Blue Engine Teaching Assistants
The twenty-six individuals below are spending the 2011-12 academic year using their diversity of experience to make a measurable difference in the lives of young people. Having recently graduated from college, they dedicate this year of service to ensure in the years ahead that greater numbers of young people are prepared to do the same.
Emma Anselin
Hometown: Urbana, IL
Education: Sociology/Pre-Med, Brown University
Placement: Mott Hall Bronx High School, Integrated Algebra
Emma grew up in central Illinois, where she developed a Midwestern optimism and enthusiasm that she brings to all of her pursuits and relationships. During her time at Brown University, she explored her passion for social justice by studying sociology and researching structures of inequality. For three years, she was a volunteer and then coordinator for Health Leads, a nonprofit that connects low-income hospital patients to socioeconomic resources. She helped families find a support network in the Providence community and access services ranging from child care to job training. She was amazed at their stories of combating entrenched disparities to achieve their goals. Emma continued to serve as a case worker in Evanston, Illinois in a summer fellowship at LIFT. After witnessing the importance of education to families’ success, she decided to get involved in local high schools. She taught a series of action-oriented civics classes in Providence, and was incredibly inspired by the commitment and enthusiasm of her students. Emma is excited to continue empowering students as a Blue Engine Fellow, and to be part of a new community of passionate educators. Emma joined Blue Engine in the summer of 2011.
Juliana Bailey
Hometown: White Plains, NY
Education: BA History, University of Michigan
Placement: Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School, ELA
Born and raised in White Plains, New York, Juliana Bailey grew up in a diverse community that helped foster her appreciation of difference. Her first taste of teaching began in high school when she taught figure skating lessons to group classes and individuals at her local ice rink. While attending the University of Michigan, in addition to serving as the secretary of the University of Michigan Synchronized Skating team, Juliana facilitated theater and creative writing workshops for autistic youth and incarcerated high school girls in Detroit, Michigan through the Prison Creative Arts Project. These workshops caused her to learn that in order for children to succeed, they need to know that someone believes in their capacity to succeed. After her junior year, Juliana spent a month studying people and culture in Gujarat, India. This experience opened her eyes to the kind of poverty that exists outside of the United States, reinforcing her knowledge of today’s global inequality. Her history major and minor in peace and social justice further deepened her belief in the importance of education in helping to improve opportunities for all individuals. Juliana looks forward to the opportunity to be a Blue Engine Fellow because she hopes she can inspire children to believe in themselves and n their ability to achieve their dreams. Juliana joined Blue Engine in the summer of 2011.
Tim Canty
Hometown: Oak Island, NC
Education: BS Physics/Applied Math, North Carolina State University
Placement:Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School, Geometry
As the son of two parents with careers in education, Tim has long understood the challenges faced by our educational establishment. After growing up in Oak Island, North Carolina, Tim attended the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics for the latter half of high school. Inspired by his experiences in high school and his passion for the sciences, Tim attended North Carolina State University for a double major in Physics and Applied Mathematics. Realizing the importance of community in education, Tim served as the president of the Society of Physics Students for two years. During his summers in college, Tim worked as a teaching assistant for the Duke University Talent Identification Program, an academic summer camp for gifted students. This experience instilled a deep passion for teaching that he will carry through to Blue Engine. Driven by his summer experiences and immersion into social justice issues from several sociology courses, Tim decided to pursue a career to ensure the equality of educational opportunity. His participation in Blue Engine gives him a chance to apply the educational techniques he has learned and share his enthusiasm for mathematics while exploring possibilities for future career paths. Tim joined Blue Engine in the summer of 2011.
Elizabeth Daugherty
Hometown: Norfolk, VA
Education: BA Public Policy/Sociology, The College of William and Mary
Placement: Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School, Integrated Algebra and Geometry
During college, Elizabeth developed an interest in education and social equality issues through experiences inside and outside the classroom. She tutored 8th and 9th graders for four years, and also worked with Campus Kitchens where she was responsible for delivering meals and building relationships with clients. She spent two summers interning at Urban Promise Ministries in Camden, NJ, where she grew to love the city and its people. Observing the negative effects of education inequality on a personal level left her determined to learn more about the American education system. Her desire to gain a better understanding on social issues and how we can work to improve society, lead her to major in Public Policy and Sociology. Though her classes covered a range of social and political issues, the importance of every child receiving a strong education was a constant theme. She joined Blue Engine for the opportunities to learn more about education and to work with students in the classroom.
