Board of Trustees
Public charter schools are guided and overseen by a Board of Trustees, a group of distinguished individuals who are passionate about education and increased opportunities for all children. The Board of Trustees is also responsible for ensuring that our school fulfills the stated goals of our charter. Board meeting materials are available in the main office, upon request. The members of the Board for the 2012-2013 school year are:
Jeff Ginsburg
Co-Founder and Board Chair
Jeff Ginsburg comes to East Harlem Tutorial Program (EHTP) with a background in nonprofit and for-profit management and education policy. He received his Masters Degree in Public Policy from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, where he studied urban education policy and nonprofit management while serving as a Founding Chair of the Dean's Committee on Public Service. Previously, Mr. Ginsburg served as a senior manager at EHTP, where he helped oversee a significant increase in funding and a restructuring of agency operations. Before his tenure at EHTP, Mr. Ginsburg spent five years at
Michael C. Brown
Dynasty Financial Partners
Iris Chen
“I Have A Dream” Foundation
Brian Gavin
The Blackstone Group
Lili Lynton
Dinex LLC
Carlos Morales
Schiff Hardin LLP
Ilana Ruskay-Kidd
Saul and Carole Zabar Nursery School
JCC in Manhattan
Joan Solotar
The Blackstone Group
Tom Webber
Catholic Big Sisters & Big Brothers
David Wildermuth
Board meeting materials are available in the main office, upon request.
the Principal's Desk
Dear Scholars Academy Community,
It’s the Spring of 2028, and East Harlem Scholars Academy alumni sit in caps and gowns at competitive colleges all over the country, excitedly awaiting their names to be called. Their majors range from biology to psychology, computer programming and political science. Read more
Staff Perspectives
“The incredibly strong sense of community at East Harlem Tutorial Program and Harlem Scholars Academy makes this organization so special. The staff, the families, and our support network possess a sense of commitment, passion, and dedication unlike anything I've ever been a part of. I'm extremely proud to be a member of this founding team that continues to inspire me to work harder than I ever have.”
Monica Hostetler
Founding Director of Operations
"We have a partnership with families, students, and colleagues to strive for common excellence while discovering the originality of each student and fostering their growth into a scholar."
Nicole Walters
Founding ELL Teacher
"Scholars Academy is preparing students to become their best possible selves by offering a small student to teacher ratio, giving the students the opportunity to study music and Spanish everyday, as well as exercising in PE, and by guiding them to achieve our core values: service, courage, humility, originality, leadership, achievement, and reflection."
Erica Leo
Founding Spanish Teacher
"East Harlem Scholars Academy is preparing children to be their best selves by setting high expectations for each student and differentiating instruction so each child can reach these high expectations."
Leigh Kempton
Founding Kindergarten Teacher
"East Harlem Scholars Academy has the perfect balance between understanding students, their culture, and their unique abilities with having only the highest academic and social expectations for all."
Mary Hamilton
Founding First Grade Teacher
"What is special about the East Harlem Scholars Academy is the holistic approach that is taken to develop the complete child. It is a place where children can grow with their academic, social, emotional, and physical well-being in mind."
Gregg Foster
Founding Physical Education Teacher
"We are a community driven founding school. We are privileged to have such remarkable and inquisitive scholars coupled with parents who are truly invested and eager partners. "
Marlene Desai
Founding Reading Specialist
"East Harlem Scholars Academy students are learning how to become awesome citizens of society and they’re building an intrinsic love of learning."
Zoranlley Burgos-Castillo
Founding Kindergarten Teacher
"What is special about East Harlem Scholars Academy is the passion and excitement of all staff members. Everyone is so happy to be here and it is reflected in all school interactions."
Katie Bellissimo
Founding First Grade Teacher
"East Harlem Scholars Academy students will move on to great high schools and universities and be able to return to East Harlem as role models that can contribute positively to an already changing community."
Lyndsey Alvarez
Founding Social Worker
"Through modeling, compassion, and socio-emotional development embedded in all academic disciplines, teachers are developing students’ characters, as well as their coping, problem solving, and conflict resolution abilities and skills."
Ilana Adler-Bell
Founding First Grade Teacher
family council
A big thank you to our Family Council for all of their time and energy! Check out our Recent News section for more updates on their work.