Volunteer Alumni Advisors
Ailene Altman Mitchell
Ailene Mitchell, a 2012 Fellow, has been principal of The Park Slope Education Complex at Middle School 88 in NYC since 2005. Ailene’s core belief is that students learn best in an intimate setting with personalized, blended learning attuned to their needs and strengths. Her passion for educating all students transformed M.S. 88 from one of the most challenged New York City Public Schools into one of the most prominent middle schools in the United States.
As a foundational member of Chancellor Carmen Fariña’s signature instructional initiative, Learning Partners Program, Ailene’s school was spotlighted as an innovator host model school. M.S. 88’s innovative practices have attracted prominent visitors such as Bill Gates, Hadi Partovi, Fred Wilson, and education ministers from countries as far as Denmark and Turkey. In recognition of her work Ailene was named Master Principal from 2015 to 2017, serving as a mentor to NYC public school principals. As a definitive voice on personalized learning to raise student achievement, she has presented at Discovery Education’s Future Now Conference, ASCD conference, International Conference on Education, Discovery Education Leadership Summit, ISTE Conference on Blended Learning, and the NYC DOE Chancellor’s Conferences.
Ailene has been serving as an alumni advisor to the Cahn Fellows Program for Distinguished Principals since 2017. She previously served on the advisory board of Columbia University’s Center for Environmental Research and Conservation Graduate Program from 2008-2015, and is a member of the Leaders on Innovation’s Digital Promise League of Schools. Ailene attributes M.S. 88’s success to her investment in professional learning, both personally and professionally. Her participation in the Institute for Learning at the University of Pittsburgh has been an integral part of her learning journey.
Ailene Altman Mitchell
New York, NY
Robert Bhoolai
Robert Bhoolai, a 2019 Fellow, is the principal of T.R. Robinson High School in Tampa, Florida. Serving traditional and magnet students in grades 9-12, Robert has led the school to obtain significant academic standing locally and nationally. He has also coordinated the implementation of several academic and social initiatives that focus on the cultural and social-emotional perspectives of the schooling experience. His efforts have led to record graduation rates, higher percentages of college acceptance, and higher rates of post-secondary industry placement for students.
Robert began his career in Hillsborough County Public Schools (Tampa) in 2006. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from Wittenberg University, a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of South Florida, and is currently working toward his doctoral degree in Educational Program Development with a focus in Educational Innovation. Robert has served as a substitute teacher, teacher, assistant principal, principal, district trainer, and leadership mentor. He uses his experiences and knowledge to identify and grow aspiring leaders, both at his school and within the district. Robert found his passion for leadership when he served in several key teacher-leader roles across several schools. In 2011 Robert was appointed assistant principal at a high needs high school. This experience helped him discover the power of building authentic relationships with students in an administrative role. The leadership team was proud to lead the school to its first and only A rating. Over the past 10 years he has focused on building leadership teams prepared to allow students a voice and a choice in their schooling experience. To this end, he also co-facilitates his district’s principal preparation program.
Robert has worked to create equitable and interactive experiences for all students. He believes every student deserves the right to an education, but more importantly, they deserve to have a voice in it as well. He strives to engage students in high rigor content crafted to their needs and interests. He works tirelessly to empower teachers and school personnel to light the sparks of innovation and interest within their students. As a 2019 fellow, Robert worked to establish an Executive Student Board at T.R. Robinson. The board works on behalf of all students to facilitate healthy and proactive communication between students and staff, aimed at creating opportunities for students to engage in school-level decisions that affect their schooling experience.
Robert Bhoolai
Tampa, FL
Anna Cano Amato
Anna Cano Amato, a 2015 Fellow, retired from her position as Principal of PS 110 in Brooklyn in February 2020 after having assumed the position in 2006. She joined the faculty of PS 110 in 1984 where she worked in the following positions: Assistant Principal, Literacy Coach, Teacher Trainer, Spanish and Classroom Teacher, 2nd through 5th grades. She has earned advanced degrees from Queens College and St. John’s University as well as an administrative degree from the College of St. Rose.
