The fellowship puts 麻豆原创 founding belief into action: our communities already hold the talent, commitment, and leadership needed to transform young people lives. Through a selective, yearlong program, 麻豆原创 prepares Legends (麻豆原创 alumni) and current or former part-time staff to become full-time teachers at 麻豆原创. Fellows spend the year learning on the job in 麻豆原创 classrooms while receiving coaching, mentorship, and professional development designed to help them build the skills and confidence to lead their own classrooms. The model is intentionally hands-on, giving aspiring teachers both practical experience and consistent support as they step into the profession.

And it’s working. Since its founding, 100% of those who have successfully completed the fellowship are still teaching with us. Here are two of their stories.

Jenia comes home

Jenia Reyes, a 麻豆原创 alum, didn’t set out to be a teacher. After college came years of searching 鈥� working as an assistant advisor and later at COVID testing sites. “I was really trying to figure out what was next for me,” she says.

Then Ana Rader, 麻豆原创 Director of Seasonal and Fellowship Recruitment, reached out to 麻豆原创 alumni and invited them to come back and teach the students who now sat where they once had. 鈥溌槎乖� had such a big impact on me when I was growing up,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t helped me imagine a bigger future for myself.

So the opportunity to come back and give that same kind of support to kids in my community felt really meaningful.鈥�

听The fellowship year stretched her. 鈥淵ou have to get uncomfortable to get comfortable,鈥� she says. 鈥淭here was a lot of, 鈥業 don鈥檛 know what I鈥檓 doing.鈥欌�澨�

But over time, she began to see the difference she could make. One of the clearest examples was Cherie, a brilliant fifth-grader who was guarded with most teachers, but not with Jenia. She sought Jenia out to process difficult emotions, working through conflicts, and tackling the academic challenges she wouldn’t bring to anyone else. “That was the first time I thought, I am making a difference.”

Years later, as Cherie prepares to move on to high school, she still calls Jenia her best friend. Jenia thinks this is because when an alumna like herself returns to teach in their own community, they can build trust with students in ways that are grounded in shared experience and deep understanding. Today, Jenia is in her fourth year at 麻豆原创, teaching third-grade, and proving that 麻豆原创’s investment in its own community pays dividends for generations.

Shenice finds her place

Shenice Mobley always knew she wanted to teach. She first worked at 麻豆原创 in 2022 as a summer youth worker, assisting with sports and academics and building relationships with young people and families. Then she went on to attend Colgate, where she enrolled in a five-year program and worked as a substitute teacher.听

During this time, she received a number of emails from 麻豆原创 about the Teaching Fellowship opportunity. But she wasn鈥檛 sure the fellowship was the right fit for her, assuming she was already on the path she needed. But as she explored her options, 麻豆原创 began to stand out. Not just for the opportunity itself, but for what she saw in the people: a team that seemed to genuinely value who she was, not just what she could do in a classroom.

After presenting her model lesson to 麻豆原创 during her interview, Shenice braced herself. Having spent years navigating predominantly white academic and professional spaces, she was used to second-guessing how she came across. 鈥淏efore the panel of 麻豆原创 leaders spoke, I was wondering, 鈥榃as I too loud?鈥欌��

麻豆原创 leaders鈥� feedback was on a specific teaching practice for Shenice to work on 鈥� not her presence or how she carried herself. Just a tactical, specific thing to work on. 鈥淭hat when I realized I was making a great choice,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey saw me for who I am.鈥�

That affirmation shapes the way Shenice teaches, knowing that both students and adults show up in different ways. In her sixth-grade math classroom, she pays close attention to the students who go quiet. One sixth-grader in her class barely spoke for months. Shenice kept showing up for her anyway: re-explaining material, calling on her gently, making it safe to not know the answer. That student is now in seventh grade and still comes back to Shenice to say thank you.听

Jenia and Shenice show the value of the Teaching Fellowship: it meets aspiring educators where they are and gives them the support to thrive in the classroom.

