Administration
Nathan Dudley (Founding Principal) grew up in the inner city of St. Louis and later Chicago and Oak Park, IL, graduating a valedictorian from Oak Park-River Forest High School in 1978. He played football and majored in History at Yale University, then received his M.A. in Latin American Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. He also taught Spanish at the
University of Texas. He has lived, worked and studied in Mexico, Nicaragua, Colombia and Brazil, including working as a news and sports producer for TV Globo of Brazil and as Vice President and Executive Producer for Pan American Sports. He left Pan Am Sports after the Atlanta Olympics in 1996 and began teaching humanities, Spanish, and confl ict resolution in the New York public schools at Manhattan Village Academy. After three years at MVA, he then taught Economics and US History for four years at Arturo Schomburg Satellite Academy, a second chance high school in the South Bronx, while completing his administrative training at Hunter College.
Nate joined the NYHS planning team in December 2002 and worked with Murray Fisher and the team to develop the original proposal for the school. He became Project Director in March 2003 and Founding Principal of NYHS in July 2003, charged with all aspects of opening the new school. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife Stephanie, and their two daughters.
Edward Biedermann (Assistant Principal)
Murray Fisher (Founder and Program Director) graduated in 1998 from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN with a degree in Biology and a double minor in Latin American Studies and Environmental Studies. He moved immediately to New York to work for Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. at Hudson Riverkeeper. Here he developed an intense love and understanding of the Hudson River, where he spent one year creating a museum about the history of the environmental movement and delivering education programs to schools throughout the Hudson Valley. He later helped launch Waterkeeper Alliance, the umbrella organization for the then thirty six Waterkeeper programs throughout the world. Murray left Waterkeeper Alliance in the fall of 2002 to found the NYHS with Richard Kahan from The Urban Assembly.
NYHS was approved in April 2003, and Murray became the school's Program Director, charged informally with bringing the Harbor to NYHS, which was located in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Specifically, Murray: managed the school's outside partners, which now number over sixty, and with these partners, raised approximately $300,000 yearly for our on-water and after school programs; created and managed many of these same after-school, weekend and summer opportunities for students, particularly on the water.
English Department
Stephanie Belascio (English Teacher) joined NYHS in 2010.
Steve Lynch (English Teacher) joined NYHS in 2010.
Marybelle Marrero-Colon (Coordinator of English as Second Language, ESL Teacher) is a native of East New York and also a former teacher at Bushwick High School before she left to work in various school systems such as Connecticut, Puerto Rico, & Rochester, NY, and finally for the Division of English Language Learners at the central offices for the New York City Department of Education. She returned to Bushwick as a Literacy Coach but decided she needed to be back in the classroom, so she joined us for first time as an ESL teacher. She has worked very closely with our English Language Learners to get them comfortable and confidant speaking, reading, and writing in English. Marybelle also works with our Special Education students in Collaborative Team Teaching settings.
Mia Sacilotto (English) joined NYHS in 2010.
Timothy Sykes (English Teacher) After graduating from the University of Maine at Farmington with a BA in English Literature, Timothy spent a year as an intern at the Leaderships Decisions Institute in Nobleboro, Maine. There he felt too close to home and moved to Brooklyn concurrent with acceptance to the New York City Teaching Fellows program. He spent three years teaching at a middle school in Bushwick before joining the staff at New York Harbor School. He currently misplaces his papers in a text rich classroom where his students deftly recover them.
Guidance Department
Phil Cohen (Guidance Counselor) joined the staff of NYHS in 2010.
Nellie Coleman (Social Worker) joined the staff of NYHS in 2010.
Emily Rotundo (College Advisor) joined the staff of NYHS in 2010.
Harbor Field Department
Abigail Groff (Harbor Arts Teacher) joined NYHS in 2008. She received her BFA from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Originally from New Hampshire, she moved to New York three years ago and earned her masters in art education at the School of Visual Arts. An oil painter, she has a strong background in many different disciplines and loves exploring new ways to create with Harbor students.
Ann Fraioli (Introduction to New York Harbor Teacher, Department Co-Chair) holds an Earth Science, Social Studies and Administrator Certificate. Before joining the Harbor School she had one year of NYC public school teaching experience at John Ericsson Junior High School in Greenpoint. She graduated from Barnard College at Columbia University where she majored in Environmental History and minored in Education in 2001. Ann was a member of the second cohort of the the Summer Principals Academy at Teachers College and graduated in 2007. She has crewed on tall ships all over the North Atlantic, with Sea Education Association and other outfits, where she gained experience sailing and doing on-water education. Additionally, Ann spent two months aboard the RV Ewing in 2002 working with a science team to study the South East Indian Ridge in the Southern Ocean.