During her tenure at the school she ensured that the school’s vision of Growing Hearts and Minds addressed the academic, social and emotional growth of its students. In recognition of the school’s efforts in fulfilling its vision, PS 110 was the first New York City public school to receive the “Educating the Whole Child in the 21st Century” award from the New York ASCD for creating a healthy, safe, engaging, supportive, and challenging school environment.
Always exploring educational opportunities for her students, she recognized the value of bilingual programs and introduced a French Dual Language curriculum to the PS 110 school community in 2010. Anna was a recipient of the Chevalier dans I’Ordre des Palmes Académiques in 2016 for her “… remarkable role in the development of French-English bilingual programs.” This award was founded in 1808 by Napoleon Bonaparte to recognize devotion and accomplishment in the areas of teaching, scholarship and research. Her vision contributed to the success of bilingual education in New York City public schools, and she helped to offer hundreds of children the opportunity to learn in two languages.
Upon retirement, she assumed the position of Program Coordinator for the Cahn Fellows Programs, where she has served as an Alumni Advisor since 2016.
Anna Cano Amato
Program Coordinator, Cahn Fellows Programs
Maribel Dotres
Maribel Dotres, a 2019 Cahn Fellow, began her career more than twenty years ago in Miami-Dade County Public Schools. During her career, Maribel has held various leadership roles including Lead Teacher, Regional Educational Specialist and Assistant Principal. For the past nine years, she has been the Principal of Palm Springs North Elementary Community School that serves over one thousand students and offers a variety of enrichment programs including the Cambridge Elementary Level Program which is offered school-wide.
As a school leader, Maribel believes that the most important contribution she can make is to ensure that she develops future leaders committed to diversity and inclusion. She strongly supports that creating, embedding, and embracing a distributed leadership approach, ultimately, improves the culture of teaching and learning. This commitment has contributed to the academic growth and success of the school.
Maribel Dotres
Miami, FL
Shelia Durant
A 2014 Fellow, Sheila Durant entered the CUNY system following her NYC public education and earned a Master’s degree in special education from Hunter College and an Administrative Diploma in School Administration from the City College of New York. When Sheila became Assistant Principal in 2003, P.S. 69 had been designated a School in Need of Improvement by the State of New York and was in jeopardy of being taken over as a result of failing grades.
She was fortunate to support an outstanding principal who became her mentor and collaborative partner. When this principal retired, Sheila took over the helm and continued the excellent work they began together. The cornerstone of P.S. 69’s dramatic progress is a strong working school community, which has created an environment for improved teaching and learning. Since 2003, P.S. 69 has been recognized by Advocates for Children as both a school of choice and one of the “top 100 schools” in New York City. Sheila retired from P.S. 69 in 2020.
Shelia Durant
New York, NY
Lisa Epstein
Lisa Epstein, a 2017 Fellow, is Principal of Lee Elementary in Chicago. Lisa began her tenure as principal five years ago, in which time she has moved her school from a level 2 to a level 1+ (the highest CPS rating). She has been a proud and enthusiastic leader of the Chicago Public Schools for 25 years – serving in culturally and intellectually diverse neighborhoods. At the district level, Lisa is honored to serve as an Independent School Principal, serving on district level committees and as a Mentor to aspiring Resident Principals.
Lisa attended the University of Miami, graduating with a degree in both Psychology and Education. She completed her Master’s degree in Reading at the University of Illinois and later completed an additional Master’s program in Curriculum and Instruction at Lewis University.
Lisa Epstein
Chicago, IL
Franklin Headley
A 2018 Fellow, Franklin Headley is the founder and Principal of VOICE Charter School since 2008. Frank was first in his family to attend college, earning his A.B. in History from Harvard magna cum laude. He continued his graduate studies at Columbia University, the University of London, and CUNY, completing five master’s degrees in education and history on full scholarships.
