Meet Our Staff – Elysian Charter School

The staff of Elysian Charter School is proud of its commitment to the children and families of our community. Each member of the Elysian team brings a unique background that contributes to the depth and breadth of our instructional program. Many of our teachers have been with us since we opened our doors and several are not only educators, but parents of Elysian students and graduates. Our teachers, administrative assistants, paraprofessionals and lunch/recess/afterschool staff are the heart of the Elysian Charter School and we invite you to get know us.

Lauren Barker

Fifth Grade

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Lauren Barker recently moved to Hoboken from Connecticut where she has taught third and fourth grade. She is excited to be working with fifth graders at Elysian.

Jeff Belton

Paraprofessional

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Jeff Belton is a Paraprofessional He has been at Elysian since 2014.

Nicole Berger

Art

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I have been teaching art at Elysian since 2013. Before coming to ECS, I worked as a classroom teacher. I have always loved both the arts and academics, and I feel passionately about combining and integrating the two. Throughout each art unit, students explore different media and techniques, learn about culture and art history, and experience art critique. They learn about design concepts and how art and design work together to create beautiful and impactful works of art.

Ashley Choate

First Grade

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Ashley Choate is a 1st Grade Teacher. She has been at Elysian since 2003.

Carmen Compress

Recess Aide

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Casey Crane

Fourth Grade

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I am so pleased to be part of the Elysian community. I have taught varied grades. Teaching brings me great joy. Children fill me with hope for the future and it is this hope that propels me to teach with great urgency.

Diane DeSombre

School Nurse

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Diane DeSombre, RN is our School Nurse. She has been at Elysian since 2002.

Megan DeSombre

Permanent Substitute Teacher

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She has been at Elysian since 2017

Karen Drake

Spanish

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Karen Drake is the Spanish Teacher, She has been at Elysian since 2005.

Tara Dublanica

Social Worker

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Angela Dunckley

Kindergarten

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Hi, my name is Angela Dunckley and I am one of the kindergarten teachers at Elysian. This is my 12th year at Elysian, but my 17th year teaching kindergarten. I love teaching kindergarten and love reading kids’ books. I have many favorites. The Adventures of Bumblebee Boy, Secret Pizza Party and The Great Lollipop Caper are just a few of the books I love to read with my class!

Cristina Francisco

Third Grade

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Adam Froimowitz

Physical Education

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Adam Froimowitz has been working at Elysian since 2013 as our Physical Education and Health Education teacher. He is also one of the basketball coaches here at Elysian and is a member of the school climate team. Before coming to Elysian Adam has worked at a school in Queens, NY where he taught Physical Education/Health Education for five years.

Shaquana Ferguson

Recess and Afterschool Aide

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Susan Gilbertson

Admin. Assistant Enrollment / Food Srv. Director

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Susan Gilbertson is the Enrollment Coordinator. She has been at Elysian since 1999.

Pam Gorode

Assistant Business Manager

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Susan Grierson

Director

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I have spent the last 25 years dedicated to developing student centered learning environments and positive school cultures that support and promote high expectations for every student and staff member. I am NYC born, raised and educated with degrees in education from Brooklyn College and CUNY.

The goal of education at Elysian is to unlock each child’s potential so that they can discover the joy and wonder of learning.

Mary Guthrie

Music

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I been teaching at Elysian for fifteen years. In addition to the joy I receive teaching music to our students, I take particularly great pleasure in helping the children to create the kind of musical culture at the school such that many children beg to spend their lunch or recess time in the music room so they can have extra time to explore, create, or practice what they have been working on in their music classes.

Diane Jackson

Lunch Staff

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Diane Jackson is a Lunch Aide. She has been at Elysian since 2003.

Amanda Johnson

Paraprofessional

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Amanda Johnson is a Paraprofessional. She has been at Elysian since 2013.

Brenda Johnson

Breakfast and Lunch Staff

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Abra Kessler

Second Grade

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Abra Kessler has been a teacher at Elysian since 1998. Currently, she teaches 2nd grade. She has also taught 4th and 5th grades at Elysian. Abra has a bachelor's degree in English from Penn State University and a Master's degree in the Science of Education from The Bank Street College of Education.

Emily Killea

Fourth Grade

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Emily Killea is currently teaching Fourth Grade , and works at the Elysian summer camp program. Before joining Elysian, she spent time teaching Second Grade and Kindergarten. Emily graduated the University of Rhode Island with a Bachelors degree in Elementary Education and English Language with a minor in Psychology . She comes from a family of teachers with both of her sisters teaching in New Jersey as well!

Lynn Kluepfel

Special Education

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Lynn Kluepfel is a Special Education Teacher. She has been at Elysian since 2004.

