Anne Lackritz
Principal

Anne Lackritz is deeply committed to urban education reform and the charter school movement. As a graduate of an all-girls high school, Anne has experienced the many benefits of single-sex education and seeks to extend such opportunities to all families in New York City. Prior to joining Girls Prep, Anne was a founding teacher and Academic Dean at Achievement First in East New York, Brooklyn. During that time, she helped to establish a school culture focused on academic achievement through leading teacher professional development, the new teacher support network and parent workshops.

In addition to her work with adults, Anne has worked as a first, third and fourth grade lead classroom teacher in Bushwick and East New York, Brooklyn. Anne graduated from Washington University in St. Louis and went on to earn a Master's degree in Elementary Education from Pace University through the NYC Teaching Fellows program. She also has a Master's degree in Leadership for Educational Change from Bank Street College of Education. Anne lives in Brooklyn, NY and enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and dog, Gracie.

Yohana De Los Santos
Director of Student & Family Affairs

Yohana comes to Girls Prep from a charter school in East Harlem where she was the Dean of Students. Prior to this she worked at Edison Schools in their development and business services departments and as the Assistant Director at Operation Exodus Inner City, Inc., a non-profit that helps families in the inner-city find great schools for their children at little or no cost.

Yohana's family is very active in her church's youth and children ministries and she stresses that she "is not just about children, but about families!" Yohana attended John Jay College of Criminal Justice where she received her degree in Public Administration.

Director of Student and Family Affairs is not Yohana's only role here at Girls Prep. She is also a Girls Prep parent. Yohana has two daughters that attend our school.

Jessica Willis
Director of Curriculum & Assessment

Jessica Willis has educated students in New York City public schools for eight years, and is committed to the promise that a wonderful elementary school education can set students on a path towards lifelong success.  Currently, Jessica is the Director of Curriculum and Assessment of at Girls Prep, and in that role supports students and faculty in delivering a rigorous, dynamic curriculum that meets the needs of all students.  Jessica has also served Girls Prep as Assistant Principal, Math Curriculum Specialist, and second grade Lead Teacher.

Before coming to Girls Prep, Jessica was a New York City Teaching Fellow, teaching second and fourth grade students in East Flatbush, Brooklyn. Jessica graduated from New College of Florida with a B. A. in Art History, and earned an M. A. in Childhood Education from Brooklyn College, as well as an Ed. M. in Public School Leadership from Teachers College.  Jessica grew up in Miami, Florida, and is the daughter of a teacher.

Shamis Abdi
Director of Operations

Shamis Abdi is new to the Girls Prep LES Elementary Leadership Team. She credits her father’s 50 year teaching career and her grandmother’s commitment education as her inspiration for moving into the education industry. Shamis is particularly passionate about mentoring and student enrichment.

Shamis previously worked in the financial services industry doing marketing strategy and internal consulting. She began her career as a human resources consultant, specializing in compensation plan design, workforce planning, and executive coaching. Shamis has consulted to Fortune 500 companies, quasi-government agencies, non-profit organizations, and small businesses. She has also served as an Education Pioneers Fellow in the New York City cohort.

Shamis earned her MBA from Cornell University’s Johnson Graduate School of Management with a concentration in leadership and strategy and has a BA in Sociology from the University of Pennsylvania. She is also a proud alumna of Holton-Arms School, an independent girls school in Bethesda, MD.

Lisa Roach
First Grade Lead Teacher

Lisa Roach is so excited to be joining the Girl’s Prep family this year! She was drawn to the school by their core values: merit, scholarship, sisterhood, and responsibility. After teaching in California for ten years, Lisa decided to move east and experience being a teacher in a new state. Since moving to New York, she has taught in Harlem and Brooklyn and has now found a home at Girl’s Prep.

Lisa completed her Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies at California State University of Fullerton, and completed her Multiple Subject CA Teaching Credential at Chapman University. She then went on to complete her masters in Curriculum and Instruction. She has taught grades K-5 and also was a literacy coach.

