E.L Haynes' outstanding team ensures that we have clean, safe, and educationally-appropriate facilities, that there are systems in place so that students get the services they are entitled to, that funds are raised to support our program into the future, and most importantly, that our students have a rigorous and well-developed educational program led by outstanding leaders.

Noris Alderson, Spanish Teacher, joined the E.L. Haynes staff in 2007. Ms. Alderson previously taught Spanish in a D.C Public Charter School. Prior to that she was a Diplomat and worked as a Cultural Attach for the Embassy of Panama before the White House and was a Counselor of the Embassy of Panama to the Organization of American States. As a Journalist she had written for several newspapers in Panama. Her first teaching experience was working for the Public Schools in North Carolina. She holds a Master's in Communications.

Meg Boatwright, 3rd Grade Teacher, joined the E.L. Haynes staff in July 2008. She earned a B.A. in history and a B.S. in psychology from the University of Arizona. Ms. Boatwright taught for 2 years with Teach for America at Davis Elementary School in Washington, DC, and during that time, she earned a Masters of Arts in Elementary Education from American University.

Derick Bowers, 4th Grade Teaching Associate, joined the E.L. Haynes Staff in 2008.  Mr. Bowers holds a Bachelor of Arts in Radio, TV and Film from Howard University and has worked at BET and NPR.

Jessica Box, 4th Grade Math/Science Teacher, joined the E.L. Haynes team in July 2008.  She was a 2006 Teach for America corps member in Washington DC, where she taught fourth grade at Chamberlain Elementary School.  Ms. Box has a BA in Political Science and Business from the University of Puget Sound and a Masters of Arts in Elementary Education from American University.

Tiffany Boyd, Year Round Programs Site Manager, Ms. Boyd has four years of experience working in the Extended Day Program at E.L. Haynes.She holds a visual arts degree and came to E.L. Haynes as an Extended Day Program teacher. 

Helen Butts, 3rd Grade Teacher, has a B.A. in History and Urban Studies from Macalester College and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Johns Hopkins University. She has 10 years of teaching experience and 3 years of experience as an Academic Consultant, including one year at DC Preparatory Academy. She is a founding teacher at E.L. Haynes.

Marissa Chin, 3rd Grade Teaching Fellow, joined the E.L. Haynes staff in 2007. Ms. Chin worked as a tutor at the MATCH Public Charter High School in Boston, MA for one year before entering the E.L. Haynes teaching fellowship. She is looking forward to her upcoming position as third grade teaching fellow. She holds a Bachelors of Arts degree for her double major in English and History from Colby College.

Yolanda Coreas, Facility Aide, joined E.L. Haynes in September 2006.  She has lived in DC for 12 years, and has worked in food service for eight years.  She assists the food manger in handling food and with the school’s new facility.  Ms. Coreas has four beautiful children, two of whom currently attending ELH. 

Elsi Cruz, Translation and Communication Specialist, joined the E.L. Haynes staff in 2007. Ms. Cruz has an A.A. degree in Science for Mental Health from Montgomery College. She is currently pursuing a BSW at University of the District of Columbia. Before joining our staff she worked at My Sister’s Place as a case manager for five years with victims of domestic violence.

Ashley Deshields, Kindergarten Teaching Fellow, joined the E.L. Haynes staff in 2007. Ms. Deshields has a degree in art education from the University of Maryland, College Park. She is currently in DC's Transition into Teaching program, which enables college graduates and mid-career professionals become teachers.

Libby Diamond, Inclusion Teacher, joined the E.L. Haynes Staff in July 2008. Prior to joining Haynes, Ms. Diamond worked as a teacher for children with autism in DCPS. She has also worked in government affairs for an insurance company and in marketing for a law firm. Originally from Connecticut, Ms. Diamond has her B.A. in Marketing from Bentley College and her M.A. in Special Education from George Washington University.

