Our Story
In March 2011, the SUNY Charter Schools Institute approved Democracy Prep to turn around Harlem Day Charter School, a failing elementary school in East Harlem. The immediate effects were staggering. In their first year, Harlem Prep’s scholars achieved the highest proficiency growth scores in English Language Arts (ELA) in New York State and the highest combined proficiency growth scores in ELA and Math in New York City.
To attain these dramatic results, Harlem Prep’s DREAM Team worked tirelessly to deliver Democracy Prep’s rigorous and structured model to the same students in the same building, turning the school into a high-performing elementary school where students are prepared for success in both college and citizenship. Although much ground remains to be covered, the turnaround has unequivocally proven that it was not the children, but rather the adults in the building, that led to persistently low academic achievement.
PRINCIPAL
Kevin Shrum
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL
Carolyn Narvaez
GRADES SERVED
K – 5
CURRENT ENROLLMENT
400 Scholars
The DREAM Team
Kevin Shrum
Principal
Carolyn Naraez
Assistant Principal
Sofia Williams
Lower Academy Instructional Coach
Mary Kate Lyons
Upper Academy Instructional Coach
Mindy Stump
ACT Coordinator
Amanda Torres
Operations Manager
Ian Lee
Operations & Technology Associate
Franchesca Lara
Registrar
Megan Aguirre
Family Impact Coordinator
Chastity Hidalgo
Receptionist
Kelvin Negron
Facilities Manager
Kathy Quiroz
Kindergarten Teacher
Darren Frazier
Kindergarten Teacher
Carly Wurman
Kindergarten Teacher
Morgan McIntosh
Kindergarten Teacher
Alexandra Makos
First Grade Teacher
Derycka Shirley
Kindergarten Teacher
Julianna Gilary
First Grade Teacher
Colleen Riddle
First Grade Teacher
Brianna Everett
Second Grade Teacher
Kasey Poloncarz
Second Grade Teacher
Justin Richmond
Second Grade Teacher
Katherine Howe
Second Grade Teacher
Grace Han
Leader U Resident & Third Grade Teacher
Tiffany Peterson
Third Grade Teacher
Jeremy Paula
3rd Grade Teaching Resident
Kristina Buonviri
Third Grade Teacher
Hannah Burke
Third Grade Teacher
Courtney Cox
Fourth Grade Teacher
Shayne Walton
Fourth Grade Teacher
Matt Labonia
Fourth Grade Teacher
Noemi Cardenales
Fourth Grade Teacher
Samantha Kienemund
Fourth Grade Teacher
Rebecca Harris
Fourth Grade Teacher
Lucy Schultz
Leader U Resident & Fifth Grade Teacher
Kimloy Chang
Fifth Grade Teacher
Kaleel Watkins
Fifth Grade Teacher
Stephanie Guzman
Fifth Grade Teacher
Dimple Bailey
Fifth Grade Teacher
Jonathan Gallegos
5th Grade Teaching Resident
Conscious Coore
Associate Teacher
Yauntilaa Lancaster
Fifth Grade Teacher
Ashley Silver
Fifth Grade Teacher
Manny Lora
Physical Education Teacher
Latoya Smith
Music Teacher
Sue Myers
K-3 Science/ Social Studies Teacher
Amy Spina
K-3 Science/Social Studies Teacher
Maggie Hibner
K-5 ELL
Teri Izquierdo
SETSS Teacher
Danielle Rivera
Social Worker
John Dufour
Social Worker
Bernado Melinette
Dream Coach
Cheyenne Bhutan
Dream Coach
Kevin Burns
Custodian
Juan Rodriguez
Handyman
Julio Duran
Security Guard
DPNY Board of Directors
Click to download HPCS Board Meeting Minutes – 2016-17
Download Annual Report 16-17
To contact the DPNY Board, please email Boardoftrustees@DemocracyPrep.org
For information about the DPNY Board of Trustees, including upcoming meeting dates, click here.