In her spare time, Lisa loves to read and write! She is learning to play guitar and enjoys spending time with her adopted dog, Ginger.

Michelle Philippin
First Grade Lead Teacher

Michelle is extremely excited to start her third year at Girls Prep as a First Grade Lead Teacher in the Katherine Dunham class!!

Michelle is a native New Yorker and is a proud product of NYC Public Schools in Brooklyn and Staten Island. She holds a Master's Degree from NYU's Educational Theatre program, where she had the opportunity to study and teach in places like London, Ireland, Mexico and NYC. After working with many different students, teachers and teaching artists with companies like The Leadership Program and The American Place Theatre's Literature to Life, Michelle decided she wanted a chance to have deeper, more rewarding experiences with students and their families, and become a great teacher. This past July, she completed her Master's Degree in Childhood Education from Teacher U at Hunter College. Her interest in education lies not only in giving students a strong foundation in subjects like reading and math, but in encouraging them to love learning, be respectful and conscious citizens, as well as be curious and creative.

When she's not at Girls Prep, Michelle is likely making theatre, cooking and baking, taking pictures, traveling to new places, spending time with friends and family, working in her garden or reading.

Samantha Song
Third Grade Lead Teacher

Samantha is a graduate of Barnard College, a women's college in New York City, where she majored in Political Science and minored in Economics. In college, she realized the invaluable rewards of an environment full of strong, beautiful, intelligent, and successful women. The combination of her interest in education and her empowering experience at a single-sex institution led her to Girls Prep. Her background in education includes working for America Reads, tutoring privately, and working as a teaching assistant at the Manhattan School for Children. She also has her master's degree in childhood education from Hunter College.

Beyond the classroom, Samantha loves to spend time reading, being outdoors, and traveling. She is thrilled to be a lead teacher in the Oprah Winfrey classroom and looks forward to working with the dedicated third grade team.

Lisa Chow
Kindergarten Lead Teacher

Lisa Chow earned a B.S. in Elementary and Kindergarten Education with a minor in Psychology from The Pennsylvania State University, and a Master of Science in Teaching Literacy from Touro College. Prior to joining Girls Prep, she worked as the School Librarian at Excellence Boys Charter School.  She has taught First and Second Grade at P.S. 40 and P.S./I.S. 35 in Brooklyn, New York, and Fourth Grade at J.H. Moore Elementary School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Lisa also served as a Corrective Education Teacher for first through seventh graders at Elwyn, Inc., Non-Public Schools Program.

Sophia Brumby
Kindergarten CTT Teacher

Sophia is very excited to join the Girls Prep family! Prior to becoming a Kindergarten CTT teacher in the Faith Ringgold classroom, Sophia taught Kindergarten and 4th grade in Philadelphia. During her years as a Teach for America corps member, Sophia earned a Master of Science in Education from the University of Pennsylvania. Sophia first fell in love with teaching while working as an assistant teacher at the Horizons summer program in Washington, DC. Sophia is deeply committed to urban education reform and loves working with a team that shares her passion. When she's not in the classroom, Sophia enjoys spending time with family and friends, cooking, running, and exploring the city.

Johana Andujar
Kindergarten Lead Teacher

This is Johana Andujar’s fifth year at Girls Prep, and she is extremely happy to be teaching in Kindergarten again! Johana was born in Puerto Rico and grew up in New York City. She earned her Bachelors in English Literature from Lehman College. She is currently attending Hunter College, where she will soon obtain her Master’s Degree in Early Childhood and Special Education. Prior to working in Girls Prep, Ms. Andujar worked as a Licensed Child Care Provider. She also worked at Broadway Housing Communities (non-profit organization) as an Early Childhood Educator and provided parenting classes. She is strongly dedicated to the opportunity that charter schools provide.

