Foundation Academy Staff

The Foundation Academy Charter School Faculty and Staff are:


Sheria M. Andrews teaches English-Language Arts at Foundation Academy. Prior to joining Foundation Academy, Ms. Andrews worked as a Language Arts Literacy Teacher and was a member of the Professional Learning Committee at the Cleveland School in Newark, NJ. She is a 2006 Teach for America Corps Member. Ms. Andrews received a B.S. in Psychology from Howard University and is completing her M.A. in School Counseling at Montclair State University.

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Ronald C. Brady is the Head of School and a Co-Founder of Foundation Academy. Mr. Brady previously served as the K-8 and Middle School Principal at Trenton Community Charter School, the Director of the Career Learning Academies and Smaller Schools (CLASS) Project in the Paterson, NJ Public Schools, Director of the Office of State Operated School Districts in the New Jersey Department of Education, Assistant to the Chancellor of the New York City Board of Education and as a Research Associate at The Edison Project. Mr. Brady is a Harry S Truman Scholar and holds an MPA from Princeton University and a BA magna cum laude in History and Government from Bowdoin College. Mr. Brady serves on the Bowdoin College Board of Trustees.

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Egypt B. Charles is a Science Teacher at Foundation Academy. She previously taught 2nd, 3rd and 4th grade at Speedway Avenue School in Newark. Ms. Charles also served as the President and owner of Brown Bag Kids, a child care food service catering company. She possesses a B.S. in Food Science from Douglass College at Rutgers University.

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Johna Cruz serves as the Assistant to the Head of School at Foundation Academy. Prior to joining Foundation Academy, she served as a Pre-Kindergarten teacher at Kindercare in Voorhees, NJ. She received her B.A. in Spanish from the College of New Jersey.

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Lindsey Das teaches History and Geography at Foundation Academy. Ms. Das previously served as a Lead Teacher of Social Studies at Frederick Douglass Academy VII High School in Brooklyn, NY. She received her B.S. in Business Administration and M.S. in Education from Hofstra University.

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Emily DiUglio teaches Music at Foundation Academy. Previously, Ms. DiUglio conducted her student teaching at Taylor Mills Elementary School in Manalapan, NJ and Pennwood Middle School in Bucks County, PA. She graduated from Westminster Choir College of Rider University with a Bachelor of Music, magna cum laude, in Music Education.

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Kenneth Doolittle teaches English-Language Arts at Foundation Academy. Mr. Doolittle previously taught 6th Grade Math and Science at the Robert Benjamin Wiley Community Charter School in Erie, PA and was a 7th and 8th Grade Reading Teacher at the Queen City Academy in Plainfield, NJ, where he was selected Queen City Teacher of the Year in 2009. He possesses a B.A. in Elementary Education from Mercyhurst College.

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Robyn Douglas teaches Science and is a Founding Teacher at Foundation Academy. She previously taught at Somerville Middle School in Somerville, NJ and in the middle school at Trenton Community Charter School. Ms. Douglas graduated with Highest Honors with a B.S. in Elementary Education and a B.A. in Psychology from Shippensburg University. She received her Master of Science degree in Education Media Design and Technology from Full Sail University.

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Nicole A. Falconer is the Founding High School Leader-in-Residence at Foundation Academy. Ms. Falconer served as a History Lead Teacher, Administrative Coordinator of Students Affairs and the National Honor Society Founding Advisor at Frederick Douglas Academy VII in Brooklyn. She has also served as a Teacher Selector for the New York City Teaching Fellowship prior to joining Foundation Academy. Ms. Falconer received and Excellence in Teaching Citation from the New York State Assembly in 2007 and again in 2010 for her students achievement in the classroom and on standardized assessments. Ms. Falconer holds a B.A. in History from Yale University, a Masters in the Science of Teaching from Pace University and an Advanced Masters in Education from the Teachers College at Columbia University, graduating with honors.

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Kirsten Goeb is an In-Class Support Teacher at Foundation Academy. Previously, Ms. Goeb taught 4th grade in the Freehold, NJ Borough School District. She is a magna cum laude graduate of Alvernia College where she received a B.A. in Special Education/Elementary Education.

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Susan Hanlon is the Founding School Nurse at Foundation Academy. Ms. Hanlon has previously worked as the School Nurse in multiple settings, including the Bordentown Public Schools, Trenton Community Charter School and at a private special education school. She received a B.S. in Nursing from Trenton State College.

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Carla Hill is the Student Affairs Administrator and is a Co-Founder of Foundation Academy. Ms. Hill previously served as the Parent Liaison at Trenton Community Charter School, where she spearheaded the school’s parental involvement efforts. She has experience working with at-risk students and special needs adults, including work as a Residential Coordinator for the New Jersey Deaf and Blind Association and at the Saint Lewis School in Texas, an elementary school for severely handicapped children.

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Christopher Lessard is Foundation Academy’s School Business Administrator. He currently also serves as the School Business Administrator at the Frankford Township Board of Education, the Branchville Board of Education and the Central Jersey Arts Charter School. Previously he has served as the Treasurer of School Monies for the Paterson Charter School for Science and Technology and the Business Administrator of the Discovery Charter School in Newark, NJ. He is a graduate of Bentley College where he received his B.S. in Business Management.