Alysa Delerme
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Education: BA Sociology, Boston College
Placement: Mott Hall Bronx High School, English Language Arts
Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Alysa has a passion for all things related to New York City, including finding a way to make a positive impact in its public education system, and is excited to be a Blue Engine Teaching Assistant this year. Through her education at Boston College, Alysa was exposed to the numerous inequalities that plague our society, especially due to differences in race, class, and gender, and has certainly taken on her alma mater’s motto of “men and women for others.” Through community service with her step team at Boston College, Females Incorporating Sisterhood Through Step, Alysa was able to work directly with urban youth. Her experiences mentoring high school students starting their own step team, as well as at an after-school program for grades 1-6, re-affirmed her desire to seek a career working with youth. This involvement, combined with her educational background in Sociology, has fueled Alysa’s decision to pursue a career in teaching, and she is especially grateful to have her first experiences in the classroom through Blue Engine, and is excited to be able to make a difference in the city she loves so much. Alysa joined Blue Engine in the summer of 2011.
Frances deSaussure
Hometown: Charleston, SC
Education: BA Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University
Placement: Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School, Integrated Algebra and Geometry
Since Frances first volunteered as a second grade teacher’s assistant during her senior year of high school, her interest in education and youth development has only deepened. Throughout her college years, Frances combined her passion for working with students with her love for basketball by serving as a volunteer coach for several middle school girls’ and boys’ basketball teams. College summers in Kenya and London studying issues of international development increased Frances’ appreciation for the individual empowerment made possible by a first-class education. Bringing her interest in development back home, Frances spent the summer before her senior year working for the Maverick Capital Foundation, an organization dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty in New York, primarily through education and youth development programs. Frances’ educational and life experiences have instilled in her a passion for helping young people and a strong belief in the power of teachers, tutors, mentors, and coaches. Her participation in Blue Engine reflects her deep interest in educational equity and desire to give to her students what all of her teachers have given her. Frances joined Blue Engine as a BETA in the summer of 2010. She is currently training for her second New York City Marathon as part of the Blue Engine team.
Alexandra DiAddezio
Hometown: Yorba Linda, CA
Education: BA English/Sociology, Williams College
Placement: Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School, Geometry
Born and raised in Southern California, Alexandra became seriously interested in education as a career after embarking on the college application process, which illustrated the potential power of a quality education as well as its rarity. Throughout her years at Williams College, she gained a variety of experiences in both teaching and college counseling. Interning at the Berkshire Farm School in upstate New York, a boarding school for male students with behavioral and learning disorders, she was often asked why she was there, and when they heard that it was because she had chosen to be, they were hardly able to believe it. She could see the question on their face: why would anyone want to come to Berkshire? She learned a great deal at Berkshire Farm, but perhaps most important of all, was the power of authenticity and simply caring. This lesson has only been reinforced outside of classrooms in her interactions with the diverse community of people at Williams and in her time spent studying and living in South Africa. She chose Blue Engine for the opportunity to closely engage with students and to develop and learn in a collaborative and innovative environment. Alexandra joined Blue Engine in the summer of 2011.
Eric Dufault
Hometown: Pepperell, MA
Education: Playwriting, Sarah Lawrence College
Placement: Mott Hall Bronx High School, ELA
Born and raised in rural northern Massachusetts, Eric experienced a traditional education until attending Francis W. Parker Charter High School, an alternative charter school in Devens, Massachusetts. While there, he worked as a supervisor at the nearby “Horizons” center for disadvantaged youth. Following graduation, Eric attended Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, New York, working as an assistant teacher to kindergarten students at SLC’s Early Childhood Center, and later as an algebra tutor to adolescent mothers at “A Different Start” in Yonkers, New York. In addition to teaching, Eric has studied art and writing in both Ireland and Italy. Majoring in playwriting, Eric has written and produced numerous plays, and acted as head writer of his college’s sketch comedy troupe. Eric joined Blue Engine as a BETA in the summer of 2010.