Johana loves to read, write stories, and comedy shows. She loves to go eat at restaurants and going to the movies with her 3 children, Julisa, Joanni, and Luis.

Melissa Lopez
First Grade CTT Teacher

Melissa Lopez is enthusiastic about teaching in the 1st grade Billie Jean King classroom this year! She feels fortunate to be a part of such a positive community. She looks forward to continuing to share in such a warm and welcoming school culture.

Melissa was born and raised in the Bronx and attended an all-girl high school. She attributes the academic rigor of her single-gender school to the acquisition of a Bachelor’s Degree in Childhood and Special Education from New York University. Melissa is in the process of attaining her Masters Degree in Educational Leadership from NYU.

Melissa comes with experience working in other charter schools in NYC as a classroom and resource room teacher. When she is not at work, she enjoys spending time with family, friends and her dog, Roxy!

Michelle George
Second Grade Lead Teacher

This is Michelle's 5th year as a Girls Prep Lead Teacher. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and Caribbean Studies and recently completed her Masters in Education at Hunter College. Michelle encourages her students to strive for independence and is a fan of the "can do" attitude. Michelle is a jazz enthusiast and when she finds the time, she enjoys reading for pleasure. Michelle is the mother of a newly minted teenage boy and a "preteen" eleven year old girl who are the world's best comedians and keep her in supply of much needed laughter.

Rebecca Chase
Fourth Grade Lead Teacher

Ms. Chase is thrilled to be in her fifth year of teaching and working with families at Girls Prep.  Previously, Ms. Chase taught Kindergarten and Third Grade. This year, she is excited to teach with Ms. Fischer and Ms. Naidu in the Zaha Hadid (ZH) 4th grade class. Ms. Chase believes in helping each child share and develop her gifts, while also exploring new topics and building new skills. Ms. Chase loves to learn, take walks, speak Spanish and meet people. She hopes you will come and visit the ZH 4th grade scholars on the 5th floor!

Beth Dyba
Third Grade Lead Teacher

Beth Dyba is proud to be part of the amazing Girls Prep community for a third year. She knows that the unique relationship shared by students, families, and staff make this school a special place to learn and teach. 

Beth first came to New York to earn her Bachelors in Journalism and Political Science at New York University. She also began tutoring students in after school programs and continued to do so after graduating, eventually deciding to pursue teaching full-time. She earned her Master’s in Childhood Education at Pace University. Subsequently, she taught in the South Bronx for four years before joining Girls Prep.

Outside of teaching, Beth enjoys bike riding, exploring new places through travel and books, and experimenting in the kitchen!

Rebekah Adamek
Fourth Grade Lead Teacher

Rebekah is excited to begin her first year at Girls Prep in the Ruth J. Simmons 4th grade classroom. Prior to Girls Prep, Rebekah taught in the Bronx and Harlem and in London, England. She is the proud graduate of an all-girl's school and lives on the Lower East Side so she is delighted to work in her own community and in an environment dedicated to empowering young women.

Rebekah was born in South Korea, raised in upstate New York and traveled west to go to the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she received a B.A. in the History of Art. She was a 2003 Teach for America corps member and earned her M.S. in Teaching from Pace University.  Rebekah is passionate about many things including traveling off the beaten path, urban education, languages (ask her how many she has studied), good coffee, spicy food, art and, most of all, her students and family.

Alana Siegel
Kindergarten Lead Teacher

Alana is very excited to work at Girls Prep this year! It will be her first year at Girls Prep teaching kindergarten in the Faith Ringgold class. Alana received her undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Go Badgers!! After that, she was accepted into the Teach for America Program. She received a dual Master’s degree from Pace University in Special and General Education. She taught as a Special Education teacher for the past 3 years in the South Bronx. 

Alana loves living in New York City where she can explore new neighborhoods, restaurants and Central Park. She also enjoys reading, cooking and spending time with her family and friends.  She is looking forward to a great year of fun and learning with her students and co-workers!