As a fourth grade teacher, he earned two Fulbright Memorial Fund Master Teacher Awards. Through New Leaders for New Schools, Frank worked as an assistant principal in Jamaica, Queens.
He has served as mentor, instructor, and adviser for various teacher/leadership development programs. In 2016, Frank was named by the Kennedy Family and Schools That Can, the Robert F. Kennedy Urban Educator of the Year.
He serves on the boards of the Victorian Society of New York, the Jacob Riis Settlement House, and the Coalition of Community Charter Schools.
Franklin Headley
New York, NY
Reginald Higgins
A 2016 Fellow, Reggie Higgins has served as principal of P.S. 125, the Ralph Bunche School in Manhattan since 2011. The school’s philosophy is children learn best when their intellectual, creative, emotional, social and physical growth is nurtured and challenged, and through school grants, Reggie has introduced enrichment programs for hydroponic and aquaponics labs to support students’ inquiry on farming.
A graduate of the NYC Leadership Academy, Higgins received a BA in Psychology from Morehouse College, a Masters of Science in Teaching from Pace University and he received a Masters in Education Administration from Baruch College.
Reginald Higgins
New York, NY
Jamie Lofaro
Jamie Lofaro, a 2018 Fellow, is the former principal of The Career Education Center Early College in Denver. CEC is the flagship Career and Technical Education institution in the Denver Public Schools, housing 22 career pathways, 9 of which grant concurrent enrollment credit.
Prior to leading CEC, Jamie served for five years as the principal at PREP Academy, a school for high-risk and expelled youth. While at PREP, she re-designed the school structure by introducing a school-wide social-emotional curriculum and hired teachers that had the highest academic standards for students. The school was removed from the state’s academic watch list while under her leadership.
Jamie received her Bachelor of Science degree from Ithaca College. She earned two Master’s degrees, one from the University of Northern Colorado, the other from the University of Phoenix. Jamie also serves on the Cahn Fellows Colorado Advisory Council.
Jamie Lofaro
Denver, CO
Joshua Long
Josh Long, a 2016 Fellow, is the principal of Southside Occupational Academy (SOA), a transition center for students with disabilities. Serving students who are 16-21 years old, Joshua has guided the creation of several vocational learning labs, a school-wide functional curriculum, a differentiated student assessment system, and community-based classrooms across the City of Chicago. Students enrolled at SOA participate in classes focused on vocational, independent functioning, social and emotional, and applied academic skills. Joshua has worked with all of the staff members to provide individualized instruction to each student allowing the students to become as independent as possible within their communities upon graduation.
Joshua began his career with the Chicago Public Schools as a speech-language pathologist (SLP) in 2000 after earning a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Speech and Hearing Sciences from Indiana University and a Master’s degree from the University of North Dakota in Communication Disorders. Working across many neighborhoods in Chicago, he was confronted with the reality that some students needed more than a traditional education program in order to reach their full potential upon graduation. In 2009, after obtaining a Master’s degree in Educational Administration from Governors State University, Joshua became a manager for over 100 SLPs within 200 schools. It was during this role that he realized the power of influence a school principal had on student learning and the school environment. Joshua decided that he wanted to effect change at a higher level and become a school principal for students with disabilities.
Joshua firmly believes that all students are entitled to a coordinated, well-executed, tiered educational program. He also believes that schools have the responsibility to meet all of the students’ needs and serve as a resource for their families. As a 2016 Fellow, Joshua focused on the expanding needs of his students and worked with the school community to open a branch location focused on integrated community education. The best part of Joshua’s day is standing outside and greeting the students in the morning. He has the best students in Chicago and they are always happy to come to school!
Joshua Long
Chicago, IL
Alene Mason
Alene Mason, a 2018 Fellow, has served as principal of Scott Joplin Elementary School in Chicago, IL since 2008. Her career in education is fueled by her vision to help transform and change the lives of others. Mason received a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Actuary Science from the University of Illinois in Champaign Urbana. She received a Masters of Arts from both from Saint Xavier University in Elementary Education and Concordia University in School Leadership.