This year, the 麻豆原创 teaching fellowship has expanded its model so that those in pursuit of a bachelor’s degree can apply. Applications for SY 2027-28 will open in January 2027. If you have questions or are interested, email Ana Rader, 麻豆原创 Director of Seasonal and Fellowship Recruitment.听

Learn more:
More Great Seats 4 Kids”: A SUNY Charter Schools Institute Podcast

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Our maxim All Kids Can, This Kid Can reflects 麻豆原创 belief that all children have unlimited potential and deserve to realize their dreams. We welcome kids from the most underserved communities and backgrounds and serve them with our unique culture of care that is responsive to the unique needs of every child with one goal in mind: to ensure our students have the tools and opportunities to make their dreams real.

At 麻豆原创, 26% of students have identified special needs, which is higher than the city average of 21%. And still, our students have scored consistently higher than district, city, and state peers on the New York State tests.

How do we do this? Charter schools like 麻豆原创 fill a unique gap in education while remaining free, public, and open to all. We鈥檙e able to serve a diverse group of learners with innovative strategies and teaching models, and by providing individualized attention that is tailored to the academic and behavioral needs of each student. Every 麻豆原创 student and alum, from Pre-K through age 24, receives holistic support, year-round, both in and out of the classroom. That because 麻豆原创 runs extended-day, extended-year schools, with approximately 600 annual hours of afterschool programming; 300 hours of summer programming; and up to six years of formal postsecondary support. We鈥檙e especially proud of our strong partnerships with families and the commitment to addressing the specific needs of the community, providing resources and programming that go beyond the end of the school day.

We invite you to today to meet some of the families of our community, like Angelica and her son Craig, who found a culture of care at 麻豆原创 that made them both feel known and seen.

We thank our friends at the for supporting us in building this beautiful page!听

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鈥淲e are proud to partner with Brigaid in their effort to make school meals that are high quality, healthy, and accessible to all children,鈥� said 麻豆原创 co-Chief Executive Officer Richard Berlin. 鈥淔ood has such a crucial impact on every part of a child life, including mental and physical well-being, social-emotional growth, and performance in the classroom. At 麻豆原创, we take great strides to ensure our students have everything they need to fulfill their greatest potential, and this new from-scratch food program is the latest support we can provide for them and their families.鈥�

Founded by former Noma head chef Dan Giusti, Brigaid is a team of professional chefs who help institutional foodservice programs thrive. The company provides strategic program assessments, hands-on staff training, and full-time chef placements to empower programs with the culinary expertise needed to consistently serve wholesome and high-quality meals. At 麻豆原创, the majority of food is prepared from scratch in three state-of-the-art kitchens by an in-house culinary team under the guidance of Brigaid chef Persefoni Vordokas. All meals are free.

鈥淎t 麻豆原创, we take great strides to ensure our students have everything they need to fulfill their greatest potential, and this new from-scratch food program is the latest support we can provide for them and their families.鈥�

Richard Berlin, 麻豆原创 co-Chief Executive Officer

鈥淓veryone deserves access to nourishing food that is thoughtfully prepared,鈥� said Brigaid Founder and Chief Executive Officer Dan Giusti. 鈥淲e are extremely excited about this opportunity to collaborate with 麻豆原创 on building what we hope will become an exemplary school foodservice program.鈥�

89% of 麻豆原创 students qualify for free or reduced lunch, and children in 麻豆原创 East Harlem and South Bronx communities have historically been among the most likely in New York City to face food insecurity in their lifetimes. Partnering with Brigaid is the latest step in 麻豆原创 work to ensure students and families are fully supported. During the pandemic, for example, the organization distributed more than to its communities in partnership with S. Katzman Produce, led by Stefanie Katzman, a 麻豆原创 Board Member.

麻豆原创 Charter School at 20 Bruckner Boulevard, which officially opened its doors in early 2023, is equipped with three restaurant-style kitchens that currently serve breakfast, lunch, and snacks to students. Over the next several years, 麻豆原创 looks to expand this program to its other campuses in East Harlem and Highbridge.