Josh Espinoza
Hometown: McAllen, TX
Education: BA Psychology, University of Notre Dame
Placement: Urban Assembly School for Green Careers, Integrated Algebra
Josh hails from a family of educators, so the opportunity to foster motivation for learning as well as assist students in their educational pursuits has always been an important part of his life. He started working with students as a teaching assistant in his sophomore year of high school, volunteering with a local church program, and has continued to participate in volunteer programs in the educational setting. These experiences, coupled with the psychology program at Notre Dame, allowed him to explore both traditional and special educational structures in a manner that sparked a desire in education reform. This desire holds its roots from living in an area that has repeatedly been one of the worst in the nation for quality of education: Josh wants to communicate to students in similar conditions that a successful education is possible for anyone with the right motivation and support. Josh joined Blue Engine in the summer of 2011.
Alison Fedyna
Hometown: Salem, OH
Education: BA Psychology and BS Biology, University of Toledo
Placement: Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School, Integrated Algebra
The daughter of a teacher and dedicated community volunteer, Alison developed a passion for helping others from a young age. Throughout her college career, she pursued this commitment to service by teaching a remedial course for college chemistry students and tutoring autistic children at a local elementary school. Hailing originally from a rural area in the Midwest, Alison knew from experience how difficult the switch to big college life could be; an awareness that led to a peer mentoring role designed to help incoming students transition successfully to the world of higher education. Alison’s desire to experience new cultures led her to study abroad in Manchester, England for nine months, where she developed an appreciation for other models of educational practice as well as a passion for traveling. Her internship with the Lucas County Workforce Development Agency the following summer inspired her interests in social policy and confirmed her commitment to a service-oriented career. Alison’s work with Blue Engine stems from her belief that a strong education is an essential first step in achieving one’s aspirations and goals. Alison joined Blue Engine as a BETA in the summer of 2010.
Emily Figueroa
Hometown: New York, NY
Education: BA Sociology/Spanish, Amherst College
Placement: Urban Assembly School for Green Careers, ELA
Growing up in New York City, Emily has always been aware of the educational inequity that plagues the New York City public school system. Although she enrolled in a specialized high school in 7th grade, she always had in mind a career in which she could go back and improve a system that she really believed could be made to serve all of its students well. During her undergraduate years at Amherst College, she double majored in Sociology and Spanish, both of which greatly reaffirmed her desire to pursue a career in education reform. Her tutoring experiences (which include working with Girls Inc. of Holyoke, Massachusetts as well as tutoring at Holyoke High School) have tested and tempered her ability to work with high-need, English-language-learning students, and Emily is excited to continue her work in that vein with Blue Engine. Emily joined Blue Engine in the summer of 2011.
Aaron Frumkin
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Education: BA Creative Writing (Physics and Spanish), Northwestern University
Placement: Urban Assembly School for Green Careers, Integrated Algebra
During his time at Northwestern University Aaron was able to cultivate his very diverse interests in both creative writing and the hard sciences. He graduated with honors from the Creative Writing Program, with minors in Spanish as well as Physics. He is passionate about music, having played in several bands during his Northwestern career, and loves reading, writing, and learning. Aaron is always eager to apply his creativity to a wide range of fields, and very much enjoyed his experience working as the project writer for the Northwestern University Physics Department. From his work as a National Coaching Fellow in a low-income area of the Chicago Public School system, he has become very interested in education and social issues. He is excited to continue his work in education as a Blue Engine Fellow and to pursue these interests further. Aaron joined Blue Engine in the summer of 2011.
Lauren Gleason
Hometown: Annapolis, MD
Education: BA Law, Jurisprudence and Social Thought, Amherst College
Placement: Urban Assembly School for Green Careers, Integrated Algebra
Lauren first became interested in educational equality after experiencing the achievement gap within her own high school. Raised in Maryland, she first became involved in teaching through her love of the Chesapeake Bay. After working with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation on a piece of national education policy promoting environmental education, Lauren was inspired to start an education program which combined science, technology, and environmental education in local schools in the Amherst Community. During her time at Amherst, she also served as a tour guide, played varsity lacrosse, and immersed herself in the Spanish language during her semester abroad in Madrid, Spain. As a “people person”, Lauren hopes to pursue a service-oriented career where she can work directly with people on a daily basis. This desire was reaffirmed by her recent summer internship at the Legal Aid Society in New York City. She chose Blue Engine because it allowed her to combine her interest in educational equality, her love of teaching, and her desire to work directly with people. Lauren joined Blue Engine in the summer of 2011.