Mila Ghose
Third Grade CTT Teacher

Mila Ghose is thrilled to be joining the Girls Prep team this year. Mila is originally from Minnesota, and came to New York to attend NYU and receive a B.A. in childhood education and special education. She has spent the past two years teaching in East Harlem in a CTT classroom before joining Girls Prep. Mila is a firm believer in differentiation for students, using student work and other data to drive instruction, and building a community for her students. She feels that Girls Prep is an absolutely amazing place for young girls to learn and thrive. In her spare time, Mila loves to practice yoga, go to concerts, read, and enjoy the city's many wonderful museums and parks. 

Kristen Fischer
Fourth Grade CTT Teacher

Kristen is thrilled to be returning to Girls Prep LES! She joined the team in January 2011 as the AIS teacher and had a wonderful experience getting to work with the third and fourth grade scholars. This year Kristen is excited to be co-teaching in Zaha Hadid!

Kristen grew up outside of Buffalo New York. During college she had the opportunity to study abroad in Dublin Ireland and she toured Scandinavia with her college choir.   Kristen has her Masters in Special Education and is committed to being a lifelong learner.

Outside the classroom Kristen enjoys going to local green markets, cooking, baking, singing, and exploring new places. She values time spent with her friends and family.

Kristen is looking forward to another great year at Girls Prep LES!

Annie Perez
Fellow

Annie is thrilled to return to GP for her third year. She has been with Girls Prep as a School Aide for the last two years, she now returns as a First Grade Fellow in the Katherine Dunham class. Prior to Girls Prep, Annie worked as a tutor for Champion Learning, and enjoyed her one on one work with students. She is enthusiastic about being in the classroom this year.  Annie recently obtained her bachelor’s degree in English Literature from The City College of New York. Annie is now on her way to earning her Master’s degree at the Relay Graduate School of Education. 

Aside from work and school, Annie enjoys painting, cooking, and spending time with family.

Elisa Berhaupt
Associate

Elisa is excited to be returning to Girls Prep LES to share her love for learning with the second grade scholars. Last year she had the pleasure of working with the fourth graders.

Elisa relocated to the New York City area from upstate New York near Albany. She received a Bachelor's degree in Special Education and Childhood Education, grades 1-6, from The College of Saint Rose. Elisa is currently pursuing a Master's degree in literacy from Hunter College and will be completing her degree this upcoming May.

Elisa enjoys traveling home to spend time with her family, reading, visiting museums, and attending sporting events and concerts. She also values time spent with friends and loves traveling to new places.

Argjira Halili
Associate

Argjira is so thrilled to be teaching for her 4th year at Girls Prep. She feels so fortunate to be a part of an amazing community of teachers, students, and parents. Argjira was born in Kosovo and grew up in New York City. She attended Brandeis University in Boston where she majored in Economics and International Business, while also studying Education. Argjira is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Education from Lehman College. She is very excited to be giving back to the community she grew up in and is ecstatic to be a part of the Kindergarten team!

Argjira loves adventure and reading a good book. When she is not reading or teaching, you can likely find her on a snowboarding trip or on a camping excursion. She also loves riding her bike every day to school.

Kathleen Man
Fellow

Seshapadma Priya Naidu
Fellow

Priya is extremely thrilled to be a fourth grade Associate on the Girls Prep team! She is excited to work with the enthusiastic and committed students, families, and staff that make Girls Prep such a unique and collaborative school.

Priya recently graduated with a Master’s degree from Harvard Graduate School of Education. Before this, she obtained her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania and worked in the corporate world for a few years. She chose to attend HGSE to pursue her interest in urban education. After tutoring several students at a charter school in Boston, she realized that her true passion was working with students in the classroom to help them reach their full potential. In her free time, Priya enjoys going to concerts, playing tennis, doing yoga, and exploring New York City.

