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
Bryan Stroud
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL
Justin Richmond
GRADES SERVED
K – 5
CURRENT ENROLLMENT
315 Scholars
The DREAM Team
Bryan Stroud
Principal
Justin Richmond
Assistant Principal
Carolyn Narvaez
Instructional Coach
Colleen Smith
Learning Intervention Coach
Bernado Melinette
Dean of Culture
Lesley Santos
Operations Manager
Krystyna Gloss
Administrative Manager
Maciel De La Cruz
Receptionist
Mandell Pratt
Dream Coach
Amy Spina
Social Worker
Danielle Rivera
Social Worker
Samantha Kienemund
Kindergarten Teacher
Emily Kick
Kindergarten Teacher
Essence Wilson
Kindergarten Teacher
Tamara Celestine
First Grade Teacher
Alexandra Ortega
First Grade Teacher
Sidney Bellamy
First Grade Teacher
Kadine Cousins
First Grade Teacher
Alexander Haas
Second Grade Teacher
Aboubacarr Ceesay
Second Grade Teacher
Diana Pena
Second Grade Teacher
Natasha Rivera
Second Grade Teacher
Ashley Silver
Third Grade Teacher
Cara Cherapakov
Third Grade Teacher
Madeline Hess
Third Grade Teacher
Katherine Devaney
Third Grade Teacher
Sofia Roman
Third Grade Teacher
Aisha Kebbeh
Third Grade Teacher
Courtney Cox
Fourth Grade Teacher
Emily Perlmutter
Fourth Grade Teacher
Steve Saunders
Fourth Grade Teacher
Fatoumata Ceesay
Fourth Grade Teacher
Zakiyah Floyd
Fifth Grade Teacher
Brittany Buchanan
Fifth Grade Teacher
Caitlin Geis
Fifth Grade Teacher
Jennifer Baez
Fifth Grade Teacher
Kevin Lassiter
Science & Social Studies Teacher (3-5)
Stephen Kovalcik
Physical Education Teacher
Marion Lopez
Performing Arts Teacher
Kristina Bounviri
Movement Teacher
Chesi Zana
Music Teacher
Elena Heitke
ELL Teacher
Shakema Philbert
SETSS Teacher (K-3)
Michael Thomas
SETSS Teacher (4-5)/ACT Coordinator
Kelvin Negron
Facilities Manager
Jissette Duran
Facilities
Michael Farley
Facilities
Javon Treherne
Facilities
Juan Rodriguez
Handyman
Antonio Sanchez
Security Guard
Christian Kemavor
Security Guard
Julio Duran
Security Guard
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
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 minutes and upcoming meeting dates, click here.