Hubert Dixon III, 5th Grade Teaching Fellow, joined the E.L. Haynes staff in 2007 with nearly twenty years of experience working for social, economic, and environmental justice. Since moving to D.C. in 1995, he has worked for the Catholic Campaign for Human Development and the Center for Community Change. He has also served on the boards of directors for the Highlander Center, Youth Action, and the Montgomery Housing Partnership. Hubert helped with the founding of the National Organizer Alliance, the Funders Collaborative for Youth Organizing and Break Away. He is an alumnus of Maryville College with a degree in Political Science.

Keely Flaherty, Marketing and Development Associate, joined the E.L. Haynes staff in March of 2007. She came to us from Sasha Bruce Youthwork where she held the position of Development Associate. Keely received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Bucknell University and a Masters in Nonprofit Management from New School University and is an Americorps alumna.

Eliza Ford, 6th Grade Teaching Associate, joined the E.L. Haynes staff in 2008. Ms. Ford graduated from Wesleyan University with a B.A. in religious studies, where her studies concentrated in religious children's media. A native New Yorker, Ms. Ford has previously taught across a variety of settings and disciplines, including working with preschool students, children with autism, and as an American Sign Language instructor.

Kate Franz, Literacy Coordinator, has a B.A. in History from Davidson College and a Master of Arts in Teaching from American University. She taught for 3 years with Teach for America at the P.R. Harris Educational Center followed by 3 years at Friendship-Edison Public Charter School. In her final year at Friendship-Edison she also served as the Reading Curriculum Coordinator and became a Nationally Certified Trainer in Success for All Reading Roots for Edison Schools. She is a founding teacher, having taught 1st grade for 3 years at E.L. Haynes.

Nate Franz, 5th Grade Teacher, joined the E.L. Haynes staff in 2007. Mr. Franz began his teaching career in Northeast DC as a kindergarten teacher. He then taught fifth and sixth grade science and social studies at KIPP DC: Key Academy in Southeast DC. Nate was born, raised, and university educated in Madison, Wisconsin (University of Wisconsin).

Jane T. Gang, 3rd Grade Inclusion Teacher, joined the E.L. Haynes staff in 2008.  She resides in Bethesda, MD, but is originally from Pennsylvania.  Prior to joining E.L. Haynes, she taught in D.C. Public Schools at West Elementary School, serving as Special Education Teacher and Special Education Coordinator.  She has a B.A. in mathematics from Boston University and an M.A. in Special Education, K-12, from George Washington University. 

Joe Golub, 1st Grade Teaching Fellow, joined the E.L. Haynes staff in 2007. Mr. Golub was born and raised in Washington, DC. He studied History and Education at the University of California at Berkeley and, upon graduating in May 2007, returned to DC to embark on a career in education.

Kimberly Gomez, 2nd Grade Teacher, joined the E.L. Haynes staff in July 2008.  Mrs. Gomez, originally from Richmond, Virginia, holds more than five years of experience teaching students from various backgrounds and cultures. During her previous teaching experience in Houston, Texas, Mrs. Gomez was selected as a mentor teacher to help cultivate exceptional teachers within her school community.  Mrs. Gomez has a Bachelors of Science degree in Education from Texas A&M University.

Julie Anne Green, Director of Marketing and Development, joined the E.L. Haynes staff in August 2005. She has more than 10 years of arts management experience, encompassing a variety of work including development, marketing, public relations, and arts education. Prior to joining the Haynes team, Ms. Green was Director of Development for George Mason University's College of Visual and Performing Arts for five years. She has also worked with Virginia Opera, The Washington Opera, and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Ms. Green holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from Mount Holyoke College.

Patrice Griffin, Director of Operations, joined the E.L. Haynes staff in March 2005. Ms. Griffin has a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication, with a concentration in News and Public Affairs, from Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Virginia and a Masters in Business Administration from Trinity University. Prior to joining our team she was the Subrogation Supervisor for the Southern Maryland region of Enterprise Rent-A-Car.

