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 Narvaez
Assistant Principal
Grace Han
Instructional Coach
Bryan Stroud
Leader U Fellow
Amanda Torres
Operations Manager
Levar Leys
Operations & Technology Associate
Alexa Laboy
Receptionist
Krystyna Gloss
Family Impact Coordinator
Lesley Santos
Registrar
Diana Pena
Kindergarten Teacher
Aminata Waggeh
Kindergarten Teacher
Pashen Hutton
Kindergarten Teacher
Samantha Kienemund
Kindergarten Teacher
Madeline Nawa
Kindergarten Teacher
Justin Richmond
First Grade Teacher
Sofia Roman
First Grade Teacher
Tamara Celestine
First Grade Teacher Resident
Colleen Smith
First Grade Teacher
Micheal Thomas
First Grade Teacher
Sara Kim
Second Grade Teacher
Kasey Poloncarz
Second Grade Teacher
Mindy Stump
Second Grade Teacher
Heather Gorton
Second Grade Teacher
Hannah Burke
Third Grade Teacher
Marcus Smith
Third Grade Teacher
Ashley Silver
Third Grade Teacher
Matt Labonia
Fourth Grade Teacher
Madeline Hess
Fourth Grade Teacher
Noemi Cardenales
Fourth Grade Teacher
Courtney Cox
Fourth Grade Teacher
Kevin Lassiter
Fifth Grade Teacher Resident
Dimple Bailey
Fifth Grade Teacher
Jonathan Gallegos
Fifth Grade Teacher
Conscious Coore
Fifth Grade Teacher
Yauntilaa Lancaster
Fifth Grade Teacher
Kristine Peters
Music Teacher
Stephen Kovalcik
Physical Education Teacher
Adeola Fashina
Performing Arts Teacher
Kristina Bounviri
Movement Teacher
Carmen Cruel
K-2 Science/ Social Studies Teacher
Amy Spina
K-3 Science/Social Studies Teacher
Stephanie Pepen
SETSS 4-5
Shakema Philbert
SETSS K-3
Elena Heitke
ELL K-5
Danielle Rivera
Social Worker
Bernado Melinette
Scholar Support Specialist
Cheyenne Bhutan
Dream Coach
Kelvin Negron
Facilities Manager
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 minutes and upcoming meeting dates, click here.