Willy Golden
Hometown: New York, NY
Education: BA Philosophy, Hobart College
Placement: Urban Assembly School for Green Careers, ELA
Born and raised in New York City, and himself having gone through the public school system, Willy is excited to be a part of the Blue Engine team. He attended Hobart College in upstate New York and was a philosophy major with a public policy minor. The former gave him the skills to identify issues and actuate change, while the latter introduced him to a wide set of global and local matters that concerned and interested him. After graduating, Willy spent one year abroad in France as a teaching assistant in a public high school just outside of Paris. Instantly he became attached to the students and their educational pursuits. Although he had been a student tutor in college and had given private lessons, none of his prior experiences had gripped him so tightly.Willy is excited to continue being a part of an educational team in his hometown. After his fellowship at Blue Engine, he plans on becoming either an English literature teacher, or a social studies teacher in a New York City high school. Willy joined Blue Engine in the summer of 2011.
Kate Holding
Hometown: Lafayette, CA
Education: BA Political Science/Sociology/History, University of California, San Diego
Placement: Mott Hall Bronx High School, ELA
After growing up on a combined ranch/non-profit, and being constantly surrounded by kids blossoming in their self-confidence based on a task as simple as holding a chicken, Kate knew that she was destined to impact the lives of others. From the age of twelve onward, she volunteered for service-organizations such as the Special Olympics, and participated as a counselor at summer camps for low-income and developmentally delayed children. While continuing her work with children in both educational and non-educational settings, Kate realized her true passion for working with underprivileged students when she traveled as a summer volunteer to Costa Rica and taught English to children living in the slums. Kate thereafter geared her studies in Sociology at UCSD towards inequality in education, and how the educational system can be changed to more effectively impact the lives of a greater range and number of students. Participating in Blue Engine provides an avenue for Kate to explore the reality of her studies, as well as continue to positively impact the lives of students towards academic and personal growth. Kate joined Blue Engine in the summer of 2011.
Juan Hollomon
Hometown: Nicholasville, KY
Education: BA Political Science, University of Louisville
Placement: Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School, ELA
Juan is a strong proponent of education and service, and knows first-hand of their life-changing powers. The first in his family to graduate college, he was considered a “statistic” by many of his early educators. A former class president and scholar, he has worked tirelessly to debunk ill-conceived stereotypes and to help students achieve their full potential. Juan believes one of the best ways to impact a student’s success is to connect with that student early in their academic career. As such, he has worked as a student orientation leader, a resident assistant, a peer advisor, and a teaching assistant. Juan sees himself as a servant-leader – one who is servant first; one who ensures the needs of others are being met, that those being served are growing, becoming wiser, freer, and more autonomous. He served his college as a Student Government Association Senator, his fraternity as Pledge Class President, and his community by participating in numerous Habitat for Humanity build projects and programs that provide food and shelter to those less fortunate. His participation in Blue Engine is rooted in a genuine commitment to service. Juan joined Blue Engine as a BETA in the summer of 2010.
Daniel Horowitz
Hometown: Congleton, Cheshire, England
Education: BS Mathematics, The University of Leeds
Placement: Mott Hall Bronx High School, Integrated Algebra
Daniel chose to apply to Blue Engine as he felt an immediate connection between their mission and what he was aspiring to accomplish with his future. Prior to working with Blue Engine, he spent five months volunteering at an adult learning centre where his primary responsibility was to tutor adults of all ages in mathematics. Many of the people he helped were those who did not receive the support they needed in school and have had to return to education later in life. This experience, coupled with co-leading a community project to help people in long-term unemployment find work, has shown him that without the foundation of a good education, it can be a huge struggle to find your place in the world. His education allows him the opportunity to help make a difference for small groups of students in New York City. Dan joined Blue Engine in the summer of 2011.
Kevin Jeng
Hometown: Potsdam, NY/Fremont, CA
Education: BS Electrical Engineering, Princeton University
Placement: Mott Hall Bronx High School, Integrated Algebra
Kevin strongly believes in the benefit of using his talents and skills to influence positive change in society, whether by studying to create more sustainable and efficient electronic devices or spending time in the social arena serving underprivileged youth. In the end, he believes it all leads to a community that is better served. While at Princeton, Kevin served as a peer educator for the LGBT peer education program, a program helping to “sensitize the larger University community to issues of homophobia, heterosexism, and stereotyping of LGBT people.” Under this program, he helped to spearhead conversation about issues concerning the LGBT community, engaging students in understanding differences among people and accepting diversity to positively affect a community at large. In 2010, Kevin joined the Blue Engine team with the inaugural class of BETAs and worked in an Integrated Algebra classroom at WHEELS. During this year of service, he realized how important working in education really is, not only to affect change in the future of his students but also to affect change in the future of his society. Kevin is thrilled to continue the positive work that Blue Engine started in its first year.
