Megan Berkes   7th Grade History Teacher

Founding member Megan Berkes returns to BSC as a 7th Grade History teacher. Since graduating from Vanderbilt University, Peabody College, in Nashville, Tennessee, Ms. Berkes has taught 5th Grade Geography and 7th and 8th Grade American History.  During her time in Nashville, Ms. Berkes coached girls’ lacrosse and worked with children with special needs as part of a volunteer position with Top Soccer.

Ms. Boyd hails from Toronto, Ontario, bringing with her a passion for teaching our 7th grade reading and writing classes. Before joining BSC, she taught high school English at Thistletown Collegiate Institute in Ontario. She earned her Bachelor of Education degree at York University and her Bachelor of Arts in English and Politics from Queen's University in Toronto.

Sarah Canavan   6th Grade Science Teacher

Returning to the 6th Grade team at Bedford Stuyvesant Collegiate, Ms. Canavan had previously taught middle school Science at the Henry Street School for International Studies here in New York City. Ms. Canavan received her B.S. in Biology from The College of New Rochelle and while completing her NYC Teaching Fellows program, received her Master’s of Science degree in Education from the City College of New York.

Melissa D'Agostino  Co-Director of Operations

Prior to helping found Bedford Stuyvesant Collegiate in 2008, Melissa D’Agostino received her MBA from Columbia Business School. Ms. D’Agostino previously worked as an Associate in the risk management group at PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP, and then joined the NYC Teaching Fellows program through which she taught middle school math in Washington Heights for three years.  Ms. D’Agostino holds a B.A. in Economics from Wesleyan University and a Master’s of Science degree in Education from the City College of New York.

Allison Dunne   6th Grade Math Teacher

Allison Dunne returns to BSC as our 6th Grade Math Teacher. Ms. Dunne received her Bachelor of Science degree from Texas Tech University, where she served as an Undergraduate Teaching Assistant in the Biology department. Prior to coming to Bedford Stuyvesant Collegiate, Ms. Dunne taught a summer school program through Teach For America and has been actively involved in community service to raise awareness in various children’s health issues.

Melissa Duphiney 5th Grade Writing Teacher

Before joining Bedford Stuyvesant Collegiate in 2009 as our 5th Grade Writing teacher, Ms. Duphiney was a teacher at St. Ann’s School in Flushing, N.Y. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in English from New York University, Ms. Duphiney became a Corps Member in the Teach For America program where she taught English, Social Studies and Theater at a Bronx middle school.

Aaron Gillaspie  7th Grade Math Teacher  

After participating as a Teach for America Corps Member, Mr. Gillaspie serves as the 7th Grade Math teacher at BSC. He attained his BS in Business Administration at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he was also a student athlete for their Division I football program.

Maria Gonzalez 6th Grade Writing Teacher

Ms. Gonzalez comes to BSC as our 6th grade writing teacher. She earned her B.A. in English at Queens College in Flushing, NY. Before joining us, Ms. Gonzalez worked in the medical industry, administering the work of a pediatrician. She also taught at Frank Sinatra HS in Long Island City, and served as a teacher in El Salvador as a part of the Hilda Rothschild Foundation.

Pamela Guelpa   Special Projects Coordinator

Pamela Guelpa returns to BSC in our third year as our Special Projects Coordinator. Ms. Guelpa is a graduate of SUNY College at Fredonia, where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English. Prior to joining the founding team at Bedford Stuyvesant Collegiate, Ms. Guelpa worked as a Data Specialist for the donor relations department at Yeshiva University in New York City. 

James Gumpper   5th Grade History Teacher

James Gumpper returns to Bedford Stuyvesant Collegiate as our 5th Grade History teacher. Prior to joining BSC, Mr. Gumpper worked in the MATCH charter program in Massachusetts as an AP US History Teaching Assistant, as well as a Tutorial Curriculum Advisor. Mr. Gumpper received his B.A. from Dartmouth College, where he received the Rufus Choate Scholar Award and was the President and Social Chair of the Alpha Chi Alpha Fraternity.

Kelsey Kopro   5th Grade Math Teacher

Kelsey Kopro returns for her second year as our 5th grade Math teacher. Previously, Ms. Kopro was a Program Assistant Coordinator at the Joint Educational Project in Los Angeles, CA. Ms. Kopro received her Bachelor’s Degree at the University of Southern California, where she had served as the Director of Philanthropy as part of the Student Government board.

Mabel Lajes-Guiteras   Co-Director of Curriculum and Instruction

Prior to helping start Bedford Stuyvesant Collegiate in 2008, Mabel Lajes-Guiteras was a founding Literacy Teacher and Chair of the Literacy Department at Boston Preparatory Charter Public School, which opened in 2004-05.  In 2007 and 2008, her students were ranked second out of all districts statewide on the 8th grade English Language Arts state exam.  Previously she taught high school English in West Nyack, NY, served as Curriculum Director at Exploration Summer Programs, and taught literacy at Roxbury Preparatory Charter Public School.  She is a graduate of Amherst College where she majored in Psychology and Theater and Dance.  She earned a Master’s degree in Educational Theatre and English at New York University.

Jason Lukose    6th Grade History Teacher

Ms. Lukose joins the BSC staff as our 6th Grade History teacher. He graduated from Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA, where he received his BS in Sociology. Mr. Lukose was active in Morehouse, serving as the Financial Administrator for their Pre-Freshman Program, the President of the Student Ambassadors, and as a Resident Advisor.