Kanako Wada
Associate

Kanako Wada received her BA in Japanese Literature with a minor in Education from Barnard College, and this fall, she is excited to begin her Masters Program! Through working at a pre-school, tutoring students and volunteering in several New York City public schools, she discovered the true joys of working with younger children. Born and raised in New York City, she is eager to contribute to her own community.

In her free time, Kanako likes to spend time with her family and friends, read and write stories, cook and eat at various restaurants. She is thrilled to start another school year as a member of the passionate and talented Girls Prep team!

Johara Sealy
Associate

Johara Sealy is extremely passionate about teaching, learning, education, and education reform.  She has recently completed a Master’s degree in Education Leadership, Politics, and Advocacy at NYU Steinhardt. Before this, during her undergraduate studies at Bryn Mawr College, where she pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and French, she has worked with children from grades 2-6.   Working with children of this age group has helped her strengthen her skills as a facilitator of learning, in order to meet the diverse needs of her student population.  She is superlatively excited about joining Girls Prep, where she eagerly looks forward to being a part of their teaching and learning community.

In addition, Johara enjoys music, literature and dance and is looking forward to sharing her interests and talents with her young scholars!

Lora Dever
Physical Education

Lora is incredibly excited to join the Girls Prep community! Lora previously taught 1st, 3rd, and 4th grade at a public school in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Lora received her B.A. in Art History with a minor in Education from Barnard College, where she discovered an interest in women’s health and wellness and served as a peer educator for three years.

Lora has remained committed to wellness ever since. She has taught gym classes and an after school fitness camp, and is a certified yoga instructor for children. Lora graduated with an Ed.M from the Harvard Graduate School of Education in May and is grateful for the opportunity to lead a comprehensive fitness, health, and recess program at Girls Prep!

Lora’s favorite thing to do is travel the world with her husband. She especially loves hiking, and has hiked in sub-tropical rainforest, the foothills of the Andes Mountains, and along the coast of Italy. Her goal is to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro before 2015!

Martire Rodriguez
School Aide

Martire began her relationship with Girls Prep two years ago working as the program’s School Aide. This year, she will be joining the Fellowship Program so she is extremely excited for this opportunity. Martire obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Human Services at The City College of New York. Currently, she is pursuing her Master’s in Early Childhood Education with Special Education Certification. Overall, Martire is a well-rounded professional who has over five years of experience working at daycare centers.

Martire was born in the Dominican Republic, and grew up in New York City. She has three daughters who are GP students.  During her leisure time, Martire enjoys spending time with her family.

Sarah Strand
Art Teacher

Sarah Strand is thrilled to be joining Girls Prep LES as the Visual Arts Instructor! Sarah recently moved to NY from Denver, Colorado where she has taught K-8 art for the past 3 years. She received a BA in Art Education from Colorado State University.

Sarah enjoys teaching a variety of art forms to her students such as painting, sculpture, and art history. As a practicing artist, she loves to paint, draw, and take pictures of anything that inspires her! Sarah believes that art is a crucial part of a child's education and personal identity. She strives to create a safe, inspiring and supportive environment for young artists to explore and harness their creativity!

When Sarah is not making art, she enjoys traveling, hiking, reading and practicing yoga. She cannot wait to begin creating masterpieces with the students of Girls Prep!

Emily Overlock
Learning Specialist

According to her mom, Emily decided on a career in teaching when she was twelve. Since then she has worked in several public schools in New York City, a school in Jackson, Wyoming and one on the outskirts of San Pedro Sula, Honduras. This is Emily's sixth year at Girls Prep. She absolutely loves teaching second, third, and fourth grade students as a Learning Specialist.

Emily is a native New Yorker and attended a girls school for thirteen years. She graduated from Columbia University with a BA in Anthropology. She has a Masters Degree in Special and Bilingual Education from Bank Street College. When she is not at Girls Prep, Emily likes to spend time with family and friends, read everything she can get her hands on, and be outdoors.