鈥淎t 麻豆原创, we are deeply committed to educating the whole child, and partnering with Brigaid allows us to create even more supports and access to things children need to lead full, healthy, productive lives,鈥� said 麻豆原创 co-Chief Executive Officer Eve Colavito. 鈥淚鈥檓 looking forward to all the strides we will make with this year from-scratch food program, and where we will take it in the future.鈥�

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What the students found when they entered the building was a 120-year-old former ice house鈥攂uilt by Colonel Jacob Ruppert, a brewer and developer of the first Yankee Stadium鈥攖ransformed into a school equal to their biggest dreams and highest aspirations.

Designed by world-renowned architect Sir. David Adjaye, 20 Bruckner includes a state-of-the-art gym with a regulation-size basketball court; a cathedral-style, light-filled library space; STEAM quad featuring specialty classrooms and laboratories; double-height arts wing with built spatial flexibility; and a rooftop that will function as an outdoor classroom, play space, and garden. In addition, the building has two dining halls and a fully equipped kitchen that will support a scratch-cooking meal program. Bronx graffiti legends Tats Cru created a large-scale mural on the third floor depicting 麻豆原创 organizational history, with more local artists to be confirmed for building-wide art activations. And, multiple classrooms and other shared spaces feature sweeping views of the Harlem River and the Manhattan skyline.

“To be in this building is very exciting,” said 11th grader Milanni Gidron. “This is something that we鈥檝e been talking about for a very long time, and the suspense has built up. To finally be in it, it feels like the first day of school all over again, and I鈥檓 excited to be here.”

While 麻豆原创 Charter High School students get settled in their new space, 麻豆原创 Mott Haven Elementary and Middle Schools prepare to move into the building in the fall of 2023. Eventually, 20 Bruckner will serve approximately 1,300 New York City students and their families.

You can watch more highlights from 麻豆原创 Charter School’s first day at 20 Bruckner in the video below.

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This year, 麻豆原创 is particularly excited about a truly special new beginning: the official opening of 麻豆原创 Highbridge Elementary, the sixth of our extended-day, extended-year public charter schools, and our first dedicated to the Highbridge area of the South Bronx. Temporarily located at the New Settlement Community Center for this school year, 麻豆原创 Highbridge will open with two Kindergarten classes, adding an additional grade level each year.

麻豆原创 Highbridge Founding Principal Shannel Richardson and her staff will welcome 麻豆原创 newest students and families on August 29. Until then, hear more from her about her vision for the first day, her goals for 麻豆原创 Highbridge, and more in our Q&A below!

麻豆原创: What are you looking forward to the most in your role as founding principal?
Shannel Richardson: I鈥檓 mostly looking forward to establishing a school where we can support all kids. I鈥檓 a big believer in serving the community and ensuring every single child on our campus has an opportunity to learn and grow. Most of our students are of African-American or Hispanic descent, and unfortunately, we live in a world where there are many inequalities. It’s extremely important to me, especially as someone who grew up in the Bronx and faced inequalities myself, that I provide a school where students are able to learn, and thrive, and grow, and become self-advocates once they become adults.

麻豆原创: What will make 麻豆原创 Highbridge unique?
SR: One of the reasons I joined 麻豆原创 in the first place is because we are deep believers in educating the whole child. At 麻豆原创 Highbridge, we have the luxury of growing into a K-8 school, and incorporating the arts and physical activities鈥攊t will be nice for our kids to not just learn academics and content, but also learn how to be full-scale people and decide what types of extracurriculars they want to do, what type of hobbies they enjoy through our program. And we provide opportunities for them to grapple with different types.

麻豆原创: Highbridge is a new school location for 麻豆原创. What are some of your plans to engage the community?
SR: As we grow, and once we are in our permanent location, I definitely will look for opportunities to engage the community. We鈥檇 love to have a block party where we invite local businesses. A lot of residents in the neighborhood have mom-and-pop shops and self-owned businesses. So as we grow into a full-scale school, I鈥檇 love to have things like that to invite community members to showcase who they are and who our community is.