Sean Kickham
Hometown: Chesterfield, MO
Education: BS Mathematics/Pre-Med, University of Notre Dame
Placement: Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School, Integrated Algebra
From his days growing up in Chesterfield, Missouri, Sean has always been passionate about education and service. His Jesuit education at St. Louis University High school taught him to be a “Man for Others” and the importance of service for one’s own personal development. During his four years at Notre Dame, he learned of the importance of education in providing an opening to a more fulfilling and successful life and began to believe that everyone has a right to a quality education, no matter their social or economic standing. A math with life sciences major, Sean’s curiosity has been piqued by the beauty in the natural world around him. As an anthropology minor, he has been exposed to viewpoints of people across the world. Sean has been involved in many educational activities in the past four years. He has taught in the local homeless shelter about violence and conflict resolution, he has mentored and tutored children with autism, and he taught gym class at a local grade school. Sean even had the chance to teach English to high school students in Phayao, Thailand. Sean hopes Blue Engine will give him insight into America’s educational system and help guide his future. Sean joined Blue Engine in the summer of 2011.
Danielle Krumholz
Hometown: Florham Park, NJ
Education: BA Political Science and Spanish, University of Michigan
Placement: Urban Assembly School for Green Careers, ELA
Danielle comes to Blue Engine with a passion for social justice that was shaped over the course of her four years at the University of Michigan. While in school, Danielle became actively involved with a mentorship program at a local middle school. Seeing the challenges her students faced, she became deeply committed to working in the field of education. Danielle’s experiences with the University’s Program on Intergroup Relations (IGR) and summers working abroad deepened her understanding of the power that individuals across the globe can have on each other. Her application to Blue Engine was inspired by the belief that a strong education is integral for personal development and lays the foundation for social change. Danielle joined as a BETA in the summer of 2010.
Keith Lau
Hometown: Moraga, CA
Education: BS Sports Management, New York University
Placement: Urban Assembly School for Green Careers, Integrated Algebra
A Californian at heart with a New Yorker state of mind, Keith desires to affect change for students in the city he has grown to love. His passion for education developed through years of serving the city’s youth while studying at New York University. At MS 54, he helped teach English to a classroom of international middle school students; and at PS 40, he supported students, faculty, staff and parents in a variety of roles for over three years. Keith joined Blue Engine in its inaugural year with plans of eventually building his career as a classroom teacher. He is continually guided by his belief that, every day, he should put students first. Through education, Keith hopes to help his students realize and achieve their greatest potential.
Joyden McKiver
Hometown: Lumberton, NC
Education: BA Political Science, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Placement: Mott Hall Bronx High School, Integrated Algebra
Joyden is self-motivated, passionate about education, and a team player. Since entering college, she has been a part of the BEST (Building Educational Strengths and Talents) Learning Community. Through BEST, she has served as a teacher assistant and a mentor to incoming freshman. The community has provided her with a myriad of knowledge that can only enhance her future endeavors. Joyden also volunteered, and tutored at a local elementary school in Charlotte and understands first-hand the challenges facing today’s students. Under the auspices of North Carolina Activating Citizenship Through Service, she has developed a genuine passion for education and service. She has spent many hours researching educational policies and is especially interested in Finland and South Korea. She is a true believer in the words of Arne Duncan, “Education is the civil rights issue of our time,” and plans to translate those words into action through Blue Engine. She sees Blue Engine as a catalyst for procuring life skills as well as a vital tool for academic growth, while giving others a chance to fulfill their dreams. Joyden joined Blue Engine in the summer of 2011.