Tizoc Gomez (Introduction to NY Harbor, Robotics, and Marine Technology Assistant Teacher) comes to the school with an amazing amount of on-the-water experience. A jack-of-all-trades, Tizoc is an invaluable member of the team, helping us with anything from making videos to sailing and building ships. He co-teaches the Marine Technology lab and the Underwater Robotics class. Tizoc also shows his school spirit by co-coaching the school's rowing, soccer, and sailing teams.
Brendan Malone (Marine Technology Teacher, Department Co-Chair, Rowing Coach) is a life time sailor and rower who attended The Sound School in New Haven Ct. and department co-chair graduated from City College in 1991. Brendan has been a house and boat carpenter, founding and running his own company, Malone Marine Carpentry for many years. He was the Youth on Water Coordinator for Floating the Apple from 1998 to 2005. He began his teaching career in 1996 at PS 811M in Manhattan where he supervised a junior high school class in the building of Rachel Carson, a 25 foot white hall gig. Brendan has two daughters in NYC public schools.
Aaron Singh (CTE Marine Tech Vessel Operations) joined NYHS in 2010.
Mathematics Department
Noah Heller (Physics Teacher) traveled from his hometown, Seattle, to Brooklyn in 2003 to work at the Harbor School. His first professional teaching experience was in a small community in Ecuador where he taught English. Prior to teaching Noah worked as a college tutor, a NASA intern at the High Altitude Observatory, a high school communications coordinator and a paperboy. He is dedicated to the belief that math literacy is a crucial gateway to unlimited post-high school opportunities. He relentlessly advocates for rigorous math education so that Harbor School students can reach their goals of becoming doctors, engineers, captains, scientists, pilots, accountants, business owners, designers or whatever else they may dream of. Noah holds a BS in Math and Physics from Evergreen State College and an MS in Secondary Math Education from Pace University. When he is not teaching he can be found in faraway countries sporting Harbor blue and eating spicy food.
Lily Kolman (Math Teacher, Programmer) a native of Chicago, Illinois, joins the New York Harbor School after graduating from Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut and moving to the Big Apple. Besides teaching, which has occupied her in various ways since 9th grade, she is pursuing her passion for dance (ballroom, Latin, and ballet) in her adopted city. Lily is a member of the New York City Teaching Fellows program.
Rick Lee (Math Teacher, Technology Coordinator, and Robotics Teacher) is a native of Colorado, where he was born and partly raised. He received his B.A. in English and Creative Writing from NYU and his M.S. in Math Education from Pace University. Prior to teaching, Rick spent 8 of his summers fishing salmon commercially in Southeast Alaska. Prior to teaching, Rick reviewed books for Associated Press while working as a welder and carpenter for various small shops in Brooklyn. He teaches Math Inquiry, a hands-on application based math and co-teaches Marine Robotics.
Pia Mohsen (Math Teacher) arrived at the New York Harbor School through the New York City Teaching Fellows program. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, where she studied Economics and Psychology. As a recent transplant to New York City, she enjoys spending her free time exploring and experiencing parts of the city she is unfamiliar with.
Marilyn Payton (Math Teacher) joined NYHS in 2006.
Physical Education
School Support
Jason Allen (Dean/SAVE Room Coordinator) joined NYHS in 2010.
Carter Craft (Consultant for Government Operations and Waterfront Activities) joined NYHS in 2010.
Pamela Edwards (School Aide) Pamela joined the staff of NYHS in 2005.
Cate Haggarty (Librarian) joined NYHS in 2010.
Sharon Jacker (Community Coordinator) came to New York Harbor School from Chicago, Illinois, where she was the Training Director of a youth leadership development non-profit. Since graduating from Smith College with degrees in Latin American Studies and Portuguese & Brazilian studies, she has worked in a variety of capacities involving language, communities and education. She has been sailing on Lake Michigan with her family since she was an infant and is excited about becoming a New Yorker and exploring new waters as Community Coordinator.
Cadian Leys (Principal’s Secretary), joined NYHS in 2009
Belia Lopez (School Aide) joined NYSH in 2004-5. She is the mother of three and her youngest son graduated from the New York Harbor School.
Sofie Malinowski (Student Opportunities) joined NYHS in 2010.
Bevelee Means (School Aide) Bev joined NYHS in 2005.
Science Department
Roy Arezzo (Introduction to New York Harbor Teacher), a native of Brooklyn, and has been teaching science in New York City since 1989 and has served as a science department leader and curriculum developer in a variety of secondary education settings. He has developed and taught courses in biology, environmental science, research and marine science. An original member of the planning team - Roy has been at New York Harbor School since its inception. He has a B.S. in biology from Marist College, on the Hudson River, and a Master's in Environmental Science Education.
