Our Staff

Committed Educators

Launch teachers and staff are committed educators who constantly strive to improve their teaching practice. They care deeply about Launch students and are invested in their success in school and beyond. They engage all students in daily lessons that require critical thinking about complex, worthy ideas, texts, and problems. They connect students to the world beyond school through meaningful fieldwork, expert collaborators, research, and service learning.

School Leadership Team (SLT)

  • Efrat Kussell, Head of School (Principal)
  • Brandi Robinson, Director of Special Education
  • Chris Ford, Director of Student Achievement 
  • Jhonell Williams, Director of School Operations

Management Team

  • Geoffrey Roehm, Executive Director
  • Rachel Rocker, Chief Financial Officer
  • Alexis Rubin, Director of External Affairs

 

Operations Team

  • Camille Avena, Director of Business Administration
  • Jasmine Cardona, Operations Associate
  • Rafael Lara, IT Coordinator
  • Sean Savage, Operations Manager
  • Miko Simmons-Jones, Outreach Associate
  • Richard Tang, Finance Associate

6th Grade Team

  • Amanda Leake & Nicole Liuzzo, Reading Teachers and SLT
  • Cedric Esters, Reading Teaching Associate
  • Maegan Kae Sunaz & Justin Ritchie, Writing Teachers
  • Pressly Pratt & Evan Kilgore, Math Teachers
  • Kim Huner, Social Studies Teacher
  • Marc Krugielki, Science Teacher and SLT
  • Shamique White Adelin, ICT Teacher
  • Avonlea Fisher, Teaching Associate

7th Grade Team

  • Shelly Christian & Kalila Zullo, Reading Teachers
  • Lily Galvin & Nkenge Walcott, Writing Teachers
  • Jana Fears & Tiayana Logan, Math Teachers
  • Katelyn Connolly, Social Studies Teacher
  • Sade Dinkins, Science Teacher
  • Camille Hendricks, ICT Teacher
  • Danielle Murphy, Teaching Associate 

8th Grade Team

  • Justine Rosen & Kayla Walczyk, Reading Teachers
  • Olympia Haynes, Writing Teacher
  • Asha Haynes & Juliet Quigley, Math Teachers
  • Emily Alexander, Science Teacher
  • Shamikah Nikiema, Social Studies Teacher
  • Jackson Springer, ICT Teacher
  • Angelica Otiti, Teaching Associate

Multi-Subject Team

  • Emily Travis, Humanities Teacher
  • Lois Kilgore-Muhammad, STEM Teacher
  • Christine Derrick, Teaching Associate
  • Alivette Plasencia, Teaching Associate

Culture Team

  • Corey Warren, School Counselor
  • Dominique Marshall, Social Worker
  • Winsdy Antoine, Dean
  • Jahaira Welch, Dean
  • Sheryl Davis, Family Engagement Coordinator

Specialist Team

  • Zahava Mandelbaum, ELL and Reading Intervention Teacher
  • Basil Leslie, Physical Education Teacher
  • Tatjana Johnson, Art Teacher
  • Tiana Scott, Art Teacher