Our Story
Seeking to provide scholars with a rigorous and joyful school environment as early as possible, Democracy Prep Harlem Elementary opened with Kindergarten in 2013 and will add a grade each year. Starting at age 5, scholars will grapple with rigorous material, civic engagement and character education through the DREAM values that will set them up to Work Hard, Go to College, and Change the World! Upon completion of 5th Grade, scholars will transition to Democracy Prep Harlem Middle School and then High School where they will continue on their path to and through college and a life of active citizenship.
PRINCIPAL
Chelsey Palmer
GRADES SERVED
K – 5
CURRENT ENROLLMENT
374 Scholars
The DREAM Team
Chelsey Palmer
Principal
Allison Roberts
Assistant Principal
Kelechi Ogbonna
Operations Manager
Irene Polanco
Administrative Manager
Jessica Loubriel
Receptionist
Anabell Pena
Operations Coordinator
Erin Chilelli
Dean of Culture
Sue Kim
K-2 ACT Specialist & ELL Coordinator
Paola Peñuela
Instructional Coach
Christine Jurado
K-1 Grade Team Leader & Kindergarten Lead Teacher
Quinn Meehan
Kindergarten Lead Teacher
Imrana Faizi
Kindergarten Teacher
Kianni Johnson
First Grade Lead Teacher
Eloquence Rowell
First Grade Teacher
Hanna Kerr
First Grade Lead Teacher
Elagance Rowell
First Grade Teacher
Richard Cabassa
DREAM Coach
Nicole Taylor
Second Grade Teacher & Grade Team Lead
Anna Longo
Second Grade Teacher
Tiara King
Second Grade Teacher
Jackie Dimitrief
Third Grade Teacher
Kara Miranda
3-5 ACT Specialist & ACT Coordinator
Sheila Sullivan
Third Grade Teacher & Grade Team Leader
Fantisha Sanogo
Third Grade Teacher
Joshua Shirey
Third Grade Teacher
Chris Melendez
Fourth Grade Teacher & Grade Team Lead
Daricel Calcano
Fourth Grade Teacher Resident
Isabel Siebert
Fourth Grade Teacher
Kamille Campbell
Fourth Grade Teacher
Molly McClaughlin
Fourth Grade Teacher
Kianni Johnson
Fourth Grade Teacher
Taylor Chiola
Fifth Grade Teacher
Allison McClearn
Fifth Grade Teacher
David Outten
Grade Team Leader & Fifth Grade Teacher
Tonema Hossain
Fifth Grade Teacher
Tyler Harl
Fifth Grade Teacher
Gwen Spalding
Fifth Grade Teacher
Rachel Lee
Social Worker
Nicole Taylor
Grade Team Leader and Second Grade Teacher
Cherby Laguerre
Physical Education Teacher
Robert Subjenski
Music Teacher
Grace Lopata-Linn
Dance Teacher
DPNY Board of Directors
Dr. Robert North
Chair, Harlem Hospital
Josh Pristaw
Vice Chair, GTIS Partners
Brian Berger
Treasurer, Glocap Search
Doug Snyder
Vice Chair, Starboard Value, L.P.
Roger Berg
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman
Trevor Gibbons
Prosek Partners
Sean Windsor
BDO USA, LLP
Ken Weiller
Westfield Investment LLC
Alastair Wood
Kindur
Brittany Mullings
Human Resources Business Partner, National Basketball Association
Gregory Weston
Winston & Strawn LLP
Jake Foley III
Khary Barnes
Vice Chair, American Express
Ross Frommer
Columbia University Irving Medical Center
Stephanie King
Columbia University
Farida Ilboudo
Columbia University
To contact the DPNY Board, please email Boardoftrustees@DemocracyPrep.org
For information about the DPNY Board of Trustees, including minutes and upcoming meeting dates, click here.