Her unique background in computer engineering sparks her creativity and innovation, which can be seen in her collaborative leadership. She serves as a principal leader for both the Chief Education Officer Principal Advisory Council (PAC) and the Chicago Public School District Principal Procurement Advisory Council (PPAC). Mason believes that ALL children can learn given the proper resources and the opportunity.
Alene Mason
Chicago, IL
Crystal Mayfield Jones
Crystal Mayfield Jones, a 2018 Fellow, has been principal of Beecher Hills Elementary in Atlanta since 2009. Her school team lives the vision of doing more every day to help students climb higher. They work to provide activities and experiences to support the academic, social and emotional growth of their students. Since 1999, Crystal has worked at Beecher in the following positions; Assistant Administrator, International Baccalaureate Coordinator, and Teacher.
She has earned advanced degrees from Tuskegee University and Georgia State University. Beecher Hills has the distinction of being one of the few Title I schools authorized as an International Baccalaureate PYP school since 2011.
Crystal Mayfield Jones
Atlanta, GA
Nick Mazzarella
A 2016 Fellow, Nicholas Mazzarella was principal of the Brooklyn College Academy. Mazzarella secured a $300,000 grant from The Middle College National Consortium, sponsored by The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, to fund the redesign Brooklyn College Academy into an Early College High School. His first school was Park East High School in East Harlem, New York.
Nick sits on the Executive Board of the Middle College National Consortium and he is the Past President of the New York City High School Principals Association where he also is a member of the Executive Board.
Mazzarella earned his BS and MS from Long Island University and his MS in Educational Leadership from Pace University.
Nick Mazzarella
New York, NY
Kathy Moloney
A 2009 Fellow, Kathy Moloney retired as the principal of P.S. 100, the Coney Island School. Previously, Moloney served as an Assistant Principal at Cavallaro Intermediate School and Instructor for the Cluster 6 Teacher Leadership program developing Professional Learning Communities within schools.
Kathy has been a part of the District 21 Leadership Team and worked as Adjunct Professor for the College of Mt. St. Vincent, conducting Graduate Courses in curriculum and child development.
Kathy Moloney
New York, NY
Moses Ojeda
Moses Ojeda, a 2017 Fellow, is Principal of Thomas A. Edison Career & Technical Education (CTE) High School, and has dedicated nearly 25 years at Thomas Edison as a student, teacher, Assistant Principal and Principal. Currently, the school offers 12 CTE programs, the latest Medical Assisting program as the only one of its kind in NYC. Under his leadership, Thomas Edison will be serving as a Learning Partner host school for CTE in 2017-18.
Moses currently serves as a CSA Executive Board member, the educational representative of the Jamaica Now Initiative and is part of the NYSED School Principal Preparation Project Study.
He is a graduate of NYC College of Technology (B.S. in CTE) and Adelphi University (M.S. in Educational Leadership and Technology). Moses is also a member of the Cahn Fellows Board of Directors.
Moses Ojeda
New York, NY
Rachel Payne
Rachel Payne, a 2018 Fellow, is one of the Operational Superintendents for Denver Public Schools. She has previously served in the role of principal of a K-8, an instructional coach, and an elementary and secondary classroom teacher.
One of the proudest roles she has assumed over the last ten years has been that of mentor for Denver principal residents and interns. Through this program, she has been able to support new leaders through coaching and mentoring. Leadership development is her passion as she knows it is closely tied to the success of student learning and achievement.
Rachel Payne
Denver, CO
Shelly Powell
Shelly H. Powell, a 2019 Fellow, has served as principal of Daniel McLaughlin Therrell High School since 2012. As a passionate advocate for children, Shelly sees education as the key to unlocking future economic and personal opportunities for all scholars. Under her leadership, she is responsible for increasing the school’s graduation rate from 49% in 2012 to 87% in 2019. Ms. Powell and her team have implemented several academic initiatives including Early College, Dual Enrollment, AVID and Social-Emotional Learning. Most recently, Daniel McLaughlin Therrell High School received authorization as an International Baccalaureate World School for the Middle Years Program (MYP)and the Career Program (CP). Additionally, in 2019, she was named the Career Technical and Agriculture Education (CTAE) Principal of the Year.