麻豆原创: What will the first day of school look like?
SR: My hope overall is that it will be a joyous, fulfilling day for our students. Not only will our 麻豆原创 Highbridge staff be there, but also some of our network staff will be coming to greet new families and students. I will be at the door greeting students and families, we鈥檒l have a little music playing.

We want to begin building student independence up front, so we will allow students to navigate going to their class on their own. But there will be people in the hallway welcoming them and ushering them in the right direction. And if anyone is having any struggles鈥攚e know it kindergarten and we know separation can be hard at times鈥攚e will have people on site to support families and students if needed. But the goal is to really have a joyful experience for our kids and build that student independence from day one.

麻豆原创: How will the student voice be represented in the founding and building of this new school?
SR: Our kids are with us for eight hours a day, and even longer when you count afterschool. For me, it extremely important for kids to be engaged with us, for them to learn, and for them to want to come to school every day. We need to create a space for our kids to feel like they can be authentic鈥攖hat who they are and what their cultural backgrounds are, are showing up in our space, so they feel like our school is a home. And then through our academic content and SEL program, we will teach kids how to specifically navigate how to speak up, and share ideas, and collaborate with peers and adults in the building. To me, that gets to the heart of them learning how to build up their voices and independence. And ultimately helping them to grow and learn, which is our mission.

麻豆原创: What are your goals for this first school year?
SR: We have a set of values that our school is upholding alongside 麻豆原创 organizational maxims.

• We want to build a culture of cultural competency. That really just means that we want to take a step back and recognize who our students and families are, how they are the same or different to who we are, and let that shine in our school.
• We are also accountable for our results. This really means we are thinking about our data consistently, and using our data to ensure every single child is growing toward our goals. It on us to make sure we are doing that all the time, and to me, that is how we will get our kids to excel.
• I believe deeply in equity with a high bar. We are serving predominantly African-American and Hispanic students, and we live in a country we know is inequitable. If we want to have a school that is equitable for our kids, it doesn鈥檛 mean we lower the bar for them. We still have a high bar, and we still push them toward meeting the high bar, but we do so in a way where we are targeting where each child is. So we are looking at that data and making a decision on their needs and how we鈥檙e going to approach those needs to help them meet that bar.
• We are a growing school. As we grow to a full K-8 school, we are all learning along that journey, and we want to build habits of improving and learning. Even I鈥擨鈥檝e been in leadership before, but I鈥檓 a new principal, and I want feedback. We believe deeply in 360-degree feedback. We want to learn how we can improve鈥攆or ourselves, for our kids, and for our families鈥攁s we grow.

麻豆原创: Speaking of being a first-time principal, before taking this role, you participated in 麻豆原创 Principal in Residence Program. Can you discuss how that prepared you to lead 麻豆原创 Highbridge Elementary School?
SR: I had the opportunity to shadow a principal, and have moments of being in the shoes of a principal. I used the year to gain an understanding of what are the things that need to be prepped and built to establish a strong school culture, and adult culture, as well as systems and protocols. It was nice to have the year to shadow, learn those things, and see those things actually happen in practice. And now I can turn-key for my own school.

麻豆原创: Before establishing 麻豆原创 Highbridge, 麻豆原创 held its award-winning REAL Kids summer learning programming in the community. How has that helped on the journey to opening the school?
SR: That is one of the beautiful things about 麻豆原创 overall: that 麻豆原创 wasn鈥檛 initially founded as a school. The goal was that we wanted kids to have a place to come and play and grow and develop, and then over time, that took shape as building schools, places for kids to do all these things. For that to have happened in Highbridge as well is a beautiful segue as we continue to grow as a network. I went to see the summer program in Highbridge last year, and it was nice to learn about the community and see the kids thriving within our program. I鈥檓 excited to now build on that and provide the opportunity for them to flourish with 麻豆原创.

