africana Studies and Political Science.

Susana Valera in an artist who specializes in painting, drawing, mixed media and clay. Susana has taught clay sculpture and hand-building for the Clay Art Center throughout Westchester County. She began her formal training in drawing at the age of ten, and after finishing high school went to study at Altos de Chavon, an Art School in the Dominican Republic affiliated to Parsons School of Design in New York. In 1992, she moved to the United States, and lived in Florida for three years before moving to New York City in 1995 to continue her art studies at Parsons School of Design, where she graduated with a BFA in Illustration. In addition to Community Change, Inc., Susana does work for One River School of Art, Art Westchester and Lehman College Art Gallery teaching painting, drawing, and mixed media Art. In her personal work, she has concentrated on painting and printmaking. She is currently working towards her MFA at Lehman College.

Marlene B. Williamson began her career in District 1, as a Bilingual Special Education Assistant Teacher, completing her B.S. through the New York City Department of Education’s Career Ladder Program. Armed and licensed to teach K-12, as a Bilingual (Spanish) Special Educator,she was hired to teach in the nation’s largest GED program as the first Bilingual Resource Room Teacher. Her licenses and experiences have also facilitated working as an Articulation Coordinator for The Citywide Alternative Superintendent’s Office and a Guidance Coordinator at the school level. Marlene was a founding Coordinator for the four borough, multi-site, Eight Plus Program. After receiving two Master’s of Science degrees, one tailored to teaching high school students in correctional facilities, she completed an additional, extremely rewarding, student teaching internship at Riker’s Island. The other Master’s of Science, as a school building leader, allowed for her to be hired as a District Placement Administrator, working with families, many of whom were new to the country, the placement of students released from secure facilities, group homes, students in temporary housing and emancipated minors among other at-risk populations.She has a passion for teaching, connecting with parents to explain the relevance of education for themselves and their children and bringing S.T.E.M. resources to schools serving low income students.

Fran York has developed a career as a skilled administrator, but is a true social worker at heart. She holds a Master’s in Social Work from the Wurzweiler School of Social Work, and has over 40 years’ experience working with and for youth. In her role as Director of the Government Contracts and Program Development Department of Good Shepherd Services, Fran’s experience and commitment to program and community set a foundation that resulted in increased growth of a quality network of after-school programs, alternative high schools, juvenile justice programs and the continuation of foster care and preventive programs in coordination with NYC’s Administration for Children’s Services.