Raegan Reber
Reading Specialist

Raegan is excited to be starting her fourth year teaching at Girls Prep.  She has enjoyed teaching and learning from students and families at our school.  She is looking forward to sharing her love of reading with K-2 students this year!

Raegan was born and raised in California where she attended an all-girls high school and learned the benefits of single sex education first hand. She received her Bachelor's Degree in 2007 from Princeton University and her Master's degree in Elementary Education from Hunter College in 2010.

In her free time, Raegan enjoys reading, going to museums and riding her bike.

Bridget Foley
Special Education Coordinator

Bridget grew up on a farm outside of Rochester, New York. She was a competitive alpine ski racer for many years and even attended a specialized ski academy in northern Vermont. Bridget studied Political Science and German at Smith College, as an undergraduate. She studied abroad in Hamburg, Germany for one year and later returned to Germany, to work. She is fluent in German and has studied Arabic as well as Japanese. Bridget began teaching in 2004 as a New York City Teaching Fellow; teaching second grade for 2 years in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. Bridget completed her masters in childhood education at Brooklyn College.

In addition to teaching Bridget loves reading, cooking, watching movies and spending time with family and friends. She also likes getting outside to ski, hike, bike, swim and run.

Versha Munshi-South
Instructional Coach

Versha will be continuing in her role as Instructional Coach this year. She is thrilled to contribute to the scholarly Girls Prep community of teachers, students, and parents. Prior to becoming the Instructional Coach, Versha spent eight years teaching grades 1-3 in Montgomery County, MD, as well as Girls Prep. Versha’s favorite part of her job is helping teachers develop and deliver rigorous and engaging lessons.

Versha received her B.A. in Sociology from the University of Chicago, and an M.A. in Elementary Education from Washington University in St. Louis.

Versha was born and raised in Sunnyside, Queens and Long Island, and currently lives in Jackson Heights. When she’s not at school Versha spends most of her time with her family.  She has two adorable children, Kiran and Zulekha, who love to play and visit parks, museums, and restaurants.

Chris Shayne
Counseling Coordinator

Chris Shayne, LCSW comes to Girls' Prep with many years of experience working with children and their parents in a variety of settings. Chris believes that students can maximize their potential when they are in a warm, friendly environment that promotes individual achievement and success, augmented by a sense of communal responsibility and camaraderie.

Chris is a graduate of an all girls' high school and went on to receive her BA from the University of Pennsylvania and her MSW from Hunter College School of Social Work. She is a graduate of the Institute for Psychoanalytic Training and Research program in Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy.

Chris enjoys biking, hiking, yoga and most of all, reading.

Natividad Mercedes
Spanish Teacher

Natividad was born in the Dominican Republic, and raised in New York City. She has lived in the Lower East Side at the same apartment since she was a girl and enjoys being able to walk to work every day.

Natividad really enjoys working as a Spanish teacher with Girls Prep students. She loves incorporating fun and interesting activities into her lessons. Her sense of humor adds to the relaxed atmosphere of her classes, and she really takes an interest in each of her students.

Teaching is much more than a job for her, she really enjoys it because it enriches her and allows her to give back to the community in which she grew up. She helps her Spanish students to develop their language skills as they get to know different cultures and points of view.

Mildred Echevarria
Head School Aide

Prior to joining Girls Prep, Mildred worked with Students and Families in Parent Advocacy and Education. She worked for Lower East Organization, Such as Henry Street Settlement, Education Alliance and Grand Street Settlement. Mildred is currently attending BMCC towards her Degree in Physical Education. She is a proud to be a true a Lower East Resident, born and raised.  Mildred is a proud parent of 3 children. She loves to cook, shop, read and enjoys jogging. She also enjoys spending time with her family.