Renee Hamer, 5th Grade Teaching Fellow, joined the E.L. Haynes staff in 2007. Ms. Hamer previously worked for Communities in Schools, a non-profit organization that provides supplemental services with in the Newark, NJ public schools system. Ms. Hamer has extensive experience working with adolescent groups providing counseling and developing appropriate social skills. Ms. Hamer is a graduate of Hampton University and American University with a BA and Master's in Sociology respectively.

Caroline Henry, ELL Teacher, has a BA in Modern Languages from Kenyon College in Ohio. After living in Europe for two years, she came to DC for graduate school at Georgetown where she received an MAT in ESOL and Bilingual Education. Caroline worked in Arlington County Public Schools before coming to E.L. Haynes in 2006.

Ali Hoffman, Spanish Teacher, joined E.L. Haynes in 2008 with three years teaching Special Education and English Language Learning in dual language programs and art based inclusion here in Washington, DC. A native of Lower Merion, PA, Ms. Hoffman first came to DC to study Elementary Education at American University

Kate Hubbard, Curriculum Coordinator, has a B.A. in Political Science and Psychology from the College of Arts and Science in Burlington, Vermont. She has 3 years of experience working with Special Education students; and came to E.L. Haynes from Belvedere Elementary School, in Fairfax County. She has a Louisiana teaching certificate in Mild/Moderate Disabilities and a Virginia teaching certificate in Learning Disabilities/Retardation for grades K-12.

Crystal Humphrey, Kindergarten Teacher, joined the E.L. Haynes staff in 2007. Ms. Humphrey received her undergraduate degree from Norfolk State University in Early Childhood Education. She is currently working towards her masters from American University. To date, she has been teaching for 9 years, of which five have been in the District of Columbia Public School system.

Amanda Ingram, Inclusion Teacher, joined the E.L. Haynes staff in 2007. Before coming to E.L. Haynes, Ms. Ingram taught middle school Special Education in Oakland, California for two years. Prior to that, she attended the University of Arizona where she earned a B.A. in Psychology. She is now finishing her Masters in Special Education at Catholic University.

Samone Jackson, Year Round Programs Coordinator, joined the E.L. Haynes staff in July 2008. She has more than 15 years of experience in the field of education, the last 5 serving as principal of St. Joseph of the Holy Family Elementary School in Harlem, New York. Before relocating to the Maryland/DC area, Ms. Jackson served as an adult educator at Medgar Evers College where reading was her area of concentration.  Ms. Jackson holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from St. John’s University and a Masters degree in Remedial Reading from the City University of New York

Christopher Kim, Director of Planning, Policy, and Finance, joined E.L. Haynes in 2008 with a dual background in business and education.  Prior to E.L. Haynes, Mr. Kim was a management consultant with Bain & Company, the global strategy consulting firm based in Boston.  He has also taught  history and coordinated student leadership activities at Newton South High School in Newton, Mass., directed the teacher certification program for    undergraduates at Harvard University, and served in the university's central administration as special assistant to the president.  A native of Massachusetts, Mr. Kim holds a Bachelors degree from Harvard College and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Brigham Kiplinger, 5th Grade Teacher, joined the E.L. Haynes staff in 2007. Mr. Kiplinger was a 2003 Teach For America Corps Member in Washington, DC, and taught fifth grade for four years at the Arts and Technology Academy in Northeast. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and Africana Studies from Cornell University, and a Master of Arts in Elementary Education from American University.

Alexis Kossiakoff, ELL Teacher, joined the E.L. Haynes staff in 2008. Ms. Kossiakoff completed her student teaching last year at an international school in Beijing. After working at Room to Read, a nonprofit organization fostering literacy in developing nations, and advising international students at the University of Chicago, Ms. Kossiakoff dedicated herself to teaching. She holds a Masters degree in Education from George Mason University and Bachelor and Masters Degrees in Cultural Anthropology.

Emily Mandelman, Kindergarten Teaching Fellow, worked at the Close Up Foundation, a civic education program for high school and middle school students as a Program instructor and Program Supervisor for seven years before joining E.L. Haynes in 2007. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and Religious Studies from Macalester College.

