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.
CAMPUS DIRECTOR
Mia Backon
GRADES SERVED
K – 4
CURRENT ENROLLMENT
331 Scholars
The DREAM Team
Mia Backon
Campus Director
Christy Brown
Operations Manager
Chelsey Palmer
Instructional Coach
Erika Carmona
Operations & Technology Associate
Irene Polanco
Family Impact Coordinator
Alex Gonzalez
Registrar
Gissell Tineo
Receptionist
Carol Jasmin
DREAM Coach
Fitzroy Saunders
DREAM Coach
Erin Chilelli
Social Worker
Kristyn Demartinis
Social Worker
Paola Leonard
Kindergarten Teacher & Grade Team Leader
Meghan Riffle
Kindergarten Teacher
Pamela Penuela
Kindergarten Teacher
Christine Jurado
Kindergarten Teacher
Alexandra Gerraputa
First Grade Teacher & Grade Team Leader
Shannon Considine
First Grade Teacher
Nataki Caver
First Grade Teacher
Morgan Lazar
First Grade Teacher
Kristen Turpin
Second Grade Teacher & Grade Team Leader
Lissa Erazo
Second Grade Teacher
Lindsey Klapper
Second Grade Teacher
Emily Chambers
Second Grade Teacher
Allison Roberts
Third Grade Teacher & Grade Team Leader
Sue Kim
Third Grade Teacher
Sheila Sullivan
Third Grade Teacher
Chris Melendez
Third Grade Teacher
Ashely King
Third Grade Teacher
Yael Nurko
Third Grade Teacher
Robert Cavaliero
Fourth Grade Teacher & Grade Team Leader
Michael O'Dea
Fourth Grade Teacher
Alexa McCarrick
Fourth Grade Teacher
Laetitia Krisel
Fourth Grade Teacher
David Outten
Fourth Grade Teacher
Edgar Dinzey
Fourth Grade Teacher
Kaslyn Harris-Jordan
Peforming Arts Teacher
Thomas Terribile
Physical Education Teacher
Rachel Lee
Science & Social Studies Teacher
Nicole Taylor
Science & Social Studies Teacher
Kara Miranda
ACT Specialist
Samantha Zerbe
Associate Teacher
Francesca Decesare
Associate Teacher
DPNY Board of Directors
Dr. Robert North
Chair, Harlem Hospital
Josh Pristaw
Vice Chair, GTIS Partners
Brian Berger
Vice Chair, Glocap Search
Doug Snyder
Vice Chair, Starboard Value, L.P.
Roger Berg
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman
Katie Duffy
Democracy Prep Public Schools
Linda Bell
Barnard College
Trevor Gibbons
Joele Franke, Wilkinson, Brimmer, Katcher
Sean Windsor
BDO
Jamal Epps
J.P. Morgan Chase
Ken Weiller
EVA Capital Management, LP
Alastair Wood
Citigroup
Brittany Mullings
Compass
Steven Gordon
Newmark Grubb Knight Frank
Gregory Weston
Winston & Strawn LLP
The Democracy Prep New York Board of Trustees will hold its regular meetings and executive committee during the 2017-18 school year on the following dates:
Tuesday, July 11, 2017, 8 a.m. (125 Park Ave, New York, NY 10017)
September 13, 2017, 8:00 a.m., 1767 Park Ave., 5th Floor, New York, NY 10035
October 10, 2017, 8:00 a.m., location TBD
November 15, 2017, 6:30 p.m., 207 West 133 St., New York, NY 10030
January 17, 2018, 6:30 p.m., 240 East 123rd St., New York, NY 10035
Click to download DPH Board Meeting Minutes – 2016-17
Download Annual Report 16-17
To contact the DPNY Board, please email Boardoftrustees@DemocracyPrep.org