Faculty & Staff
Kindergarten 
Carolin Burlin
Carolyn Burlin has been a teacher for over twelve years. She began her career as an educator in the Baltimore City Public Schools, where she taught second and third grades for six years at Woodhome Elementary School in Hamilton. Recently Ms. Burlin taught kindergarten at the Downtown Baltimore Child Care, a progressive daycare center with an emergent curriculum philosophy located in Mount Vernon. Ms. Burlin is a degree candidate, working on her Master's of Education for Early Childhood at Towson University. She has just completed the Maryland Model for School Readiness training required of all state public school kindergarten teachers. Carolyn enjoys being part of the City Neighbors team, and working with parents, staff and the broader community to create a vibrant place of learning for our children.
email Ms Burlin Top of page
Kindergarten Classroom Assistant
Kiley Wampler
Kiley Wampler is a parent of a CNCS child; attended Penn State University; has served as volunteer in local public schools; started a non-profit organization for at-risk youth.
email Ms. Wampler Top of page
First Grade
Monica O'Gara
Ms. O'Gara received her bachelor's degree from Brown University, and master's degrees from Bank Street College of Education in New York City and Boston University. She has worked with children and their families in a variety of settings, including schools, early intervention programs, child and family agencies, and most recently in a college child development lab school. Monica and her husband moved to Maryland from New England in 1995, and have a daughter and a son. In her spare time, she enjoys gardening. Monica is excited about working with the children and families of City Neighbors Charter School and community to create a vibrant place of learning for our children.
email Ms. O'Gara Top of page
1st Grade Classroom Assistant
Tonika Garibaldi
Tonika Garibaldi has a BA from St. Olaf College in Russian/Language Studies; has worked as a fitness/movement instructor for Living Classrooms Foundation and a teacher for the Summer Urban Academy.
email Ms. Garibaldi Top of page
Second Grade 
Alison Mercier
email Ms. Mercier Top of page
2nd Grade Classroom Assistant
Christina Frydrych
Christina Frydrych is currently enrolled as an Early Childhood Education major at Howard Community College; has served as a tutor, child care provider, and camp counselor.
email Ms. Frydrych Top of page
Third Grade 
Amanda Shorter
Ms. Shorter came to CNCS having attended Frostburg State University, and graduated magna cum laude with a B.S. in Elementary Education. During the last two years, Ms. Shorter taught 3rd and 4th graders full time at St. Francis of Assisi School on Harford Road. Currently she is attending College of Notre Dame of Maryland in order to pursue a M.A. and become certified as a Reading Specialist in the State of Maryland. Ms. Shorter lives in Edgewood, Maryland and is happily married to Chris Shorter who is a field engineer for Antek Healthware. Together they enjoy computers, hiking, baseball, books, movies, and their two cats Thumbs and Azalea.
Visit Ms Shorter's 3rd Grade Literacy Page
email Ms. Shorter Top of page
3rd Grade Classroom Assistant
Giti Jabailyi
email Ms. Jabailyi Top of page
Fourth Grade 
Tracey Bell
Ms. Tracy Bell has a Bachelor's degree in Psychology, a Master's degree in Elementary Education, three years teaching experience, and experience in Guided Reading and other aspects of CNCS teaching and learning, Ms. Bell makes a wonderful addition to the CNCS community.
email Ms. Bell .
Visit 4th Grade online Gradebook
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Fifth Grade 
Shane Bennett
Shane M. Bennett is a graduate Towson University's journalism program and is currently attending Johns Hopkins University in pursuit of a Master's degree in education. A member of Baltimore City's teaching residency, Ms. Bennett is also a native of northeast Baltimore. A product of local public schools, Ms. Bennet believes in the strength of each individual student's capacity to succeed. "Our youngsters are obviously talented and tenacious," she says, "My role as their educational partner is to both channel and challenge their vast abilities."
email Ms. Bennett Top of page
4th & 5th Grade Classroom Assistant 
Andrea Jeffers
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Middle School
6th Grade Home Room
6-7th Grade Language Arts
Aisha Watson
Aisha Watson has over 7 years experience at the middle and high school level. She is dually certified in Regular Education and Special Education and is currently working on a Masters in Counseling. She most recently taught at Booker T. Washington Middle School. In addition to here teaching and counseling background, Ms Watson is a dancer, storyteller and interpretive signer.
