Ms. Simmons Instructional Assistant
Ms. Alford Teacher of Elementary
Ms. Bas Instructional Assistant
Ms. Chalusian Instructional Assistant
Ms. Exilus Teacher of Students with Disabilities
Ms. Rowek Teacher of Elementary
Ms. Woodley Instructional Assistant
Ms. Whatley Instructional Assistant
Ms. Diaz Instructional Assistant
Mr. Nzioka Instructional Assistant
Ms. Fibraio Instructional Assistant
Ms. Allicock Literacy & Math Coach
Ms. Contreras Social Worker
Mr. Vitale Dean of Climate and Culture
Mr. Formichella Teacher of Health and Physical Education
Mr. Scholl Teacher of Elementary
Ms. Mathis Teacher of Elementary
Ms. Mathis-Huddleston Intervention Specialist
Ms. Mazza Teacher of Elementary
Ms. Constantinou Teacher of Elementary
Ms. Deeken Teacher of Elementary
Ms. Bracken Teacher of Health and Physical Education
Ms. Rubin Teacher of Elementary
Ms. Mann Teacher of Elementary
Ms. Burd Teacher of Music
Ms. Samaroon Teacher of Elementary
Ms. Christian Teacher of Elementary
Ms. Britton Teacher of Elementary
Ms. Broady Teacher of Elementary
Ms. Minaya Resource Teacher
Ms. Sangster Teacher of Elementary
Ms. Visco Teacher of Elementary
Ms. King Teacher of Elementary
Ms. Clarke Teacher of Elementary
Mr. Dickerson Teacher of Elementary
Maria Picone Principal: Grades K-8
Ms. Picone is very proud to currently hold the position of principal for kindergarten through grade 8 at College Achieve Central Charter School.
Having grown up in Paterson, Ms. Picone had a strong desire to return to urban education and follow in the footsteps of the exemplary educators who supported her in her youth. She started her career as a classroom teacher in Bloomingdale, and during that time, received the school level Governor’s Teacher Recognition Award. After moving into the role of school counselor/student assistance coordinator, she was recognized in 2006 by the NJ Bias Officers Association for efforts to “reduce bigotry and hate.”
During the 2018-2019 school year, Ms. Picone held the position of Director of Early Childhood Education at Marion P. Thomas Charter School in Newark, where she served on the Superintendent’s Academic Leadership Team, supported the founding of MPTCS’s preschool program, and supported teaching and learning for grades Pre-K to 2. Prior to that, Ms. Picone held the position of principal for six years at University Heights Charter School, also in Newark, and acted as Director of Early Learning (Grades Pre-K to 2) during the 2017-2018 school year. During her time at University Heights, Ms. Picone founded the school’s Pre-K program, making it one of the first charter schools in the area to open its doors to 3-year-olds and supported the school’s expansion and curriculum advancement. Preceding this, Ms. Picone held the position of Supervisor of Curriculum and Instruction, Special Education, and Testing in Prospect Park.
Ms. Picone has completed an Advanced Graduate Program in Educational Administration and has a Master’s Degree in Counseling, Human Services, and Guidance from Montclair State University, where she also completed a post-baccalaureate teacher certification program and an undergraduate degree in English. Currently, she is an advisory board member for NJ School Resource Officers Association (NJASRO) and holds the position of Vice-President of Public Policy of NJAEYC (NJ Association for the Education of Young Children). She has also participated in presentations to educators at various conferences, such as facilitating a workshop at the Spring 2019 NJAEYC conference entitled, “Understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and their Impact: Supporting the Development of Trauma Sensitive Classrooms.”
Maria Picone Principal: Grades K-8
Ms. Picone is very proud to currently hold the position of principal for kindergarten through grade 8 at College Achieve Central Charter School.
Having grown up in Paterson, Ms. Picone had a strong desire to return to urban education and follow in the footsteps of the exemplary educators who supported her in her youth. She started her career as a classroom teacher in Bloomingdale, and during that time, received the school level Governor’s Teacher Recognition Award. After moving into the role of school counselor/student assistance coordinator, she was recognized in 2006 by the NJ Bias Officers Association for efforts to “reduce bigotry and hate.”