An educator for 21 years, Ms. Powell has taught at the elementary and high school levels, worked as a Small Learning Community Implementation Specialist and a District Model Teacher Leader for the Atlanta Public Schools System.
Powell has presented at several national conferences on high school redesign efforts including the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development at the University of Nevada and Education Northwest in San Diego, California. Ms. Powell has a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Tuskegee and a Masters in Educational Leadership.
Shelly Powell
Atlanta, GA
Margaret Russo
A 2008 Fellow, Margaret Russo has been the principal of P.S.160 in Brooklyn for fourteen years. She was assistant principal of I.S. 259 and taught at P.S. 127 and Nativity-St. Peter Claver. Under her leadership, P.S. 160 has initiated extensive arts programs, Socratic Seminars, a national award-winning chess program, coding program, a Peer Assisted Learning Program (PALS) and multiple programs for parents, including a GED program.
Although she has received many awards, including the Monsignor Francis X. Downing Award from the NYC DOE Catholic Teachers Association, Outstanding Educator of the Year from Education Update, Principal Collaboration Award from District 20 UFT, Elementary School Principal of the Year from the Association of Orthodox Jewish Teachers of the NYC Public Schools, Principal of the Year from the NYC DOE Emerald Society and the Hopefest Award from the Francesco Loccisano Memorial Foundation, her favorite awards are the letters and cards hanging in her office from students thanking her for being the “best, fun principal.”
She had the privilege of participating in the Cahn FellowsProgram for Distinguished New York City Principals as both an Ally and a Fellow.
She is presently Elementary School Principals Executive Board Delegate to the NYC Council of School Administrators. Margaret is active in her community and enjoys reading, music, and baseball. Her favorite thing to do when not spending time with her students and teachers is spending time with her husband Anthony, their five children and seven grandchildren.
Margaret Russo
New York, NY
Evita Sanabria
Evita Sanabria, a 2014 Cahn Fellow, has been the Principal of P.S. /I.S. 127 since August 2008. Sanabria received her Master’s Degree from New York University in Guidance and Counseling and her Professional Diploma in Administration and Supervision from Queens College.
She has been working for the New York City Department of Education for the past 28 years where she began her career as a paraprofessional.
“Women In Education” recently recognized her with the Latin America Intercultural Alliance Award for the development and progress of the community through education.
Evita Sanabria
New York, NY
Scott Saperstein
A 2019 Fellow, Scott Saperstein is the Principal of Ruth K. Broad Bay Harbor K-8 Center in Bay Harbor, Florida. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from the State University of New York at Albany, a Master of Science in Guidance and Counseling from Long Island University and an Educational Specialist Degree from Argosy University in Educational Leadership.
Saperstein previously served as the Principal of Virginia A. Boone Highland Oaks Elementary (VABHOE) from 2013 until 2017. During his tenure, VABHOE was awarded an A rating from the Florida Department of Education three out of four years. Prior to his work at VABHOE, he served as the Assistant Principal at Aventura Waterways K-8 Center, helping the school maintain an A rating for 5 years. Prior to serving as an administrator, he served as a guidance counselor and social studies teacher at several schools in Miami and Los Angeles, CA.
Scott Saperstein
Miami, FL
Rebecca Sargable
Rebecca Sargable, a 2018 Fellow, served as principal of Lanier Elementary School from 2012-2015 and has served as the principal of Collins Elementary School in Tampa, Florida since 2015.
Sargable earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education and her Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from the University of South Florida.