email Ms. Watson Top of page
7th Grade Home Room
Middle School Math 
Sajida Davis
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Middle School Math 
David FitzSimons
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8th Grade Home Room and Language Arts
6-8th Grade Social Studies 
Peter French
Mr. French came to CNCS having taught 4th through 8th grade in Baltimore City Public Schools for the past 13 years, most recently at Midtown Academy. Mr. French is the 2005 recipient of the MetLife Foundation Ambassadors in Education Award. This national award recognizes public school teachers, in the middle grades and higher, who were nominated by parents, students, and community members for making extraordinary efforts to strengthen their schools and communities. Distractions beyond teaching include reading, biking, tennis, travel, and more biking. While an uneven chess player, he has a steady hand in the kitchen. Peter French lives in Lauraville with his wife, Jevne Diaz, and his two daughters, Moira and Lucia.
email Mr. French Top of page
6-8th Grade Science
Emily Jagusch
Emily Jagusch earned a Bachelor's degree in Biology and English from St. Mary's College and a Master's Degree in Conservation Biology and Sustainable Development from University of Wisconsin. After spending years creating programs and curriculum for children at the Discovery Creek Children's Museum of Washington, Emily has been teaching Middle School Science in Baltimore City for the past two years.
email Ms. Jagusch Top of page
Middle School Classroom Assistant
Jenica Glenn
Jenica Glenn has a B.S. from Morgan State University in Finance; in Americorps, developed lessons for middle and high school girls; also worked to develop and implement programs at Port Discovery Children's Museum.
email Ms. Glenn Top of page
Ms. Brightman came to City Neighbors Charter School with over 25 years of experience working with children as an elementary teacher, elementary counselor, youth minister, and artist. Her favorite venture was opening her own teaching studio for children and teens. As the CNCS Atelerista, Ms. Brightman will work with children in the Atelier, exploring the '100 languages of children'. She will also spend time working with children and teachers to design projects in the classroom mini-atelier. "I look forward to creating wonderful things together---children, parents, teachers, community leaders-- all together at our wonderfully creative school." Ms. Brightman is a ceramicist, quilter, musician, and is accomplished in many other mediums as well. We welcome Susan and her husband, Thomas, and their dog, Cocoa, to the CNCS family.
Atelierista (art teacher)
Susan Brightman
email Ms. Brightman
Dance, K-5
Sheena Black
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Yoga, K-5
Nilijah Brown
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Theater, K-5
Marc LaVeau
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Vocal Music, K-3
to be determined
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Vocal Music, 4-8
Navasha Collins
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Instrumental Music, 6-8
Freddie Dunn
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Physical Education
To be Determined
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Special Educator
Special Educator
Roliza Aguilar
email Ms. Aguilar Top of page
Special Educator
Amy Laudon
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Special Education Assistant
Malik Wilson
email Mr Wilson Top of page
Special Education Assistant
Lakeisha Davis
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Social Worker
Emily Snellings
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Reading Specialist and Librarian
Kate Seidl
Kate Seidl has a M.S. in Early Childhood and Elementary Education from Bank Street and a B.A. in Literature and Society from Brown University. She has taught K-6 for seven years and has served as a teacher mentor and adjunct faculty member at the college level.
email Ms. Seidl Top of page
Literary Assistant & Storyteller
Zelda Williams
Zelda Williams will be working with Kate Seidl to foster reading throughout the school and to support our emerging and struggling readers.
email Ms Williams Top of page
School Nurse
Debbie Rice
email Ms. Rice Top of page
Cafeteria Manager
Deborah Douglass
IEP Team Associate
To be Determined
Day Porter
Debbie Gibson
Aftercare Director
Kendra Banks
Office Coordinator
April Crosby
April Crosby has had her hand in many different secretary/office support jobs leaving recently the Harford County Health Department where she worked for various departments including Medical Assistance, Women's Wellness and Bioterrorism. She is not one to be described as quiet and shy. Her outgoing and friendly personality helps her to relate well to anyone. April spends her off time entertaining her 5 year old daughter Lydia, reading, being involved in theatre projects, participating in church activities and spending time outdoors. She's infamous for collecting ladybug themed items.
email Ms Crosby
Principal
Mike Chalupa
Mike Chalupa has been a classroom teacher in grades 4-8. He is an experienced administrator of
policies and programs, a passionate advocate of teachers, has written and
implemented new curricula, and directed a grass-roots, parent-led
cooperative to professional independent school status while maintaining
core values of community service, global awareness, character
education and tolerance. Mike came to City Neighbors from
Massachusetts, where he completed his Master's degree at Harvard
Graduate School of Education.
email Mr Chalupa
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