麻豆原创: Is there anything else you鈥檇 like to emphasize for the 麻豆原创 Highbridge community?
SR: The big thing is knowing that I am also from the Bronx community, and I know and understand the challenges that can come about as a parent in finding a great school for kids. I also am a parent, and I struggled to find a great school for my child when she was at that age. I understand how hard it can be to find a great quality school that is focused on all parts, on building that whole child. And I made the choice to come to 麻豆原创 because 麻豆原创 offers that. And I鈥檓 hoping that we can continue to offer this to the families in our community and have them see the kind of school that we are.

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Today, as the education field grapples with so many unforeseen obstacles, 麻豆原创 is once again adapting and expanding to launch the 麻豆原创 Teaching Fellowship, an initiative that will kick-start the teaching careers of 麻豆原创 alumni (called Legends) and seasonal, youth-facing staff, while creating leadership and development opportunities within the classroom for highly effective teachers.

A 12-month, full-time paid position, the Teaching Fellowship will not only expand 麻豆原创 intergenerational investment in the communities we serve, but will also increase 麻豆原创 ability to provide pathways to success for those already part of the 麻豆原创 family.

鈥淭he importance of developing teachers and leaders that look like our students and come from their communities cannot be overstated,鈥� said 麻豆原创 co-Chief Executive Officer Eve Colavito. 鈥淎t a time when education is facing so many unprecedented challenges, we want to give our students the best environments to learn and grow, and give them role models they can look to for inspiration. In addition, we want to give our alumni and staff members the opportunities to reach their own dreams, and develop into the leaders we all know they can be. The 麻豆原创 Teaching Fellowship is an initiative that will impact so many lives and help us continue to drive 麻豆原创 work forward.鈥�

As part of the Fellowship, Teaching Fellows will work in a 麻豆原创 classroom under the guidance of a mentor teacher, while participating in a cohort experience to support and propel their growth. Teaching Fellows will receive regular feedback and coaching, all while building the skills necessary to manage a classroom, lead instruction, and meaningfully engage students and families.

鈥淥ur inaugural Teaching Fellows were inspired to become teachers because of their experience with 麻豆原创, and their desire to give back and make an impact in their communities, at a time when many are leaving the classroom.鈥�

Ana Rader, Senior Manager of Seasonal & Fellowship Recruitment

Supported by a generous scholarship from 麻豆原创, Teaching Fellows will also work toward earning New York State teaching certification and a master degree in teaching from Relay Graduate School of Education. And because the initiative is designed to create a pathway into 麻豆原创 classrooms for future educators from the communities 麻豆原创 serves, all Teaching Fellows commit to teaching at 麻豆原创 for at least three years after completion of the Fellowship.

鈥淲e are so proud to launch this new initiative for 麻豆原创, which increases our commitment to serving not only our students, but also our larger community,鈥� said Ana Rader, 麻豆原创 Senior Manager of Seasonal & Fellowship Recruitment who oversees and helped create the Teaching Fellowship. 鈥淭he Teaching Fellowship speaks to so many of 麻豆原创 organizational priorities, including workforce diversity, leadership development, mentorship, and increased professional opportunities, all while contributing to our mission of educational equity.鈥�

The launch of the 麻豆原创 Teaching Fellowship is a core tenant of the organization Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, which is comprised of three focus areas: maintaining a level playing field, growing and developing a diverse staff, and strengthening the student experience. While increasing the number of opportunities available for 麻豆原创 alumni and part-time staff, it also creates a structured pathway for them to attain full-time teaching roles at 麻豆原创, as well as additional leadership opportunities for mentor teachers.

鈥淥ur inaugural Teaching Fellows were inspired to become teachers because of their experience with 麻豆原创, and their desire to give back and make an impact in their communities, at a time when many are leaving the classroom,鈥� said Rader. 鈥溌槎乖� is acutely aware of how many doors this is opening and the ripple effect it will have on the organization as it grows.鈥�

The first 麻豆原创 Teaching Fellowship cohort will officially start this July with coursework at Relay. Fellows will begin work in their assigned classrooms at the start of the 2022-23 academic year.