Kate Maull, 4th Grade Teacher, taught elementary and middle school English as a Second Language in Brooklyn, NY, as a Teach for America corps member before joining the E.L. Haynes community in 2007. Prior to that, she worked as a student activist and Teach for America recruiter at the University of California, San Diego. She holds a dual Bachelor of Arts degree in Ethnic Studies and Communications from UCSD and a Master of Science in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from Pace University.

Kate McMahon, Pre-Kindergarten Teacher, joined the E.L. Haynes staff in 2007. Ms. McMahon attended Smith College where she majored in government and minored in economics. After graduating, she joined Teach for America and taught for three years at Meyer Elementary School in DC. During that time she recieved a masters in special education from Trinity University.

Rebecca Meyer , Director of Student Support Services, has a B.A. in Psychology from Wake Forest University. She has four years of experience as a Special Education Teacher and served as the Executive Director of Teach for America in New Jersey. Rebecca is a founding staff member.

Premila Mistry, Music Teacher, joined the E.L. Haynes staff in July 2008.  She has taught in Washington DC for 13 years, including teaching music for 10 of those years.  Prior to coming to E.L. Haynes, Ms. Mistry has taught at Washington International School, Murch Elementary School (DCPS), and Rock Creek International School.  Ms. Mistry's choirs have given performances all over the DC area, including the White House, GW Lisner Auditorium, Kennedy Center's Millenium Stage, and various other venues.  Born in Bombay, India, and a native of Ithaca, New York, Ms. Mistry holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology with a minor in Music from Wells College.

Tiffany Mitchell, 5th Grade Teaching Fellow, joined E.L. Haynes in July 2008. She has more than seven years experience working in after school and summer programs. Prior to joining the Haynes team, Ms. Mitchell served as the 2007-2008 Thomas M. Menino Fellow at the National League of Cities Institute for Youth, Education and Families. A native of Hampton, Virginia, Ms. Mitchell holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science with a minor in Communications from Old Dominion University.

Anna Modecki, ELL Teacher, joined the E.L. Haynes staff in 2007. Prior to coming to E.L. Haynes, Ms. Modecki spent a year teaching English as a Second Language in Anne Arundel County, MD. In 2004, she taught English to children in Dalian, China for seven months. Ms. Modecki graduated magna cum laude from the University of Washington, Seattle, with a Bachelor of Arts in English. She holds a Masters in Teaching English as a Second Language from Georgetown University.

Bethany Molitor, Systems Manager, graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a BA in Marketing in 2003. She joined the E.L. Haynes office staff in January of 2005 and is currently the Systems Manager.

Michelle Molitor, Principal (Pre-K - Third Grade), has a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Central Michigan University, with a concentration in both the sciences and language arts. Prior to joining E.L. Haynes, she spent five years teaching in the Fairfax County Public School system as both an elementary school teacher and a middle school science teacher. Ms. Molitor has also served as an Education Coordinator aboard The Freedom Schooner Amistad and has done humanitarian educational travel with People to People Student Ambassadors and international groups. She is a founding staff member. She was a member of New Leaders for New Schools' 2008 principal corps.

Emily Montgomery, Director of Early Childhood Programs, graduated from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL and has a Master's degree in Special Education from American University. She taught 4 through 11 year olds at the Lab School of Washington, The Lourie Center School, and The Kingsbury Day School. Most recently, Emily spent three years as the Special Education Coordinator and Assistant Director at St. Columba's Nursery School.

Carmelita Naves , Family and Community Outreach Coordinator/Social Worker, joined the E.L. Haynes staff in 2008. She has more than 15 years experience as a counselor for children and families on mental health and educational issues in both private and public practices. She has also worked as an instructor in training programs coaching teachers, as a kindergarten owner and manager, and as a substitute teacher in Lansing, Michigan. More recently, she worked as a case manager and counselor at  Linkages to Learning at Summit Hall Elementary School in Montgomery County and at College Park Youth and Family Services. Ms. Naves holds a B.A. and a Master’s degree in Psychology from the University of Minas Gerais, Brazil and a Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Maryland.

