Our Team

Jamila Gerald is an educational leader who excels in creating transformative educational experiences that are inclusive, creative, and progressively rigorous. Jamila embraces and values human differences in our societies and aims to create spaces for them to be reflected and celebrated in the classrooms. She strives to provide young people, with specific regard to minoritized youth,   with equal opportunities for active participation in all educational spaces that illuminate their capabilities, thus making deeper connections to themselves and our society at large.

As the director, Jamila manages a $1.7 million per year granted program to support community schools in Harlem, NYC. Within this role, she has been able to establish relationships and contracts with community-based organizations that help provide wrap-around services with partner schools within REACH. Additionally, she solicits and coordinates Teachers College and Columbia University faculty and students to carry out research, teaching, and service for REACH’s partner schools. Currently, she is in pursuit of her Ed.D in Instructional Leadership at Hunter College, with a research focus on students' exploration of finding Black joy in expanded learning opportunities.

Jamila is a tenured teacher and certified to teach 1-6 grade in New York City Public Schools. Prior to accepting the role as the director of REACH she taught in the Tri-State area for over twelve years and was the Instructional Specialist for REACH for two years. She holds an M.A. in Elementary Inclusive Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a B.A. in History from Hampton University.

When she is not running, Jamila enjoys running all over the world! She has completed three marathons in Berlin, Chicago, and New York City. She will be completing her fourth marathon in London in April 2024.

My name is Stephanie Latchman, the Community School Director at Frederick Douglass Academy II.  I attended CUNY, Queens College and graduated in 2016 with my Masters of Science in Education.  My passion is making a difference in lives and communities that need the most support. I have been working with kids for the past ten years from as young as day care age group, Elementary, Middle School, to High School students. I look forward to continuing my work as a Community School Director and being impactful to my students to encourage them to attend school and become leaders of tomorrow.

Karsen McCord is currently completing her Master’s of Science in Neuroscience and Education at Teachers College, Columbia University. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Michigan, where she received her B.S. in Public Health Sciences with a minor in Biology. Karsen has served as the board director for a nonprofit, as a research assistant in various labs, and as a program coordinator at an elementary school. In her free time, she enjoys reading, listening to music, and exploring the city with her friends. 

 After working in public health internships at the Terrence Cardinal Cooke Health Care Center in NYC and the Jane Kopas Women’s Center in Scranton, Chabeli decided to shift her career focus from clinical work to health education and coaching.  After graduating college, she worked with a Bronx-based non-profit organization as a health educator to coordinate and facilitate health workshops for parents and adolescents at health centers and public schools around topics such as asthma, nutrition, healthy relationships, and reproductive health.  Prior to joining the REACH team, Chabeli transitioned into a senior health education role, overseeing the professional development of a team of peer and health educators, and conducted outreach events to expand the impact of the youth development program. She attended the University of Scranton for her Bachelor’s degree in Community Health Education, and earned Eta Sigma Gamma Professional Health Education honors. As a Harlem native, she aims to serve at-risk youth and families from her community, and looks forward to working with passionate teams of school-based staff to provide greater opportunities for young people. 

Robert Popik is the Community School Director at P.S. 154 and supports the team primarily through the research, curriculum development, and implementation of the Success Mentoring Program for chronically absent students. He is also currently completing an MA degree in Philosophy and Education at Teachers College, Columbia University where his work focuses on culture, belonging, and the role of the student.

Before working as a research assistant, Rob was a Zankel Fellow at REACH and worked with students at Frederick Douglass Academy II by leading extended learning opportunities. Prior to his time at Teachers College, Rob received his BA in Philosophy from John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio. For three years he taught philosophy and theology and chaired the Theology and Campus Ministry departments at Cleveland Central Catholic High School. 

Rob’s primary goal is to find new, innovative ways to support the learning and growth of all students through expansive, change-oriented opportunities such as those offered within the Community School model.

Timal McKen is excited to introduce himself as the newly appointed Community School Director at C.S.154. It is an honor for him to join this school community, and he is eager to contribute to the growth and success of the school and community alike. In his role as Community School Director, he brings over 15 years of experience in Youth Development, Education, and Entertainment. His passion for fostering a positive, collaborative, and fun learning environment aligns with C.S. 154's commitment to excellence. He is dedicated to working closely with students, parents, faculty, and community partners to enhance the overall educational experience. He is enthusiastic about the opportunities ahead to build meaningful connections with each member of the school and TC Community.