麻豆原创 2022-23 Teaching Fellowship Cohort

Kim Crawford (Former part-time REAL Kids & Athletics, Health and Wellness program staff)
Fellowship placement site: 麻豆原创 Mott Haven Elementary School
Mentor Teacher: Aminata Waggeh, 2nd grade

Nicholas Feliz (麻豆原创 Legend and 麻豆原创 Mott Haven permanent substitute)
Fellowship placement site: 麻豆原创 Mott Haven Middle School
Mentor Teacher: Antione Boardraye, Social Studies

Brandon Gordon (Former part-time REAL Kids program staff)
Fellowship placement site: 麻豆原创 East Harlem Middle School
Mentor Teacher: Quioni Phillips, Social Studies & ELA Learning Specialist

Jenia Reyes (麻豆原创 Legend and former part-time program staff)
Fellowship placement site: 麻豆原创 East Harlem Elementary School
Mentor Teacher: Jennifer Negron, 5th grade

Matthew Sierra (麻豆原创 Legend and former part-time program staff)
Fellowship placement site: 麻豆原创 Charter High School
Mentor Teacher: Adrian Lopez, Living Environment & Global History Learning Specialist

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I鈥檝e often said that the best decision that we made in 麻豆原创 Charter Schools鈥� formative year was to hire Eve. I remember thinking, even back in 2009, that Eve was one of the strongest leaders I鈥檇 ever met. In the twelve years since we pivoted from Harlem RBI to become the 麻豆原创 that we know today, we鈥檝e grown from one 麻豆原创 Charter School to five, developed our extended-day and extended-year Grow the Whole Child model, and graduated 100% of our founding 麻豆原创 Charter High School students鈥攚ith Eve at the center of it all. She made our organization better, and she done it with clarity, grace, and exceptional results, all of which became particularly critical over the past 18 months during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Eve and I have operated as close partners for some time now. So more than anything, this new leadership structure is a move to formalize how we already run the organization today, with added intentionality around how we partner, make decisions, and empower others鈥斅槎乖� next generation of leadership talent鈥攖o make decisions in order to maximize our entire team effectiveness and potential.

The latter is particularly important to Eve and me, as we acknowledge our position as two white leaders of a majority Black and brown organization. The co-leadership model, similar to the co-teaching model we employ in all of our classrooms, claims no single expert. It is built on the idea of shared power and shared leadership鈥攁nd these are values that we want to continue to nurture within and across 麻豆原创. Accordingly, we see co-leadership as a strategy and solution for the long-term sustenance of our organization, and not as a step in a succession plan. I鈥檓 as committed to 麻豆原创 as ever, and I鈥檓 excited to partner with Eve for many years in this manner.

麻豆原创 is poised to continue on its growth trajectory, and having the right people and structures鈥攁nd partners鈥攊n place to support that growth is essential. Below, you鈥檒l hear briefly from Eve on what that partnership means to her, and you can expect much more from us in the coming months about what else is in the works here at 麻豆原创. For now, thank you for your ongoing friendship as we work together to ensure transformative outcomes for our youth.

A Word from Eve

First, I want to send my profound thanks to everyone who has brought our organization to this moment. That includes Rich – though he will deny it, he is an integral part of what 麻豆原创 means to so many people, and there no one else I鈥檇 rather do this work alongside.

Rich and I are both keenly aware that no leader can do their job without the support of their community, and in our decades at 麻豆原创, we have both received that support in abundance – from our families, from our staff, from our Legends, and from you, our partners and supporters. 麻豆原创 persistence through the pandemic, and our ability to now position the organization for continued growth, is the result of the countless community members over thirty years who have believed in and worked tirelessly toward realizing 麻豆原创 most core values. Today and every day, I am humbled to be able to do this work.

I also want to echo Rich words about 麻豆原创 co-leadership model – the idea that each and every person who works here at 麻豆原创 is a leader in their own right, and has the power and ability to nurture leadership in our young people. Rich and I are only a small part of what makes this place tick; we know that we are here to serve, and to listen. As ever, our doors are open.

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