Rosa Lanza
Family Coordinator

Rosa is a Native New Yorker who grew up in Brooklyn and currently resides in the Lower East Side. She comes to Girls Prep from a legal background and spent over 16 years working for Law firms in New York City as a paralegal. Rosa is a supporter of single sex education and saw the benefits herself when she attended an all-girls high school in Brooklyn. Rosa attended NYU and then BMCC where she received her certification as a Paralegal. Rosa has been involved with Girls Prep since 2005 when her daughter entered kindergarten as a founding student. She served on the PTA board as a parent for four years and is thrilled to be able to work at Girls Prep and to service their families now as the Family Coordinator. 

Rosa loves spending time with her daughter Gabriella who currently attends Girls Prep Middle School. In her spare time she loves reading, writing and spending time outdoors.

Marisol Pagan
School Aide

Marisol Pagan has been with Girls Prep since the first year of our school. She began as a volunteer parent, and is now a School Aide, working with GP's music program. Marisol earned her bachelor's degree in odontology in the Dominican Republic, has steered from medical to education, and is content to be working with our school. Marisol's daughter, Philippa is a fifth grade student at Girls Prep Middle School, she has been in the school since kindergarten. Aside from enjoying her work at our school, she loves to spend time on weekends having fun with her daughter.

Lisa M. Patti
Speech Language Pathologist

Lisa M. Patti began her career working with students and families in underserved communities of New York City advocating for student services, working with families to assure they understand the services entitled to them and providing speech and language services and assessments to the pediatric population.

In her most recent role, she is working as a member of Public Prep providing speech and language support to the students and teachers of Girls Prep Charter School. Her role consists of provision of services and collaboration with a dynamic team of educators in three schools. The schools support the communities of New York City's Lower East Side and South Bronx areas. She is extremely hands on in her work with students and advocates for a progressive speech and language model for school aged children based on work within in their curriculum.

Lisa M. Patti holds a master's degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She holds a bachelor's degree in Paralegal studies/business from Saint John's University in Queens, New York. She holds a certificate of clinical competence from the American Speech Language and Hearing Association and certified by the State of New York. She also holds a Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (Celta).

Jennifer Fernandez
School Aide

Jennifer Fernandez is a School Aide at Girls Prep and this will be her first year at our organization. She is very excited to be a part our team. Jennifer was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY and has been an active member in her community.  Jennifer has been working with children for five years. She has worked with grades Pre-K to fifth grade. She spent three years working at an after school program in Sunset park, Brooklyn. Before coming to Girls Prep, Jennifer was working at Hudson Guild as a UPK Aide and as an after-school counselor.  She is currently enrolled at Medgar Evers College pursuing her Bachelor’s Degree in English and hopes to get her Master’s Degree in Special Education. When Jennifer is not working or in school she loves to spend time with her family and friends, cooking, listening to music,reading and going out to eat.

Liccelot Bravo
Office Manager

Liccelot is excited to continue to be a part of the Girls Prep Family as the Lower East Side Elementary Schools’ new Office Manager. She holds a bachelor's degree in History from Rutgers' University in Newark, New Jersey.  Liccelot's interest in education began when she was little, while tutoring her younger cousins with their homework. Her interest grew later on while working as a student teacher in an urban school for 1st and 2nd grade. She is committed to learning and growing in the field of education management and plans to continue her education in this field.

In her spare time she enjoys reading, traveling and listening to as well as playing music.

Shandar Edwards
Administrative Assistant

Shandar Edwards is very excited to be a part of the Girls Prep team.  Before joining Girls Prep, Shandar worked as an Office Manager at CitySquash, a nonprofit after-school and squash program based in the Bronx.  She loves working in an educational environment and enjoys being able to work with children.

Shandar was born and raised in Antigua, but moved to the U.S. and has lived in the Bronx since 2000.  She attended an all-girls school high school in the Bronx, and completed her bachelor’s degree in Management and Administration from City College of New York.

In her spare time she likes to spend time with her family and friends - especially her younger brother, go running, and enjoys reading.