Sheyna Mikeal
Hometown: Baltimore, MD
Education: BA in Psychology and Sociology; MS in School Counseling, The Johns Hopkins University
Placement: Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School, Integrated Algebra and Geometry
Proudly born and raised in Baltimore City, Sheyna is a product of the public school system. She graduated from Dunbar High School and went on to The Johns Hopkins University to study Computer Science. While taking a sociology class on education, she was exposed to the intentional inequities of public school systems which infuriated her. Sheyna dropped Computer Science and began to focus all of her energy on learning about the education system and its policies. At Hopkins, Sheyna was President of the Multicultural Student Volunteers where she took the group’s efforts into the surrounding public schools. She coordinated and participated in college panels for underclassmen and helped seniors navigate through the college application and financial aid process. As an intern in the Admissions Office at Hopkins, she learned what a top tier school is looking for in a student. Lastly, Sheyna was President of the Mu Psi Citywide Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and her chapter tutored and mentored 8th grade males. Sheyna continued her education at the JHU School of Education studying school counseling where she gained a plethora of knowledge and experience working with students. Her experiences reinforced and solidified her dream of being on the front line of education reform. This dream will commence with Blue Engine! Sheyna joined Blue Engine in the summer of 2011.
Courtney Ng
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Education: BA Anthropology (concentrating in Archaeology), Rice University
Placement: Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School, ELA
During her four years at Rice University, Courtney dedicated her time to two fields – Anthropology and Education. She had always been interested in education, having attended a diverse array of schools within the New York City public school system, from an under-performing middle school to the prestigious Stuyvesant High School. She always wondered what made some students succeed and others fail, and vowed that she would not only learn the answer to this question, but would work throughout her lifetime to address it. She became interested in Anthropology in college and dedicated herself to the study of African Diaspora archaeology. She was drawn to this field of archaeology because it seemed to contain many stories of people struggling to succeed and beat the odds. She wanted to tell those stories in the hopes that they would speak to those struggling to beat the odds today. Courtney developed her interest in education throughout college by founding a student organization called The Mentorship Project. This organization targets high-performing high school students who are attempting to apply to college. It seeks to provide them with the knowledge, mentors, and resources they need to make a smooth transition to college. While Courtney has greatly enjoyed leading The Mentorship Project, she gained a deeper understanding of the factors that prevent students from excelling in college through her mentoring experiences. She hopes that Blue Engine will offer her the chance to pay forward the gift of education that she has received thus far, and allow her to make good on her promise that any child who desires to go to college can do so. Courtney joined Blue Engine in the summer of 2011.
Kevin O’Neil
Hometown: St. Louis, MO
Education: BA Secondary Education and Math, Boston College; MEd Educational Research, Boston College
Placement: Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School, Geometry
From serving his community and pursuing the Eagle Scout award in Boy Scouts to working as a Teaching Assistant during middle and high school for underprivileged students through the Aim High program in St. Louis, Kevin has always sought out ways to apply his talents to work with and help others. In 2005 Kevin enrolled at Boston College where he served as Vice President of the University Chorale and director of a fundraising initiative to benefit students at the Campus School. After pursuing degrees in secondary education and mathematics, he continued his education by completing a master’s degree in educational research. That experience provided him the skills and critical eye necessary to analyze both quantitative and qualitative data in a way that helps increase academic achievement for schools, teachers, and students alike. For Kevin, Blue Engine represents a rare opportunity to work closely with small groups of students and to join a team dedicated to such an important educational purpose—academic acceleration for all. In 2010-2011, Kevin worked as a BETA supporting Integrated Algebra at WHEELS.
Lusdymer Pichardo
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Education: BA African American Studies, Yale University
Placement: Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School, Integrated Algebra
Although Lusdymer started her college career on a pre-med track, she soon discovered a passion for education and helping others. During her time at Yale she has been dedicated to various mentoring and tutoring programs both through Yale and New Haven organizations. She especially enjoyed working with Las Amigas. Las Amigas is a Yale undergraduate organization that connects Yale Latinas with college bound and at-risk Latinas at Wilbur Cross high school. Within Las Amigas, Lusdymer and her mentees participated in tough discussions about abortion and abuse, discussed plans for college and careers and enjoyed college visits and amusement park trips. A Brooklyn native of Dominican descent, Lusdymer went through New York City public school system and knows firsthand the significance of a good education and adequate resources in the classroom. She also recognizes the importance of role models and individual attention in the classroom. Graduating from college, she seeks to continue her involvement in giving back to her community. She joined Blue Engine in order to provide students with the opportunity to a better public school education and work towards long lasting change in the school system. Lusdymer joined Blue Engine in the summer of 2011. Currently, she is working as a BETA in an Integrated Algebra classroom at WHEELS.