Jennifer Niles, Founder and Head of School. Jennie Niles is the Founder of E.L. Haynes Public Charter School.  E.L. Haynes’ mission is for every one of its students to reach high levels of academic achievement and be prepared to succeed at the college of his or her choice.  In April 2008, E.L. Haynes was chosen from DC’s 56 charter schools as the recipient of Fight for Children’s first-ever Quality Schools Initiative award.  The school was ranked 6th among a consortium of 99 charter schools nationwide and, as such, was also the winner of a Silver-Gain Award from New Leaders for New Schools’ Effective Practice Incentive Community grant program. In June 2003, Ms. Niles finished her fellowship with New Leaders for New Schools, an intensive, year-long program to prepare urban principals. New American Schools sponsored Ms. Niles through her fellowship, supported the development of the charter application, and housed the start-up of the school. Prior to New Leaders, Ms. Niles was the Director of Education Initiatives at The Ball Foundation of Glen Ellyn, IL, an operating foundation that partners with school districts to increase student achievement through systemic reform. Before that, Ms. Niles headed the Charter School Office for the Connecticut State Department of Education where she oversaw all aspects of the charter school program and led a multi-disciplinary team to create the accountability system. Ms. Niles also taught middle school and high school science and directed service learning programs at schools in California and Massachusetts. Ms. Niles holds a Bachelor of Arts from Brown University, a Masters in Public and Private Management from the Yale School of Management, and a Masters of Science in Public Administration with a focus on Educational Administration from Trinity University (DC).

Becky Nolin, 1st Grade Teacher, joined the E.L. Haynes staff in 2007. Before coming the E.L. Haynes, Ms. Nolin was an intern at The Philanthropy Roundtable, a non-profit group in DC organized to help donors achieve dramatic improvements in K-12 education. She graduated from Davidson College in 2006 with a BA in Political Science, with a concentration in East Asian Studies.

Christine Payack, 6th Grade Science/Math Teacher (a. k. a. the Creature Teacher), joined the E. L. Haynes staff in July 2008.  She has been a public school teacher in both urban and rural settings for 23 years and has taught in Cambridge, MA, New Hampshire and  Florida.  She was named the 1995 Elementary Conservation Teacher of the Year by the Massachusetts Audubon Society and the New England Farm and Garden Association.  Born and raised in the wilds of New Jersey, Ms. Payack earned her Master of Science degree in Environmental Studies from Antioch New England Graduate School.  In addition to classroom teaching, she has worked as an environmental educator in a wide variety of afterschool, summer camp, environmental and conservation programs. 

Sarah Pessagno, 2nd Grade Teacher, joined the E.L. Haynes staff in 2008.  She worked in the Baltimore Public School System teaching second grade for two years before moving to DC to join the Haynes staff.  She graduated from the University of California at Berkeley, where she majored in Political Science and minored in Spanish.  She also holds a Masters of Arts in Teaching from Johns Hopkins University. 

Danielle Pilon, Inclusion Teacher, joined the E.L. Haynes staff in July 2008. She has been working in special education for more than seven years and has worked with students in all grades from Kindergarten to 8th grade. She is a trained dyslexia specialist and has done extensive work in Universal Design, Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports, and teaching English Language Learners with specific learning disabilities.  Prior to joining the Haynes team, Ms. Pilon was Director of Academic Support at D.C. Prep Edgewood Middle Campus.  She started her teaching career as a Teach for America Corps Member in Houston, TX. Ms. Pilon holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from St. Mary's College of Maryland and a Masters degree in Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Cyril Quinn, Kindergarten Teaching Associate, joined E.L. Haynes in 2008.  He is from Forestville, MD/Trenton, N.J., where he has worked at various daycare centers. Mr. Quinn holds a B.A. in broadcasting and Telecommunications from Temple University.

