Matthew Greenberg (School Leader)
Matthew Greenberg has been an educator in New York City for over 18 years. Matthew began his career in education as a physical education teacher at School of the Ascension. He then moved on to teach physical education at Bank Street School for Children, and Columbia Prep, all prior to taking a physical education position at the Manhattan School for Children. For the last seven years, Matthew has been a classroom teacher at the Manhattan School for Children, first in the lower school and then its middle school. At MSC Matthew is the Union Chapter Leader, was a member of the school hiring committee, a mentor for student teachers, and earlier in his teaching career at Manhattan School for Children he was a curriculum liaison through the school’s partnership with Teacher’s College Reading and Writing project. Most recently, Matthew has received his administrative degree from City College’s Leadership Academy with the intention and vision to be a school leader at GUGCS.
Jennifer Slutak (Director of Curriculum)
Jennifer Slutak was a classroom teacher for nine years and has teaching experience in both elementary and middle school settings. She earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees at Rutgers University, in New Brunswick, New Jersey, where she received her bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s degree in Elementary Education. Jennifer began her teaching career as an 8th grade Language Arts teacher in Brick, New Jersey. Upon moving to New York City, she taught at Manhattan School for Children (MSC) for seven years before joining Growing Up Green. Throughout her New York teaching career, Jennifer attended many workshops at the Teachers College Reading and Writing Project as well as participated in leadership groups at Teachers College and Harvard University. She has also taken education classes at Teachers College. Her classroom was often used as a literacy lab-site for many of her colleagues at MSC as well as served as a host classroom for teachers visiting from other school as a part of a New York City based best practices program. Jennifer has mentored student teachers from many local colleges and universities in the metropolitan area, including Teachers College, Barnard College, New York University, and Hunter College. While at MSC, Jennifer served as a volunteer track coach and created an after-school craft club for her students. She is permanently certified in Elementary Education, in both New Jersey (K-8) and New York (K-6). Jennifer is trained in the Responsive Classroom program and has also worked as an adjunct professor at Pace University in their teacher education program. Jennifer was a part of the Growing Up Green planning team and worked on obtaining the state charter as well as on developing curriculum for the school.
James Antonson (Art Teacher)
Jamie Antonson earned his B.S. in Art Education at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. His educational experience consists of summer camps in rural communities of Alaska, and six years as an art specialist and teacher aid at KidsPeace National School for kids overcoming crisis. As an artist, painting and photography are Jamie's specialties, but he also has many other creative talents including gardening, music, and making short films.
Nora Bullock (Office Manager)
Nora Bullock has been involved in teaching and education since she volunteered to coach a girl’s soccer team while attending the University of California at Davis. She graduated from U.C. Davis with a bachelor’s degree in English and Women’s Studies and soon thereafter received her California teaching credential from San Francisco State University. In the course of her teaching career, Nora taught kindergarten through 4th grade in California and in New York. She is excited to be a part of the Growing Up Green community, and she is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Educational Leadership at Baruch University.
Candace Chien (Music and Movement Teacher)
Candace Chien graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Music from Temple University, double majoring in Piano Performance and Music Education. Before joining GUGCS, she worked as the general music teacher and as the director of a 125 member 5th grade chorus at Benjamin Franklin Elementary School in Westfield, New Jersey. Candace’s teaching experiences outside of the classroom range from private piano lessons to instructing Chinese choir. Candace brings to teaching the same passion that she brings to performing music. She continues to pursue musical excellence at the piano and in August 2009 performed with the International Opera Theatre in Citta Della Pieve, Italy.
Brittany Cohen (Kindergarten Teacher)
Brittany Cohen graduated from Indiana University with a bachelor’s degree in Special Education/ Elementary Education and most recently graduated from New York University with a master’s degree in Litearcy (birth-grade 6). Brittany began her teaching career and spent two years teaching at a charter school in Harlem. Brittany is excited to be a founding teacher of Growing Up Green and is thrilled to be a part of a new and exciting school. In Brittany's free time she enjoys biking, baking, reading, and hanging out with her friends and family.
Edward Eckert (1st Grade Teacher)
Edward Eckert earned his teaching certification while at Columbia University where he also captained the nationally ranked Lightweight Rowing Team. His experience beyond student teaching includes three years at the Bronx Lighthouse Charter School (BLCS) in the Hunt’s Point section of the Bronx. At BLCS he also planned and led both school and network wide professional development. Since joining the Growing Up Green Charter School (GUGCS), Edward has co-authored both the charter and grants awarding GUGCS start up funding. Edward is currently pursuing his MA in Curriculum and Teaching at Columbia University’s Teachers College.
