School Leadership

Celestina De La Garza  

 Founding Co-Director for Curriculum and Instruction

Celestina De La Garza is the Founding Co-Director for Curriculum & Instruction of Excellence Girls Charter School.  Prior to beginning her Instructional Leadership Fellowship with Uncommon Schools, Ms. De La Garza was a founding lead Kindergarten teacher and grade team chair at Leadership Preparatory Charter School, an Uncommon Schools co-ed elementary school in Brooklyn.  While at Leadership Prep, Ms. De La Garza mentored new teachers, participated in family workshops, created a writing workshop tailored to help new teachers, and taught basketball.  Prior to joining Leadership Prep, Ms. De La Garza taught Kindergarten and 1st grade for four years at her Teach For America placement in the Bronx. During her time in the Bronx, she participated in the Math In the City professional development series, interviewed prospective new teachers, and took part in workshops that helped parents prepare their pre-kindergarten children for the joys and demands of elementary school.  Ms. De La Garza received her B.A. in Growth and Structure of Cities from Bryn Mawr College and her M.S.T. in Education from Pace University.

Samantha Tweedy    

Founding Co-Director for Operations

Samantha Tweedy is the Founding Co-Director for Operations of Excellence Girls Charter School.  Prior to becoming an Operational Leadership Fellow with Uncommon Schools, Ms. Tweedy served as the Interim Program Director of the Uncommon Knowledge and Achievement Teacher U Summer Teaching Fellows Program. Ms. Tweedy was formerly a litigation associate at the law firm of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, a summer associate in the Hogan & Hartson LLP Education Group, and a legal intern at Advocates for Children of New York. During this time, Ms. Tweedy also served as a Trustee on the Board of Excellence Boys Charter School of Bedford Stuyvesant.  Ms. Tweedy holds a B.A. in Developmental Psychology from Duke University and a J.D. from Yale Law School.

Hilary Lewis    

Founding Dean of Students

Hilary Lewis is the Excellence Girls Dean of Students. Ms. Lewis is a graduate of Amherst College, where she earned a B.A. in Psychology & Women’s and Gender Studies, and holds a Masters in Childhood Education from Pace University.  Prior to joining Excellence Girls, Ms. Lewis was a Founding First Grade Teacher at Leadership Preparatory Charter School in Brooklyn, New York.  Ms. Lewis is an alumna of Teach for America.

Brett Peiser   

Uncommon Schools Managing Director

Brett Peiser is the Managing Director of the Excellence, Preparatory, and Collegiate Networks of Uncommon Schools, a non-profit charter management organization. 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 450 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. 

Faculty

Erin Coriston   Social Worker

Erin Coriston is the Excellence Girls Social Worker.  Ms. Coriston received her B.A. from Manhattan College and her Masters Degree from Hunter College School of Social Work.  Prior to joining Excellence Girls, Ms. Coriston worked as a Social Work Intern at Excellence Boys Charter School of Bedford Stuyvesant and The Osborne Association.

Michelle Crandley   Kindergarten Lead Teacher

Michelle Crandley is a Kindergarten Lead Teacher at Excellence Girls.  Ms. Crandley holds a B.A. in Sociology from Hofstra University and a Masters in Elementary Education from the University of Phoenix.  Prior to joining Excellence Girls, Ms. Crandley was a Kindergarten and 2nd Grade Teacher at Cesar Chavez Community School in Phoenix, Arizona.  Ms. Crandley is an alumna of Teach For America.

Crystal Dow   Office Manager

Crystal Dow is the Excellence Girls Office Manager.  Ms. Dow received her B.A. in American Studies from the University of California, Berkeley. Before joining Excellence Girls, Ms. Dow was an Assistant Manager in the Children Services Department at the Henry Robinson Multi-Service Center in Oakland, CA.

Cara Farber   Kindergarten Teacher

Cara Farber is a Kindergarten Teacher at Excellence Girls.  Ms. Farber is a graduate of Brown University where she earned a B.A. in Public Policy and American Institutions & Education Studies.  Before joining Excellence Girls, Ms. Farber was a Legal Assistant at Sanford, Wittels & Heisler, LLP in Washington D.C.

Nina Ginocchio   Kindergarten Lead Teacher

Nina Ginocchio is a Kindergarten Lead Teacher at Excellence Girls.  Ms. Ginocchio received a B.A. in History from Wake Forest University and is currently pursuing a Masters in Teaching from Bank Street College of Education.  Before joining Excellence Girls, Ms. Ginocchio was a 1st Grade Teacher at P.S. 58 in the Bronx, New York.  Ms. Ginocchio is an alumna of Teach for America.

Kate Golensky   1st Grade Teacher

Kate Golensky is a 1st Grade Teacher at Excellence Girls. Ms. Golensky is a graduate of Cornell University where she received a B.A. in Psychology. Ms. Golensky is a Teach For America Corps Member.

Ashleigh Gregory   1st Grade Lead Teacher

Ashleigh Gregory is a 1st Grade Lead Teacher at Excellence Girls. Ms. Gregory is a graduate of Spelman College where she received a B.A. in History with a minor in International Studies. Prior to joining Excellence Girls, Ms. Gregory was a 1st Grade Teacher at Riverside Elementary School in Miami, Florida.

Rachel Hall   Kindergarten Teacher

Rachel Hall is a Kindergarten Teacher at Excellence Girls.  Ms. Hall graduated from Georgetown University with a B.A. in Women and Gender Studies. 

Tara Kappes   Art Teacher

Tara Kappes is the Excellence Girls Art Teacher.  Ms. Kappes is a graduate of Kutztown University of Pennsylvania where she received a B.S. in Art Education.  Before joining Excellence Girls, Ms. Kappes was a Kindergarten-5th Grade Art Teacher at Black Street Elementary School in Walterboro, South Carolina, and a Pre-Kindergarten Teacher and Art Director at Premier Child Care Center in Emmaus, Pennsylvania.

Crystal Kim   1st Grade Teacher

Crystal Kim is a 1st Grade Teacher at Excellence Girls. Ms. Kim is a graduate of Columbia University where she received a B.A. in English. Ms. Kim is a Teach For America Corps Member.

Katherine Powers  Learning Support Coordinator & Special Education Teacher

Katherine Powers is the Excellence Girls Learning Support Coordinator & Special Education Teacher.  Ms. Powers earned a B.A. in History from Duke University and a Masters in Teaching at Pace University.  Prior to joining Excellence Girls, Ms. Powers was a Special Education Teacher for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade students at P.S. 329 in Brooklyn, New York.  Ms. Powers is an alumna of Teach For America.

David Resnick   1st Grade Teacher & Intervention Teacher

David Resnick is a 1st Grade Teacher & Intervention Teacher at Excellence Girls Charter School.  Mr. Resnick is a graduate of Yale University where he earned a B.A. in Psychology.  Mr Resnick is a Teach For American Corps Member.

Kendra Tolentino   Kindergarten Teacher

Kendra Tolentino is a Kindergarten Teacher at Excellence Girls. Ms. Tolentino is a graduate of the University of Florida where she received a B.A. in Business Administration. Ms. Tolentino is a Teach For America Corps Member.

Jennifer Wong-Den   Kindergarten Lead Teacher

Jennifer Wong-Den is a Kindergarten Lead Teacher at Excellence Girls.  Ms. Wong-Den is a graduate of Barry University where she received a B.S. in Elementary Education.  Prior to joining Excellence Girls, Ms. Wong-Den was a 4th grade teacher at Purvis J. Behan Elementary School in Brooklyn, New York and a 2nd grade teacher at Thena C. Crowder Elementary School in Liberty City, Florida.