Instructional Assistants

Hannah DeBear (she/her/hers) is a Leadership Coach with the School Support Team at the Special Education Leader Fellowship (SELF). Hannah has worked in education in New Orleans since 2015 as a middle school special education resource and inclusion teacher, high school reading interventionist, special education department chair, and director of reading intervention. Hannah most recently served as the Director of Academic Intervention, building out academic interventions for students in grades 9-12 and developing academic interventionists in tier 3 and 2 settings. Hannah received her undergraduate degree in Elementary and Special Education from Indiana University and a Master’s in Educational Leadership from George Washington University. Hannah specializes in partnering with leadership teams across New Orleans schools to build MTSS systems that lead to equitable student outcomes. She resides in New Orleans with her dog, Gus.

My name is Krystle, and I'm from Cleveland, Ohio. I taught for seven years at the same high school I attended as a child. As a lifelong learner, I always ask many questions, even when the conversations are tough. I seek to understand rather than respond when engaging in dialogue. My B.A. is in Humanities from Ursuline College, and I have a Master of Science in Education from Johns Hopkins University. I completed my SPA in NOLA just last summer! My long-term goals are to inspire youth and help them to be an advocate for themselves. I want to empower students to help their communities and families by challenging our society's systemic issues.

Ross Anderson is an educator and graduate student working for educational equity, justice, and community uplift. He discovered his passion for education and potential to effect change as an undergraduate at Georgetown University. While majoring in theology and philosophy, he also worked for an after-school program to empower DC’s adjudicated youth. Ross joined Teach for America as a corps member upon graduating from college and served as a math, special education, and social studies teacher in New Orleans, LA. Ross has since served on a local charter school board, led as a school administrator, and earned his MA in Organizational Leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University. He currently serves as the VP of Fellow and Alumni Impact at EP – working out of his adopted home of New Orleans.

Malcolm is a middle school principal in New  Orleans. He earned his Bachelor's degree from North Carolina A&T State University and is a 2017 alumnus of the Summer  Principals Academy, where he earned his  Master’s. Malcolm began his career in education as an AmeriCorps VISTA with the  Black Child Development Program, working in alternative schools in Greensboro, NC. He went on to join Teach For America, working in the Mississippi Delta for two years as a  high school English teacher, before spending his final four years in the classroom as an English and social studies teacher at KIPP in New Orleans. After spending two years as an assistant principal, Malcolm was named principal of a middle school in New Orleans, a capacity in which he has served for the past four years. In addition to his work in schools, Malcolm serves as a board trustee and board advisor to two Haitian-American organizations, is a  graduate of Relay’s National Principal  Academy Fellowship, and is a member of  Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Diana Pacheco is the Assistant Director of Elementary at The Village School in Houston, Texas. She began her career working in public and private institutions in Massachusetts with students with moderate to severe special needs. Diana has lived overseas for 12 years, teaching diverse learners from early childhood to lower elementary in the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Taiwan. She has entered her 18th year in education this year, but it is her first in administration. 

Originally from New York City, Diana attended the University of Buffalo. She earned a B.A. in Cultural Anthropology with a concentration in the implication of culture on education and a Masters in Education through Simmons College with licensure in Special Education. In 2021, she earned a Master of Education in Public School Leadership from Columbia University Teachers College. Diana is pursuing her doctorate in Innovation and Educational Leadership at Arizona State University. 

Throughout her career, Diana has been an elementary and secondary teacher, Math Department Coordinator, ELA Liaison, and a cohort team leader who has led colleagues through multiple school accreditation processes, collaborated in the development of school improvement plans, and designed and implemented professional development. Building capacity in teachers and team building is a high priority for her as it leads to providing high-quality education for students. Much of what she does is filtered through creating spaces that aim for cultivating a sense of belonging and equity for each set of stakeholders she is tasked with leading. 

In her free time, Diana loves to read, try new recipes, stay connected to those who restore her spirit, and explore new places.

David Bellard joined Chalmette High School in 2011 and teaches English III (DE – Major American Writers) and AP English Language and Composition (DE – English Comp 101) as an adjunct instructor with Nunez Community College.

Mr. Bellard believes in educating the whole student – intellectually, emotionally, and socially – and he does so through a highly active classroom that focuses on extremely rigorous texts to develop critical thinking and writing skills for all of his students. 

Born and raised in New Orleans, Mr. Bellard attended Louisiana State University, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. Subsequently, he earned his Master’s Degree in English from the University of New Orleans and earned his Master’s in Education from Teachers College, Columbia University as a member of SPA|NOLA 2017 Cohort

In addition to pursuing his passion for teaching, Mr. Bellard also serves as Beta Club sponsor, the Posse Scholarship Coordinator, and lead Mentor Teacher for Chalmette High School. Mr. Bellard was recognized as the St. Bernard Parish High School teacher of the year for the 2022-2023 school year.

Brittney Lewis is a native of New Orleans and a graduate of Xavier University of Louisiana. She completed her teacher preparation at the University of  Holy Cross and has worked in various educational settings, including special education, Montessori, and intervention. As a classroom curator,  she believes every student and educator should walk into the space feeling liberated to be their authentic self in all ways, always. Since completing her master's at Teacher’s College, Columbia University, through the Summer  Principal’s Academy, she has served as Student Services Coordinator for a  unique charter school in the New Orleans area.