Derrick Ladson

Creative Movement Instructor

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Derrick Ladson has been with Elysian since 2002 as a Paraprofessional and now Creative Movement Instructor. Derrick has been teaching dance in Hoboken for several years at Multiple schools such as The Hudson School, Hola Charter School, Hoboken Charter High School, Stevens Coop School and Mile Square Theatre Dance Academy. Derrick has also taught dance for the City Of Hoboken’s Recreation Department.

Francine Ladson

Recess, Afterschool, Early Morning Staff

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Francine Ladson is the Supervisor for Early Morning Drop-off, Recess and Aftercare. She has been at Elysian since 2001.

Melissa Landera

Second Grade

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Melissa Starrett Landera has been teaching at Elysian since 1997. She has taught kindergarten, first grade and currently teaches second grade. Melissa loves working on special projects with her class and taking them on fun trips. Recently, she's become an afterschool club leader which is lots of fun!

Samantha Leone

Special Education Teacher

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Diane Macon

Business Manager

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Diane Macon is the Business Manager. She has been at Elysian since 2013.

Robert Maltese

Maintenance

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Robert Maltese is the Facilities Manager. He has been at Elysian since 2015.

Mary Bridget Martin

Seventh/Eighth Grade Science

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MaryBridget Maxwell is the Science and a 7th Grade Teacher. She has been at Elysian since 2014.

Maureen Melnick

Literary Support, Basic Skills

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Maureen has been at Elysian since 2011. She currently works with students in K-5th grade and enjoys working with so many different students and teachers throughout the school. Prior to coming to Elysian, she ws both a classroom teacher and Reading Specialist in the New York City Public School System. She began teaching in 1991.

Regan Michaels

Eighth Grade/Humanities

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Regan Michaels is the 8th Grade Humanities Teacher. She has been at Elysian since 2014.

Josie Miguel

Kindergarten

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Darcy Minsky

Special Education

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Darcy Minsky is a Special Education Teacher and the ED/CST Chair.

Shareza Mohammed

Paraprofessional

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Shareza Mohammed is a Paraprofessional. She has been at Elysian since 2005.

Rosio Montayo

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Diane Murray

Sixth Grade

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Diane Murray has been a teacher at Elysian since 1999. Currently, she teaches 6th grade math and science, directs the school plays, and is a member of the School Climate Team.

Leah Oppenzato

Seventh Grade/Humanities

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Leah Oppenzato started at Elysian with its first seventh grade class in 2002. She attended Swarthmore College and Bank Street College of Education. Class pets are one of her favorite aspects about Elysian, and as well as human animals, her room has been home to hamsters, a chinchilla, a snake, a degu, a guinea pig, and a bearded dragon.

Megan Park

Fourth Grade

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Megan Park is a 4th Grade Teacher. She has been at Elysian since 2010.

Odalys Pla

Paraprofessional

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Odalys Pla is a Paraprofessional and Aftercare Aide. She has been at Elysian since 2005.

Gail Prusslin

Speech-Language Specialist

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Gail Prusslin is the Speech Teacher. She has been at Elysian since 1998.

Hillary Quist

Seventh/Eighth Grade Math

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Hillary Quist is the 7th and 8th Grade Math Teacher. She has been at Elysian since 2008.

Vanetta Rivera

Paraprofessional

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Roberto Rosa

Paraprofessional/
Tech Coordinator

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Roberto Rosa III is a Paraprofessional and the Technology Coordinator, He has been at Elysian since 2012.

Alyssa Rosen

First Grade

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Alyssa Rosen is a 1st Grade Teacher. She has been at Elysian since 2007.

Deb Rosner

Administrative Assistant

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Deb Rosner is Elysian's Administrative Assistant since June of 2014. Deb became an Elysian parent when her child was in Kindergarten the first year the school opened. She happily volunteered as a class parent for multiple years. She became the PTSO's first president and then PTSO's treasurer up until her younger child graduated in 2013.

John Rutledge

Fifth Grade

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John Rutledge has been a teacher at Elysian since 2005. He currently teaches 5th grade, coaches the school's elementary and middle school rugby teams and co-directs the Elysian summer camp program. John also organized the school's recycling initiative and currently manages the school store. Before joining Elysian, John spent 10 years working in human resources for various NYC companies. John and his wife, Sarah, reside with their 3 boys in Jersey City.

Jackie Sanchez

Paraprofessional

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Lynne Shapiro

Arts Coordinator

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Lynne Shapiro coordinates arts programs and partnerships and teaches middle school humanities seminars. She was a founding parent, the mother of a son in Elysian’s first Kindergarten class who graduated in 8th grade. Prior to working at Elysian, Lynne ran the schools program at the Whitney Museum of American Art. She teaches Children's Literature and Cultures and Values at Hudson County Community College. She is a poet and lives in Hoboken.