Paloma Perez-Zarzecka is the Success Coordinator at P.S.36 Margaret Douglas where she leads the Success Mentoring Program for chronically absent students in grades K-5th. She promotes an engaging and collaborative school environment through leading student projects, maintaining school-wide practices, and supporting community events. A native New Yorker and graduate of the public school system, Paloma Perez-Zarzecka is devoted to supporting students in schools that closely mirror those she attended. She attributes her dedication to NYC communities to school leaders who nurtured and uplifted her throughout her academic and personal development journeys. Her commitment to fostering student success intensified when she started at IUME in 2020 and joined the RESI (Reimagining Education Summer Institute) team for three years before joining REACH in 2022. 

Marcela Garcia is the Success Coordinator at Frederick Douglass Academy II, where she leads the Success Mentoring Program for 6th through 12th graders, and supports the community school director on various projects within the school community. Marcela's journey into the field of education began during her undergraduate career where her studies of Psychology and Human Development fostered a passion for clinical work and the learning sciences. Eager to contribute to education through a social justice framework, Marcela worked as a bilingual elementary school teacher through AmeriCorps in Dallas, Texas, where she also received her Master's of Bilingual Education. Her work in the classroom focused on incorporating a student-centered approach into her instruction and class culture, while implementing trauma-informed practices to support the whole child and their family. As a New York City native, Marcela is honored to be supporting NYC schools working as
Success Coordinator where her experience and passion allow her to work with students, serve families, and foster empowering and resourceful community spaces. 

Dravid Dowansingh is the Success Coordinator at C.S. 154. He is Jamaican and grew up in New York City. He graduated from Hunter College, and is a lover of music, art, and fashion.

My name is Ally and I’m a graduate student in nutrition. I plan to be a Registered Dietitian, helping people of all ages and backgrounds improve their relationship with food. I am particularly passionate about promoting body acceptance in children and helping them to develop eating skills they will use for life! I am currently writing a health curriculum for a nonprofit organization called BeReal. I believe in providing nutrition education that is culturally relevant, practical, and sensitive to students at risk for disordered eating.

I’m a third year PhD student in the History and Education program. I have 12 years of professional experience working with students and especially love historical and cultural based programming. It gives me joy to help students develop a strong sense of purpose, identity, and belonging by showing them ways to observe how they fit into the historical and contemporary context of their community. 

My name is Madeleine Balliette and I am a graduate student in Education Policy at TC. Before starting at TC, I was a second grade teacher for 2 years in Nashville, TN. My favorite part about working with kids was seeing them grow socially, emotionally, and academically. I look forward to building relationships with more students through REACH and impacting their lives for the better.

My name is Sofia Suarez, and I am a second-year masters student in the School Psychology program. I pursued graduate studies in education in order to gain the knowledge, expertise, and skillset to be a resource for my community. I believe that every child is inherently entitled to a positive and safe environment inside and outside school, and that each student should be provided with the supports they need to learn, grow, and flourish. I also strongly believe in students' ideas, thoughts, and talents - there is so much to learn from them. I am driven by these beliefs in the various capacities in which I work with students and their families. I am motivated to learn from everyone at the REACH schools, and to further develop my skills guided by experts in the field.

Hello, my name is Thulasi Rajasekaran and I am pursuing a Master's in Nutrition and Public Health. My passion lies in the field of community nutrition, and in the future I hope to work in the space of food access and help alleviate nutritional security.

I am looking forward to connecting with and serving the youth of the community! I am eager to work with students and encourage a positive relationship with cooking and food, in a culturally responsive way. I also hope to empower them and foster their interest in holistic health and overall planetary well-being.

My name is Veronica Villa and this is my second year in the REACH program. I am entering my second year in the MS Communication Sciences and Disorders program at Teachers College, Columbia University to become a speech-language pathologist. This career combines my passions for health, science, and helping others! Growing up, I did competitive dance, which was my favorite way to stay active. Last year, I taught a dance program at PS 36 and absolutely loved sharing my passion for dance with all of my students. I am excited to continue the dance program and incorporate yoga this year! I cannot wait to see what this year will bring!

My name is Jamil Munya, and I am a 22-year-old music teacher coming from Portland, Oregon. I play piano and guitar, and I sing and produce music as well. I've always been passionate about sharing my talents through the language of music. 

My name is Michelle Liu, a 4th year PhD student in the School Psychology program at TC. I love working with kids, and helping them build up their academic confidence. I especially value the importance of early reading intervention and individualized academic support to help children succeed. In my future career, I hope to be a child psychologist who will empower youth both socio-emotionally and academically through mental health support and assessments to refer them to appropriate interventions.

Yeena is a master’s student at Teachers College, Columbia University studying school psychology. She is dedicated to fostering environments where children can thrive socially, emotionally, and academically. She is particularly committed to working with BIPOC and historically minoritized youth and addressing aggregate as well as systemic barriers to equitable mental health and educational access. She has previously served as a Kindergarten teacher in Baltimore City.