Sarah Radice, 3rd Grade Teaching Fellow, joined the E.L. Haynes staff in 2006 as the Second Grade Extended Day Program Lead Teacher. Ms. Radice became a Teaching Fellow at E.L. Haynes in 2007. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from McDaniel College and a Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages.

Rosenda Reyes, Food Manager and Facility Assistant, joined E.L. Haynes in August 2007. She was born in Washington, DC but was raised in El Salvador.  She has been living in DC for fifteen years.  Ms. Reyes has been in the food service industry for 3-4 years.  She has two beautiful children.

Paul Robinson, Pre-Kindergarten Teaching Assistant, joined the E.L. Haynes staff in 2005. is in his third year at E.L. Haynes. Mr. Robinson attended the University of Maryland where he studied music, playing bass in the orchestra. In addition to being a staff member at E.L. Haynes, he is also the proud father of four of students.

Michelle Rush, ELL Teacher, joined the E.L. Haynes staff in 2008.  For the past two years Ms. Rush has been an ELL teacher in Fairfax County, Virginia. Prior to that, she worked as an advocate for the DC Coalition against Domestic Violence. Ms. Rush is a co-founder of Girls Rock! DC, a rock music camp for girls. She enjoys playing music and has written music for theater. Ms. Rush holds a B.A. from Kent State University and a Masters in Education from Marymount University.

Lindy Russell-Heymann, Art Teacher, taught art and fifth grade in the D.C. Public Charter Schools and Prince George's County Public Schools before coming to E.L. Haynes. Prior to that, she worked as a costume designer and wardrobe manager for various theater companies in the DC area. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Costume Design from the Theatre School at DePaul University.

Melissa J. Saint Amour, Dance Teacher, joined the E.L. Haynes staff in July 2008.  She is a professional choreographer and has more than 10 years of K-12 and college teaching experience.  Mrs. Saint Amour has been on the faculty at Montgomery College, East Carolina University, George Mason University, Fillmore Arts Center, ALTA, and East Forsyth High School (NC).  She is Co-Artistic Director/Founder of Arts United of Washington, a performing arts company that was featured in Dancer Magazine, and for which The Washington Post has called her work "evocative choreography." A native of Syracuse, NY, Mrs. Saint Amour holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from SUNY Fredonia and a Master of Fine Arts degree in Dance from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. 

Robert Sapp, 4th Grade Teaching Associate, joined the E.L. Haynes staff in 2006. Mr. Sapp has worked at E.L. Haynes for two years. He joined the school working in the Extended Day program, then as a teaching fellow. Prior to E.L. Haynes, he worked in the non-profit assisting on grant work, and working with at risk youth. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Temple University.

Heidi Sohng, Pre-Kindergarten Teacher, comes from NYC, where she has been teaching early childhood and elementary grades in private and public schools. She has a B.A. in Theatre Arts from Cornell University, and a M.A. in Education from NYU.

Tanisha Spears , Kindergarten Teacher, has a B.A. in Communication from Ohio State University. Before joining Haynes' staff as a Teaching Fellow in 2004, she was an executive at Enterprise Rent-a-Car.

Teri Johnson Stokes, Social Worker, is a native New Yorker with many years experience working as a Social Worker in the Washington DC area. She has focused in the area of grief and loss and play therapy with traumatized children. Prior to joining the EL Haynes team, Mrs. Johnson Stokes was an administrator for the Department of Mental Health School Base Program. She has an undergraduate degree in English and Theatre and obtained her Masters in Social Work degree at State University of New York at Albany.

TaMikka Sykes, 1st Grade Teacher, has a B.A. in Human Communication Studies from Howard University. She has 7 years of experience as a classroom teacher and most recently was the Library Media Specialist at Friendship Edison Public Charter School.