Roy helped develop and co-teaches Introduction to New York Harbor, an interdisciplinary 9th grade field class that has an in-house component for lab and class work. The course takes students on and near the water around the NY/NJ estuary system to learn about local ecology, marine science, water quality, human impact and history.
Roy is currently involved in several community projects related to estuary science, small boat handling, composting, local food systems, community gardens and bicycle advocacy. He seeks out research opportunities during the summer and has volunteered as a field tech on several projects in Costa Rica, Guatemala and Alaska. He currently serves on the Advisory Board of the Columbia University Summer Research Program for Science Teachers since he participated in the program in 1996- where he spent two summers studying the molecular biology of parasitic worms in an environmental health science lab. When not in the field, on the water or on his bike, he likes to see live music or escape the city for the forest.
>> e-mail Roy at: rarezzo(at)nyharborschool.org
Melissa Dowd (Science Teacher) joined NYHS in 2009.
Sarah Gribbin (Earth Science Teacher) came to New York City from Connecticut to attend Fordham University. There she received her Bachelors degree in Chemistry, with a minor in Sociology. Sarah received her Masters in Science Education from New York University through the Teach NYC Partnership for Teacher Excellence Scholarship. There she gained teaching experience at Essex Street Academy and Beacon High School. She came to New York Harbor School in 2008 after hearing about the school during a weekend sail on the Lettie G. Howard.
Mauricio Gonzalez (Science Living Environment – assist with Aquaculture) joined NYHS in 2010.
Peter Malinowski (CTE Marine Science Aquaculture) joined NYHS in 2008
Michael Moshos (Earth Science Teacher) a “native” New Yorker by way of Greece, joined the New York Harbor School in the summer of 2008. Mike is a graduate of the State University of New York at Albany, where received a Bachelor’s of Science degree for his study in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. He also received a Master’s degree in Secondary Education of Mathematics from St. John’s University through the New York City Teaching Fellows program. He is currently certified to teach both math and science and hopes that by challenging his students he can instill in them the love he has for both subjects.
Gijon Polite (Living Environment Teacher, Department Chair) is originally from the Boston area. This is his fifth year teaching and his third year at the NYHS. Previously he worked at a school in Massachusetts, in pharmaceuticals and in outdoor education. He studied zoology and anthropology at the University of Wisconsin before doing his masters work at the University of Massachusetts. He is a huge Boston sports fan and will tell you all about it.
Social Studies Department
Sarah Caufield (Global History Teacher) joined the New York Harbor School in 2007 after working for one year at a middle/high school in East New York. Sarah came to the city as a New York City Teaching Fellow (NYCTF) and attended Long Island University where she received a MS in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. Sarah completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Vermont (UVM) where she majored in Political Science and minored in Latin American Studies. While at UVM, Sarah directed the English as a Second Language volunteer program, Students for Peace and Global Justice, and Students for Political Awareness and Responsibility Collective. Following her graduation from UVM, Sarah dedicated several years to traveling extensively throughout the United States, Mexico, and South America. In addition, Sarah volunteered in Hawaii on an organic Kona coffee farm as a Willing Workers on Organic Farms volunteer. Before relocating to Brooklyn, Sarah worked in Washington, D.C. for the National Young Leaders Conference (NYLC) as a Faculty Advisor.
Susie House (Civics Teacher and Marine Policy Teacher) joined NYHS in 2007. She had been teaching in New York City for seven years before finding safe harbor at The New York Harbor School where she currently teaches Civics and Marine Policy. Prior to working at Harbor School she taught and worked on a team to develop the internship model at the Bronx Guild High School. She gained a passion for environmental and social justice issues at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado where she earned a degree in Humanities. She completed her Masters degree in Education with a concentration in Secondary Social Studies from the City College of the City University of New York in June 2005. Susie is a surfer, an activist, and the leader of the New York Harbor School Surf and Ocean Conservation Club.
Dorothy McPhee-Djan (Global Studies Teacher, Dean) began her teaching career at Truman High School in the Bronx in 2002 after completing her Bachelors in Political Science at Hobart and William Smith Colleges; she joined the New York City Teaching Fellows program. While in school, she interned for two congressmen, and worked at the United Nations in Geneva Switzerland. She joined the Harbor school because she loves sailing and water sports. In addition to teaching History at the Harbor School, she is also the COSA, and works with the student government. Mrs. McPhee-Djan completed her Masters in May of 2004 at Fordham University.
Alex Jones joined NYHS in 2010.