During the 2018-2019 school year, Ms. Picone held the position of Director of Early Childhood Education at Marion P. Thomas Charter School in Newark, where she served on the Superintendent’s Academic Leadership Team, supported the founding of MPTCS’s preschool program, and supported teaching and learning for grades Pre-K to 2. Prior to that, Ms. Picone held the position of principal for six years at University Heights Charter School, also in Newark, and acted as Director of Early Learning (Grades Pre-K to 2) during the 2017-2018 school year. During her time at University Heights, Ms. Picone founded the school’s Pre-K program, making it one of the first charter schools in the area to open its doors to 3-year-olds and supported the school’s expansion and curriculum advancement. Preceding this, Ms. Picone held the position of Supervisor of Curriculum and Instruction, Special Education, and Testing in Prospect Park.
Ms. Picone has completed an Advanced Graduate Program in Educational Administration and has a Master’s Degree in Counseling, Human Services, and Guidance from Montclair State University, where she also completed a post-baccalaureate teacher certification program and an undergraduate degree in English. Currently, she is an advisory board member for NJ School Resource Officers Association (NJASRO) and holds the position of Vice-President of Public Policy of NJAEYC (NJ Association for the Education of Young Children). She has also participated in presentations to educators at various conferences, such as facilitating a workshop at the Spring 2019 NJAEYC conference entitled, “Understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and their Impact: Supporting the Development of Trauma Sensitive Classrooms.”
Natica Brown Principal: Grades 9-12
As a young woman, Mrs. Brown did not set out to become a teacher or administrator. Having earned a B.S. in Biology, she sought to fund medical school applications by taking on some substitute teaching work. Noticing that the grade 9 students had posted art collages in their science classroom, Mrs. Brown asked them why. They explained that they had been without a teacher for six months (and some an entire year before that as well), and that the last substitute was an art teacher, not a science teacher. Mrs. Brown decided at that moment that she would not sit for two weeks and let them loose any opportunity to fall in love with science. She asked the students permission to teach them and the students agreed. Within 30 days, Mrs. Brown was on the road to becoming a teacher via the Alternate Route program.
Mrs. Brown continued her career for 7 years as a teacher of Biology, Geophysical Science, and Physics. This included 4 years in Paterson, NJ, where she earned the title “Teacher of the Year”. It also included several years in Newark Public Schools. Along the way, she earned an M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction in Physics.
Over time, Mrs. Brown realized that real change must start at the top. She decided that the best way she could reach children and make a difference was to become a leader and change agent. She began working on earning administrative certifications. In 2013, Mrs. Brown moved from teacher to Vice Principal. In this leadership role, she ensured that her high school graduated 90% of the senior class that entered the school in September. She continued to grow as an administrator, moving attendance rates as well as graduation rates by double digit percentages.
Mrs. Brown has an uncompromising outlook that all students can learn if given a positive learning environment that welcomes investigation and enhances student confidence. She is a collaborative leader, so her vision for school leadership is to develop a clear and shared focus for the school. It is Mrs. Brown’s belief that an educator’s mission is to make school enjoyable, exciting, and supportive — that a student who looks forward to attending school will want to learn.