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José A. Lozada is the Director of Data and Technology and a Co-Founder of Foundation Academy. Mr. Lozada previously worked as a Network Administrator at Trenton Community Charter School. He possesses a Bachelor of Computer Science degree, cum laude, from the New Jersey Institute of Technology.

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Alice Lubrano-Weiss is an English Language Learner Aide at Foundation Academy. Ms. Lubrano-Weiss previously was a Founding 2nd Grade Teacher at the Cap Cana Heritage School and a 2nd Grade Teacher at Saint Michael’s School, both in the Dominican Republic. She possesses a Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, in Early Childhood Education from the Universidad Iberoamericana of Santo Domingo (UNIBE).

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David Martin is a Mathematics Teacher at Foundation Academy. Mr. Martin previously served as a Math and Computer Teacher at Frederick Douglas Academy VII High School in Brooklyn, NY. He possesses a B.A. in Mathematics from Hofstra University and a Masters of Science in Teaching, cum laude, from PACE University.

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Tiknika Nollie is Foundation Academy's School Secretary. Prior to joining Foundation, Ms. Nollie served as Outpatient Service Coordinator at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children.

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Tara Pepe is the Director of Operations and School Social Worker and is a Co-Founder of Foundation Academy. Ms. Pepe previously worked as an In-home Therapist for the Community YMCA in Ocean County, and prior to that, served as the School Social Worker at Trenton Community Charter School. Ms. Pepe graduated with Highest Honors with a B.A. in Social Work from Muhlenberg College, and she received her Master's in Social Work (M.S.W.) from the University of Pennsylvania.

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Marlene Rice is the String Orchestra Director and teaches Music at Foundation Academy. A professional violinist with experience in major orchestras and ensembles throughout the United States, Ms. Rice was previously Program Director and Teaching Artist for The Noel Pointer Music Foundation. In addition, Ms. Rice has served as a string instructor in the New York City and Detroit Public Schools. Ms. Rice received a B.S. from Eastern Michigan University and a Master of Music from the University of Michigan.

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Lisa Rich is a Book Club Teacher at Foundation Academy. Prior to joining Foundation Academy's faculty, Lisa was a journalist with The Times of Trenton newspaper. She received a first-place award in enterprise reporting from the New Jersey Press Association and the 2006 Douglas D. Martin Award for integrity and courage in journalism. She has a BA in Journalism summa cum laude from the University of Arizona and a Masters of Arts in Teaching from the College of New Jersey.

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Stephanie Segall is an Instructional Dean, Mathematics Teacher and a Founding Teacher at Foundation Academy. A 2005 Teach for America Corps Member, Ms. Segall was a Special Education teacher at J.D. Smith Middle School in Las Vegas, NV prior to coming to Foundation Academy. Ms. Segall possesses a B.A. in Government and Public Policy from Smith College, a M. Ed. from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and is completing a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Administration and Supervision through National-Louis University.

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Johanna Soto is the School Operations Associate at Foundation Academy. She previously served as a Customer Service Representative at Sovereign Bank. She earned a B.A. in Sociology from The College of New Jersey.

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Jill Spiegel has served as an English-Language Arts Teacher at Foundation Academy since 2008. Prior to joining Foundation Academy, Ms. Spiegel conducted her student teaching in a middle and high school in Baltimore County, MD. Ms. Spiegel received her B.S., magna cum laude, in English and Secondary Education from Towson University.

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Sarah Swanson-Hysell is the Book Club Administrator at Foundation Academy. A 2005 Teach for America corps member, Ms. Swanson previously taught at Roma Middle School in Roma, TX and at Mastery Charter School in Philadelphia. PA. She received a B.A. in American Studies from Carleton College.

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Christian Torino teaches Physical Education and Health at Foundation Academy. Prior to joining Foundation, Mr. Torino taught Health in the Bound Brook and Readington School Districts. He possesses a BA in Physical Education and Health from Kean University.

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Valeen Vaccaro teaches Mathematics at Foundation Academy. Ms. Vaccaro did her student teaching in Lakewood and Trenton, NJ, prior to which she worked for several years in the engineering field. She earned a B.A. in Psychology and M.A. in Teaching from The College of New Jersey.

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Graig Weiss, Associate Head of School and Principal at Foundation Academy, served as the Founding Middle and High School Principal at Cap Cana Heritage School, an English immersion private school in the Dominican Republic for two years prior to joining Foundation Academy. A 2003 Teach for America corps member, Mr. Weiss taught Math and Science in the Bronx and the Dominican Republic prior to becoming an administrator and was selected as Teacher of the Year in 2007. Prior to entering the education field, Mr. Weiss worked in the financial services sector with Cambridge Associates, LLC in Boston, MA. He holds a B.S./B.A. in Finance and Accounting from the University of Pittsburgh, a Master of Science in Teaching from Fordham University, and a Master of Science in Educational Leadership from the University of Scranton.

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