Jeremy Lynch (U.S. History Teacher) joined NYHS in 2007. He is from a small town in Southern Oregon. He grew up fishing, tubing, and kayaking on the Rogue River. He made his way to New York after a short stint in Boston, and ten years in Boulder, Colorado. There he received his Bachelor’s Degree in History and his Secondary Teaching License in Social Studies from The University of Colorado at Boulder (go Buffs!) Jeremy found a home at the New York Harbor School because of his love for the rivers and waterways of New York and his passion for history. Outside of school Jeremy and his wife Nicole enjoy hiking, fishing, and traveling the Eastern Seaboard whenever possible. Jeremy also enjoys skateboarding, snowboarding, and cooking for anybody willing to eat.
Megan Purvis Spector (Global Studies Teacher, Department Chair) A native New Yorker, Meg found her way to the Harbor School after a varied educational career. Meg attended Wesleyan University, where she majored in Sociology and studied Portuguese in Brazil. Meg merged her love for education and travel by leading student groups abroad with the Experiment in International Living. Once settled back in New York, Megan resumed her education at Long Island University while completing the Teaching Fellows Program and teaching at a Bushwick middle school before assuming her role at the Harbor School in 2007. When she's not teaching, Meg enjoys peaceful nights with her husband and two cats.
Spanish Department
Awilda Madera (Spanish Teacher, Special Education Teacher) has a passion for teaching. Awilda is originally from Puerto Rico but grew up in Brooklyn, having lived in East New York, Bed-Stuy and Bushwick. After graduating from Bushwick High School, Awilda attended Manhattan Community College where she earned an Associate's Degree in Bilingual Secretarial Science. Next, she earned her Bachelor's Degree at Upper Iowa University with a major in Special Education and a minor in Business Education. Awilda went on to earn two master's degrees at Long Island University in Bilingual Special Education and English as a Second Language with a Spanish extension. Awilda is a veteran teacher with more than 20 years experience teaching in the Bushwick community. She currently serves as the Foreign Language teacher and Collaborative Team Teacher in Global Studies. Awilda enjoys teaching because being around young people gives her stamina and energy, and at the same time she gives them the time and attention they need to succeed.
Special Education
Liv Dillon (Social Studies & English Teacher) joined NYHS in 2007. She is an east coast native, with family roots in Brooklyn and the Bronx. She has lived in Brooklyn off and on since 1993. After a broad survey of New York’s facilities of higher education she received her Bachelor’s degree from Temple University in Philadelphia, and is finishing her Master’s work at Pace University. She is an east coast native, with family roots in Brooklyn and the Bronx. She has lived in Brooklyn off and on since 1993. After a broad survey of New York’s facilities of higher education she received her Bachelor’s degree from Temple University in Philadelphia, and is finishing her Master’s work at Pace University. She has been frequently distracted from her formal education by a wide variety of social justice issues and endeavors. She currently lives fifteen blocks from the New York Harbor School. Liv is an avid scuba diver, gardener and teacher. She has a small cat named Peanut who frequently falls off the porch and various other flat surfaces. Liv is married to Joseph Gessert, another Harbor School staff member.
Curtis Evans ( Special Education Teacher) joined NYHS in 2009.
Joseph Gessert (Paraprofessional) joined NYHS in 2007. He hails from the drizzly city of Eugene, Oregon. He moved to New York in 1997 and graduated NYU with a Bachelor’s degree of great interest but little use. He has worked at a number of youth centers, including the WOW Hall in Eugene Oregon and ABC No Rio in NYC. His dedication to “the kids” and the community has led him to volunteer in organizations against globalization, police brutality and gentrification. He has traveled extensively, loves all animals (particularly cats and otters), and is a solid bassist. He has a large cat named Mama Yaga, who frequently eats, and currently weighs a mere 18 pounds. He is also married to Liv Dillon, a teacher at the NY Harbor School.
Rebecca Grussgott (Living Environment, Introduction to New York Harbor, and Special Education Teacher) began her teaching career at Far Rockaway High School in 2005. After completing her Bachelors in Biology at Binghamton University, she joined the New York City Teaching Fellows program. She joined the Harbor School because no other school in New York City offers such a unique mission with such a dedicated and energized staff and student body. In addition to teaching self-contained and CTT Living Environment at the Harbor School, she is also the lead teacher for the Special Education division of the Intro to New York Harbor Course. Rebecca completed her Masters at Pace University and she joined NYHS in 2008
Joanna King ( Special Education Teacher) joined NYHS in 2009.
Heather Lee ( Special Education Teacher) joined NYHS in 2010.
Andrew Mills ( Special Education Teacher) joined NYHS in 2009.