Mr. Conte Teacher of Elementary & Middle School
Ms. Jackson Teacher of Elementary & Middle School
Ms. Weiss Teacher of Elementary & Middle School
Ms. McMillan Teacher of Elementary & Middle School
Ms. McNeill Teacher of Elementary & Middle School
Ms. Marshall Teacher of Elementary & Middle School
Ms. Busetti Teacher of Elementary & Middle School
Ms. Herrera Dean of Climate and Culture
Ms. Mulligan Teacher of Elementary & Middle School
Ms. Knight Teacher of Elementary & Middle School
Ms. Christian Teacher of Elementary & Middle School
Ms. James Director of Math: Grades K-8
Ms. Woodward Teacher of Elementary & Middle School
Ms. Castillo ELL Support
Ms. Carroll Teacher of Elementary & Middle School
Mr. Whitfield Teacher of Music
Mr. Arroyo Teacher of Health and Physical Education
Ms. Trinidad Teacher of Science
Ms. Hagan Teacher of Elementary & Middle School
Ms. Perotti Teacher of Elementary & Middle School
Ms. Lawhorn Teacher of Special Education
Ms. Tulloch Teacher of Dance
Ms. Ewaska Teacher of Elementary & Middle School
Mr. Smith Teacher of Elementary & Middle School
Ms. Park Teacher of Elementary & Middle School
Ms. Cross-Nelson Teacher of Elementary & Middle School
Mr. Weintruab Teacher of Chemistry
Mr. Passafaro Teacher of Technology
Ms. Rivera School Counselor
Mr. Blanchard Teacher of Mathematics
Mr. Adams Teacher of Social Studies
Mr. Bailes Teacher of Mathematics
Mr. Cunneen Teacher of Social Studies
Ms. Furey-Jones Teacher of English and Language Arts
Ms. Diaz Teacher of Spanish
Ms. Novak Teacher of English and Language Arts
Ms. Ocampo-Mosquera Teacher of ESL
Mr. Sansevere Teacher of Art
Ms. Escort-Moore College Counselor
Ms. West Teacher of Social Studies
Ms. Bass School Nurse
Mr. Spadaro Teacher of Health and Physical Education
Mr. Smarz Teacher of Financial Literacy
Mr. Palmer Teacher of Health and Physical Education
Mr. Nolan Teacher of Physics
Mr. Fuchs Teacher of Mathematics
Mr. Roche Teacher of History
Ms. McDonald Dean of Culture and Climate
Mr. Applequist Teacher of Art
Ms. Corron Teacher of Mathematics
Mr. Jaichner Teacher of English and Language Arts
Mr. Asimoglou Teacher of Health and Physical Education
Ms. Menichelli Teacher of Mathematics
Ms. Jaquez-Torres Teacher of Spanish
Ms. Marshall Teacher of English and Language Arts
Ms. Clarke Teacher of Special Education
Mr. Stanley Teacher of English and Language Arts
Natica Brown Principal: Grades 9-12
As a young woman, Mrs. Brown did not set out to become a teacher or administrator. Having earned a B.S. in Biology, she sought to fund medical school applications by taking on some substitute teaching work. Noticing that the grade 9 students had posted art collages in their science classroom, Mrs. Brown asked them why. They explained that they had been without a teacher for six months (and some an entire year before that as well), and that the last substitute was an art teacher, not a science teacher. Mrs. Brown decided at that moment that she would not sit for two weeks and let them loose any opportunity to fall in love with science. She asked the students permission to teach them and the students agreed. Within 30 days, Mrs. Brown was on the road to becoming a teacher via the Alternate Route program.
Mrs. Brown continued her career for 7 years as a teacher of Biology, Geophysical Science, and Physics. This included 4 years in Paterson, NJ, where she earned the title “Teacher of the Year”. It also included several years in Newark Public Schools. Along the way, she earned an M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction in Physics.
Over time, Mrs. Brown realized that real change must start at the top. She decided that the best way she could reach children and make a difference was to become a leader and change agent. She began working on earning administrative certifications. In 2013, Mrs. Brown moved from teacher to Vice Principal. In this leadership role, she ensured that her high school graduated 90% of the senior class that entered the school in September. She continued to grow as an administrator, moving attendance rates as well as graduation rates by double digit percentages.
Mrs. Brown has an uncompromising outlook that all students can learn if given a positive learning environment that welcomes investigation and enhances student confidence. She is a collaborative leader, so her vision for school leadership is to develop a clear and shared focus for the school. It is Mrs. Brown’s belief that an educator’s mission is to make school enjoyable, exciting, and supportive — that a student who looks forward to attending school will want to learn.