Waahida Tolbert-Mbatha, 6th Grade Humanities Teacher, joined the E.L. Haynes staff in 2008.  A native of Louisville, she began her teaching career in Kentucky where she taught English and Social Studies to 7th grade students.  Ms. Mbatha has lived in DC for the past 3 years and taught most recently at Meridian Public Charter School, where she taught 7th and 8th grade Language Arts.  Ms. Mbatha holds a B.A. in Middle Grades Education from Berea College and a Masters in Urban Education from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Michele Trombley, First Grade Teaching Associate, holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Dayton, and a Master of Arts in History from the University of Cincinnati.  A native of Cincinnati, she moved to DC and joined E.L. Haynes in January 2008 working in the Extended Day Program. 

Tammy Tuck, Process Improvement and Documentation Coordinator, has a B.S. in Education and Social Policy from Northwestern and a Master of Arts in Teaching from American University. Prior to teaching at E.L. Haynes, she taught at Ruth K. Webb Elementary School for 3 years where she also served as a Teach for America corps member. She is an E.L. Haynes founding teacher. Ms. Tuck is certified in elementary education.

Alyssa Van Duyn , Inclusion Teacher, joined the E.L. Haynes staff in 2007. Before coming to E.L. Haynes, Ms. Van Duyn taught junior high school in DC Public Schools for three years. She is a Teach for America alumni and holds a masters degree in teaching from Trinity University. Alyssa completed her undergraduate studies at Wake Forest University where she studied psychology.

Melissa Vivas, Office Manager, is a native of Washington, DC. She joined Haynes' front office team in January of 2006 and has a son who attends E.L. Haynes.

Brittany Wagner-Friel, Inclusion Teacher, joined the E.L. Haynes staff in February 2007and began working with the Student Support Services team. Before joining Haynes, she lived in Mexico where she had moved upon graduating from college. In Mexico, she taught English and worked with students with hearing impairments. Throughout college and high school she also worked with children with severe cerebral palsy. She has a degree in political science from The University of Vermont.

Eric Westendorf, Principal (Grades 4-8), is a New Leaders for New Schools graduate. Prior to becoming an administrator, Eric taught for seven years in North Carolina, New York, and Yogyakarta, Indonesia; and founded a non-profit focused on developing teacher leadership. He holds a Bachelors of Arts in Public Policy from Princeton University, a Masters in Teaching from Brown University, and a Masters in Business Administration from Stanford University.

Jayson Wilkinson, Year Round Programs Site Manager, joined the E.L. Haynes staff in July 2008. He has four years of experience working with the Columbus City School District, encompassing after school and summer programs, internships, and youth services. Prior to joining the E.L. Haynes family, Mr. Wilkinson worked as a Reading Specialist with Knowledge Learning Corporation. He has also worked with Campfire USA as Site Director for their Columbus location. Mr. Wilkinson was born and raised in Silver Spring, MD and holds a B.A. in History and African-American Studies from The Ohio State University.

Tuere Williams, Pre-Kindergarten Teaching Assistant, is finishing a B.A. in Early Childhood Education from Georgetown University and Southeastern University. She has 3 years of experience working in childcare. She is a founding Teaching Fellow.

Nekia Wright, 6th Grade Inclusion Teacher, joined the E.L. Haynes Staff in 2008. Prior to Haynes, she taught special education at St. Coletta of Greater Washington and taught environmental education with the Living Classrooms Foundation and The Chesapeake Bay Foundation. A native of Yorktown, VA, Ms. Wright holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies from Furman University and is currently pursuing her Masters in Special Education from Catholic University.

Eugene Yarbrough, Fitness and Health Teacher, joined the E.L. Haynes staff in July 2008. Born in New York City, he has more than 7 years of experience in physical fitness and health, and supporting children identified with learning disabilities in the surrounding metropolitan area of the District of Columbia. Mr. Yarbrough Co-founded the mentoring group, Boys to Men, for assisting adolescents with transitioning into young adulthood. Proir to joining the E.L. Haynes team, Mr. Yarbrough was Director of M.O.M.I.E.'s TLC (Mentors of Minorities in Education), an organization which has a focus on tapping into the genius of a child at early developmental stages. Mr. Yarbrough received his college training at Montgomery College, and Bachelor of Arts degree in Psycholgy from Catholic University of Washington, D.C.

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