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 lose 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.
Ms. Charlotte Marler-Hausen Principal: Grades K-3
Ms. Marler-Hausen joined CAPS in 2022 as the Director of Teaching and Learning for K-8, working closely with staff and students on curriculum and instruction. She has worked extensively with K-3 Emerson staff in the areas of literacy and increasing student reading scores. She is an advocate for early childhood teaching practices and believes in putting children first in all her work.
Ms. Marler-Hausen began her teaching career in England in 2005 as a first-grade teacher and relocated to America in 2008. She spent 10 years teaching Kindergarten and 1st grade in a charter school in Newark and developed her experience helping students learn to read. She started her leadership journey in Paterson as Assistant Principal of a K-4 charter school and later as Principal. Ms. Marler-Hausen holds a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Liverpool Hope University, a Masters in Reading from Montclair State University, and a Masters in Educational Leadership from Georgian Court University. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, cooking, and exploring the outdoors!
Dr. Lennox H. Small Principal, Grades 4-8
Between the ages of 7 to 16, Dr. Small attended seven schools in three countries and three states, seeing firsthand both the power of education to transform lives and the “savage inequalities” (which is how Jonathan Kozol described one of these schools) that result when students are not afforded the best instruction, resources, and guidance. These experiences left an indelible mark on Dr. Small and are why he pursued a career in education.
Dr. Small received a B.A. at Rutgers University, an M.A. at Columbia University/Teachers College and an M.A. in Educational Administration at Kean University. He completed his Doctorate in Education at the University of Pennsylvania. With over 20 years experience in the field, he has served as a middle and high school teacher, vice principal, and principal; most recently he served as District Supervisor of Humanities for New Brunswick Public Schools. Dr. Small joined CAPS in July 2022, bringing his passion to annihilate “savage inequalities” to our own schools.
During his career, Dr. Small has received several awards and recognitions including serving as a US Educator Delegate to Beijing, China and a grant at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He also received a Fulbright-Hays Fellowship in Southern Africa, including Swaziland (Eswatini), South Africa, Lesotho, and Mozambique. In this role, he spent two months conducting research with teachers in various secondary schools and universities throughout the region. Dr. Small currently serves as a Commissioner at the Edison Housing Authority and a board member for Edison Affordable Housing.
Ms. Nadirah Mateen Principal, Grades 9-12
From a very young age, Ms. Mateen was inspired by her father to pursue a career in education. Following in his footsteps, she has always believed that all children — regardless of their zip code — can reach their highest potential when given the right opportunities and support.
A native of New Orleans, Louisiana, Ms. Mateen brings over 15 years of experience in education, having served in a variety of roles including classroom teacher, Literacy Coach, Reading Specialist, Dean of Students, Teacher Coach, Vice Principal, and High School Principal. Each role deepened her commitment to educational equity and student success.
Ms. Mateen’s unwavering belief in the potential of every student became a reality early in her career. As a founding classroom teacher in a “90/90/90” school — where 90% of students were minorities, 90% qualified for free or reduced lunch, and 90% met or exceeded expectations on statewide assessments — she witnessed firsthand the transformative power of high expectations and quality instruction. Inspired by this success, she pursued broader impact, earning a Master’s degree in Administration and Supervision in 2007, followed by a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction in 2008.
In 2014, Ms. Mateen relocated to New Jersey, where she played a pivotal role in transforming a historically low-performing high school. She embraced complex challenges and implemented innovative, non-traditional strategies to drive change. Through a relentless focus on team alignment, relationship building, and academic excellence, she led initiatives that resulted in increased graduation rates, improved SAT scores in English, and higher four-year college acceptance rates.
Ms. Mateen’s leadership is grounded in her Core Values: Building Strong Relationships, Holding High Expectations, Fostering Collaboration, Promoting Accountability, and Acting with Integrity. She believes that education is a moral imperative — and that with the right leadership and community support, all students can thrive.