Alan Fong (Operations Manager)
Alan Fong is the Operations Manager at Growing Up Green. Prior to joining GUGCS, he worked for a number of years in the test-prep field holding teaching and operations positions. Most recently, he ran all classroom and tutoring programs at The Princeton Review in Brooklyn and Staten Island as the Manager of Operations. Alan has also held Residence Director positions at Bard College and Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth. In addition to his operations and student services experience, Alan also brings to GUGCS his background as a former NYC public school student—he admits that he never thought that he'd see another school lunch again after high school! On most days he can be found in the cafeteria overseeing school lunch and sometimes sampling one too. Alan graduated from Midwood High School in Brooklyn and went on to receive his degree in Business Management from Skidmore College.
Megan Gelfan (Learning Specialist)
Megan Gelfan earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin – Madison with a bachelor’s degree in Communication Arts and dual graduate degrees from New York University in Childhood Education and Special Education. During her time at New York University she studied international childhood and special education and taught in elementary schools in Rio de Janeiro and Porto Alegre, Brazil. Megan has worked in informal and formal education for six years in Los Angeles and New York. She is trained in the Responsive Classroom program as well as Wilson Fundations Phonics and Literacy program. Megan is extremely committed to the education of students with learning differences in a challenging and supportive setting.
Nora Kaiser (Kindergarten Teacher)
Nora is joining the Growing Up Green Charter School community from Bank Street College of Education, where she completed her Master’s Degree in Childhood Education and Museum Studies. Nora has worked with children in a variety of settings including as a museum educator and as a nursery school teacher. Beyond student teaching, she most recently worked as a teaching artist in a 2nd grade ESL class in Woodside, and as a literacy tutor in a 1st grade in Midtown. Nora graduated Magna Cum Laude from Loyola University, Chicago where she earned her Bachelors’ degrees in Photography and Women’s Studies. A member of the Park Slope Food Coop, Nora enjoys healthy living, biking, music, making art, and spending time with children.
Lindsay Korn (1st Grade Teacher)
Lindsay Korn graduated from Northeastern University in 2005 with a degree in History and Elementary Education. During her time at Northeastern she participated in several internships at schools across Boston and earned a full scholarship for her commitment to urban education. Lindsay began her teaching career at the Learning Community Charter School in Jersey City, New Jersey where she taught kindergarten for two years. Later, she taught kindergarten and 2nd grade at a successful charter school in Harlem, New York. Most recently, Lindsay finished her graduate degree in Literacy Education at Touro College. In her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with her family and friends. Lindsay is very excited to be a member of the Growing Up Green staff and is enthusiastic about the school's green theme.
Brian Martin (Director of Assessment)
Brian Martin has taught for six years at P.S. 153, Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Elementary School in Harlem. During his tenure he has taught 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades. As a second grade teacher he was the grade’s reading leader, responsible for relaying best practices in the reading curriculum to his grade level colleagues. He was also responsible with writing, thematic curriculum on each grade he taught. As a 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade teacher he has worked diligently with his students to achieve the best scores they could manage on the ELA, math, science, and social studies New York State exams, which has helped PS 153 receive an A on its report card. Brian has been working with Matthew Greenberg, and the GUGCS planning team for three years. He will be the school’s Director of Assessment and is excited to see the green team’s vision turn into reality.
Laura Osterman (Kindergarten Teacher)
Laura Osterman completed her Masters of Arts in Early Childhood General and Special Education at Teachers College, Columbia University in May, 2009. She is certified to teach both general and special education. Over the course of her studies, Laura had the opportunity to work with children at numerous schools in Manhattan. Most recently, Laura spent a year teaching a parent participation class at the Blue School. She previously spent three years teaching young children at two schools in Washington D.C. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree Cum Laude in English Literature from the George Washington University. In her free time, Laura enjoys biking, listening to music, and traveling.
Michelle Robles (1st Grade Teacher)
Michelle Robles earned her master’s in Early Childhood and Elementary Education at Hofstra University. She taught in the Brentwood, New York school district in a bilingual classroom. She taught in various schools on Long Island and is delighted to be part of the Green Team. She is an active member of the Sierra Club and loves bringing the environmental issues into the classroom.