She serves in multiple leadership roles with Hillsborough County Public Schools, including being a principal mentor and a lead trainer for the Preparing New Principals Leadership Pipeline Program. As a transformational leader, Sargable makes all decisions through the lens of student learning. She integrates building the empathetic and inclusive child with core instruction on a daily basis. The students that attend the schools that she has led are true learners, not only in content but also in character.
Rebecca Sargable
Tampa, FL
Tara Shelton
Tara Shelton, a 2012 Fellow, has served as the principal of South Loop Elementary School in Chicago for the past eleven years. Principal Shelton attributes her school’s outstanding success to its dedicated, hard-working teachers and staff members.
Tara graduated with a B.A. in Elementary Education from Southern University A& M College and acquired her Master’s Degree in Administration from Chicago State University. She is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Urban Education at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Tara is also a member of the Cahn Fellows Board of Directors.
Tara Shelton
Chicago, IL
Nancy Sing-Bock
A 2005 Fellow, Nancy Sing-Bock retired as principal of PS 51 in District 2, Manhattan. Nancy grew up on the Lower East Side with five brothers and sisters and is a product of the NYC Public Schools.
She and her husband Norman have three wonderful children, a son who is finishing his earth science degree at Brooklyn College and twin daughters who graduated in May, 2013. One daughter has a degree in political science and history. The other daughter has a degree in sociology and Spanish. Nancy has a love for music and still sings in the Brooklyn Philharmonic Chorus and shares her love of travel, photography, cooking and film, theatre and books with her husband.
Nancy has Master of Arts degrees in Environmental Education, Special Education and Supervisor and Administration. Her Bachelor’s Degree was in Elementary Education.
She is extremely proud of the well-rounded education that she and her school has provided for the students at P.S.51 that includes a rich arts education, inquiry-based project-based learning, and academic rigor. In 2004, P.S.51 was named as a No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education. In 2008-09, Time Warner Cable awarded her the National Champion Principal Finalist Award. She was named “Outstanding Educator” by Education Week in 2010. For the past 7 years, she has mentored assistant principals in the Advanced Leadership Program for Assistant Principals for the Council of Supervisors and Administrators.
Nancy Sing-Bock
New York, NY
Femi Skanes
Femi Skanes, a 2016 Fellow, is the Principal of Al Raby School for Community & Environment in Chicago since 2012. As an educator who has taught at the elementary, secondary, and post-secondary levels, Femi firmly believes in fostering educational excellence for urban students in underserved communities. To achieve this success, she believes in a model that supports collaboration and teacher leadership development.
Dr. Skanes holds several degrees including an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from National Louis University.
Femi Skanes
Chicago, IL
Jonathan Smith
A 2018 Fellow, Jonathan Calvin Smith has been a Principal in the Dallas ISD for fourteen years. Currently, he is the Principal of the ‘iconic’ David W. Carter High School. Under his transformational leadership and campus turnaround model, schools at all levels have been recognized on the local, state and national level.
Starting as principal at age 26, Jonathan has solely taught and led the school communities of his youth in Dallas. He furthered his education at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas where he graduated Cum Laude in three years, receiving his Bachelors in Business Administration with a concentration in human resources. His postgraduate studies include Universidad Internacional Spanish Immersion Program in Cuernavaca, Mexico, Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education’s Urban School Leadership Program and Biblical Studies from Dallas Theological Seminary and Dallas Baptist University.
Jonathan holds a Masters in Educational Administration from the University of Texas at Arlington. Jonathan finds great joy in supporting new principals in urban settings.
Jonathan Smith
Dallas, TX
Stacy Stewart
A 2016 Fellow, Stacy Stewart is Principal of Belmont-Cragin School, located on Chicago’s Northwest side. As a former CPS student and 25-year employee of the Chicago Public Schools, she has served as a middle school teacher, Induction Coach for the New Teacher Center, and a principal. Since becoming principal of Belmont-Cragin in 2010, she has worked diligently to improve the quality of teaching and learning, by utilizing a personalized approach with dual language education, SEL and personalized learning. She advanced the school’s designation from a Level 3 rating, in 2010, to a Level 1+ in 2017. In addition, Belmont-Cragin is currently recognized nationally as an “Ashoka Change Maker” school with a Gold Circle NAEYC Accredited Early Childhood Center. Notably, her school was awarded, in 2016, an “Exemplary Award” for Social and Emotional Learning from the Chicago Public Schools.