James Martin   Special Education Coordinator

Beginning his career in education as a NYC Teaching Fellow in 2004, James Martin returns to Bedford Stuyvesant Collegiate as our Special Education Coordinator. Mr. Martin taught for three years at a middle school in the East Flatbush area of Brooklyn, and then moved on to establish the Department of Instructional Services as a founding faculty member at The Middle School for Marketing and Legal Studies. Mr. Martin received his Master’s Degree from Pace University and his J.D. from Massachusetts School of Law.

Charlene Martinez   Special Education Teacher

Ms. Martinez joins BSC this year as one of our Special Education teachers. Prior to her arrival at Bed Stuy Collegiate, she taught ELA at MS 7 here in New York City. Ms. Martinez earned her B.A. in English at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, CA.

Jennifer McCormick  5th Grade Reading Teacher

Jennifer McCormick returns to BSC as a 5th Grade Reading Teacher.  After earning her undergraduate degree from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., Ms. McCormick taught 7th and 8th Grade English at Gompers Middle School in Watts, California as a part of the Teach For America program.  Prior to her employment with BSC, Ms. McCormick managed future classroom leaders for the Greater Philadelphia-Camden division of Teach For America.

Myra McCormick 5th Grade Science Teacher

Myra McCormick returns to Bedford Stuyvesant Collegiate as our 5th Grade Science Teacher with a strong background in working within the Collegiate family. Ms. McCormick has served as an interim Director of Operations at Williamsburg Collegiate Charter School and as the Program Director at Boston Collegiate Charter School, an associated Uncommon school. Ms. McCormick received her undergraduate degree from Willamette University and her Master’s Degree from the Daniel J. Evans School of Public Affairs at the University of Washington in Seattle, WA.

Christina McNamara   5th Grade Math Teacher

Returning to BSC as our 5th Grade Math Teacher, Christina McNamara previously worked as a 5th Grade Teacher in Phoenix, AZ. In addition to serving as her school’s K-5 Teacher Representative for Math Adoption Process, she also was her grade-level Team Leader and the Girls Soccer Coach. Ms. McNamara received her undergraduate degree from Kenyon College in Gambier, OH and her Master’s in Elementary Education from the University of Phoenix in Phoenix, AZ.

Brett Peiser  Founder

As Managing Director of Collegiate Charter Schools, an Uncommon Schools network of middle and high schools in Brooklyn, Brett Peiser is the Founder of Williamsburg Collegiate, Kings Collegiate, Bedford Stuyvesant Collegiate, Brownsville Collegiate, and Uncommon High Charter Schools.  From 1998 to 2005, Mr. Peiser was the Founder, Principal, and Executive Director of Boston Collegiate Charter School, a college preparatory middle and high school serving 500+ students.  Prior to this, Mr. Peiser taught History at Midwood High School in New York City.  Mr. Peiser received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Brown University and a Master of Public Policy degree from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. 

Justin Pigeon 6th Grade Reading

Justin Pigeon returns to BSC in our third year as our 6th Grade Reading Teacher. Mr. Pigeon began his teaching career as a 6th grade reading teacher in Houston, TX as part of the Teach For America program. Before coming to Bedford Stuyvesant Collegiate, Mr. Pigeon worked at the Lee Campus of YES Prep Charter Schools as a 6th grade ELA teacher. Mr. Pigeon received his Bachelor of Arts degree in English at Bloomsburg University in Bloomsburg, PA.

Shawn Sadjatumwadee Dean of Students

Shawn Sadjatumwadee returns to BSC as our Dean of Students after working as a 12th Grade Counselor and Tutoring Program Coordinator with the Upward Bound Program, part of the Double Discovery Center at Columbia University. Mr. Sadjatumwadee received his B.A. from Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA and his Master’s Degree from Teachers College at Columbia University.

Keith Schneider   7th Grade Science Teacher

Prior to his arrival at Bed Stuy Collegiate, Mr. Schneider taught science in Harlem at Democracy Prep Charter School, and in Boca Raton, Florida at Don Estridge High Tech Middle. He joins us as our 7th Grade Science teacher. Mr. Schneider earned his B.A. in Psychology at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton.

Kathryn Tobin    Office Manager

Ms. Tobin joins BSC as our Office Manager. She graduated from Barnard College of Columbia University and the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, where she completed a Masters in African Literature. While studying, she lived, worked, and researched in Uganda. Prior to joining the Bed Stuy Collegiate team, Ms. Tobin worked for the Africana Studies Department at Barnard, and as a nanny.

Charles Voltz    Dean of Curriculum & Instruction

Mr. Voltz joins Bed Stuy Collegiate as our Dean of Curriculum & Instruction. He began his career as an educator in Peace Corps/Tanzania, then continued teaching for 4 years in New York City at Bushwick Community High School. Mr. Voltz received his B.S. from Georgia Tech and earned his M.A. in Mathematics Education at Teachers College Columbia University. He is currently working on his M.Ed. in Educational Leadership and Administration at Fordham University.

Paul Weber   6th Grade Math Teacher

Mr. Weber brings his talents in mathematics to our classrooms as our 6th Grade Math teacher. He graduated from Wittenburg University in Springfield, OH, where he earned his B.A. in Mathematics, with a minor in Management. Mr. Weber worked for the Wittenburg Math Department as a peer mentor, tutor, and research assistant.