In 2016, Principal Stewart was selected for the Cahn Fellows Program for Distinguished Principals. She has been awarded the leading educator scholarship for innovative principals from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which hosted 500 of the nation’s most successful superintendents and school leaders. Recently, she was awarded the Stanley Golder Leadership Award from the Golden Apple Foundation for exemplary performance in school leadership and a multi-million dollar capital project for a new innovative school from the city of Chicago.
Stacy Stewart
Chicago, IL
Christina Tettonis
Christina Tettonis, a 2007 Fellow, is honored to be Principal of the Hellenic Classical Charter School (HCCS) since 2007. The Commissioner of the New York State Department of Education has designated her school as a Reward School for four consecutive years in recognition of her students’ high academic achievement. In February of this year, the State Department recognized HCCS as one of the top 155 schools in all of New York State. HCCS was recently featured in the book, New York City’s Best Public Pre-K and Elementary Schools, A Parents’ Guide by Clara Hemphill.
Christina is an advisory member of the Cahn Fellows Program for Distinguished New York City Principals at Teachers College, Columbia University. She was also a member of the New York City Deputy Chancellor’s Principal Advisory Group. She serves as a Board of Trustee for the Brooklyn Public Library, The Literacy Trust, The Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College, and The Bay Ridge Federal Union.
Christina was Principal of Public School 170 for the NYC Department of Education from 2002-2007 and Director of The Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Program for Community School District 20 from 1997-2002. She began her public school career as a teacher at Public School 186 and Public School 105 in Brooklyn, New York. Her first teaching position was at Holy Cross Parochial School.
Christina was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. She is the eldest daughter of Greek-American immigrants who ingrained in her a deep sense of pride for her Hellenic heritage. She is honored to share this heritage with her students each and every day. Christina is married and has twin sons who graduated from college this past spring.
Christina Tettonis
New York, NY
Lily Din Woo
Lily Din Woo was one of the 16 principals in the first cohort of the Cahn Fellows Program for Distinguished Principals 2003. She served as the principal of PS 130 Manhattan, District 2, for 25 years before retiring in August of 2014. She subsequently went on to serve as the program director of the Cahn Fellows Program from 2014 until her retirement in 2018.
Lily was instrumental in transforming P.S. 130 Manhattan from a struggling school into a consistently high performing school that has been recognized by New York City, New York State and US Department of Education as a Title I Distinguished School and as a demonstration site for its ability to incorporate the arts into the education of every child in the school.
In her 44 years in education, Lily has also served as a classroom teacher, an ESL teacher, an ESL staff developer, and as a director for a demonstration project for the Division of High Schools with the NYC Department of Education. Within that time span, she had also served six years with the New York State Education Department as an Associate with the Division of Bilingual Education.
She is a product of the NYC public school system. She received her B.A. from Queens College, CUNY, where she majored in Elementary Education and her M.A. in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) from New York University.
In 2004, Lily was chosen by the Summer World Olympics Committee as one of 120 “everyday heroes” to represent New York City in the 2014 Summer Olympics Torch Relay. In 2010, she received a “Principal of the Year” Blackboard Award from the New York City media for her exemplary work at her school, and in 2016, received recognition as an Outstanding CUNY Asian-American Woman of the Year for Leadership in Education by the City University of New York’s Asian American/Asian Research Institute.
Lily has had the honor of serving on many advisory committees and task forces for several chancellors of the NYC Department of Education and was a mentor principal for both the NYC Leadership Academy and for the Department of Education. She was a member of the adjunct faculty at Baruch College for seven years and at Bank Street College for 10 years. She now serves as an alumni advisor for principals through the Cahn Fellows Program and works as an independent educational consultant.