The Leadership Team

  • Mitch Flax is the Founder of Valence. Mr. Flax was a member of the 2017 BES Fellowship, a rigorous and selective training program for charter school leaders, and has led the school since its inception. Prior to founding Valence, Mr. Flax held a range of teaching and school leadership roles in the Bay Area and New York City, as well as a position in People Analytics at Google, where he produced modeling and advising on organizational growth, team dynamics, hiring, and organizational culture. He holds a BA in Economics-Mathematics from Columbia University in New York City and resides in Queens with his wife and daughters, who are slated to graduate from Valence in 2034 and 2037.

  • Celines Leonardo is the Chief Operating Officer at Valence. She was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Master of Science in Forensic Accounting from the University at Albany. Prior to coming to Valence, she worked in the Accounting industry for one of the Big 4. Celines is passionate about cooking, traveling and interior design. She is looking forward to an amazing school year and is excited to support the community Valence serves.

  • Laura Quezada is the Assistant Principal and 6th Grade Level Dean. She was born and raised in Queens, New York to Dominican and Puerto Rican parents. Laura is a first-generation college graduate, earning her Bachelor of Arts from Baruch College in Political Science and History. After graduating from college, Laura worked in Retail Management before becoming an educator through Teach for America. During her time with TFA, Laura taught Social Studies and Math in Dallas, Texas. When returning to New York, Laura worked in two NYC charter schools in Harlem and Brooklyn, while earning her Masters of Arts in Teaching in Middle School ELA at Relay Graduate School. She deeply believes that ALL kids deserve the right to strong education and is excited to do this work in her hometown here at Valence.

  • Yadira Kim is the Grade Level Dean of 7th Grade and the Manager of English as a New Language Program at Valence. Ms. Kim was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador and by age 8, she immigrated to Long Island, NY with her family. Ms. Kim earned her Bachelors of Arts in English Language and Literature with a minor in Women and Gender Studies from St. John’s University in 2015. After graduating, Ms. Kim joined Teach for America and taught 8th grade Literature in both an ICT and General Education setting in a charter school in Harlem. During this time, Ms. Kim also received her Master of Arts in Teaching with a Dual Certification in Special Education and General Education with a concentration in English. Ms. Kim then founded Valence, taught 5th-6th Grade ELA and led the 6th grade team as their Grade Level Leader in 2019-2021. In 2021, Ms. Kim began her administrative journey as an Academic Dean overseeing the ELA and ENL programs. She is excited to focus on the 7th grade scholars and to continue the work for scholars who are learning English!

  • Mrs. Gordon is the Dean of Academic Intervention at Valence. Ms. Bucknor was born in the Bronx, N.Y., and raised in Maryland. She graduated from Howard University, D.C., in 2013 with a Major in Psychology and a Minor in Human Development. After serving one year in AmeriCorps with City Year Boston, she taught at Success Academy for seven years. She taught one year of Kindergarten, one year of Science, and five years of Second Grade, while working on her Masters in Education. She entered education because she believes in encouraging children to be their best selves and as an educator, she would have the honor of guiding children toward their own passions in life. At her core, she believes that every child deserves a positive, healthy learning environment to develop and grow. Her goal at Valence is to make sure your scholar has everything they need to succeed.

  • Nicole is the Executive Director and Principal of Valence College Prep, and has been a founding school leader at Valence since the school’s inception. She has worked in New York City schools for thirteen years, and has taught grades K-12. Before becoming a teacher, Nicole worked in disaster recovery in post-Katrina New Orleans, and as a labor organizer for undocumented immigrants in New Orleans and in Portland, Oregon. She graduated from Loyola University New Orleans with a Bachelor degree in English Writing and Spanish, and has her Master of the Arts degree in Teaching from Relay GSE. Nicole is passionate about ensuring equitable access to education for all students, particularly students with learning differences and students who are learning English.

  • Ivie Okundaye is the 5th Grade Level Dean. Mrs. Okundaye was born in Corona, Queens and was raised in Jamaica, New York. Mrs. Okundaye graduated from Farmingdale State College with a bachelors in Bioscience. After graduating, she went on to teach science in grades K-4 for two years. Mrs. Okundaye's love for teaching continued to grow so she transitioned into a role where she would teach a wider variety of subjects. She spent 5 years teaching third grade where she developed tremendously and was promoted to a mentor teacher. During that time, she was hungry to understand the psychology of students and how she can leverage this towards their development. Mrs. Okundaye obtained her Masters in Social Work. As a Dean of Academics at Valence, Mrs. Okundaye desires to develop both teachers and students holistically. Her focus as the Math Dean is to close learning gaps and prepare students academically for life beyond Valence.

  • Ms. Gonzales is the 8th Grade Level Dean. She was born in Peru, and raised in Queens, N.Y. She’s a first-generation college graduate, and earned her Bachelors of Arts from Hunter College in Sociology with a minors in Psychology. After graduating, she worked in public school for five years, then joined the charter world. During this time, she also received her Master of Arts in teaching with a Dual Certification in General Education and Special education. With thirteen years in education, she inspires to cultivate talents, pursue dreams, and prepare our scholars for the future. Joining Valence last year, she entered a safe and welcoming space where school culture, community involvement, strong leaders, and rigorous curriculums are key factors to the greatness we instill in our scholars.

  • Mr. Mercedes is the Dean of Students at Valence. Anthony was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. He graduated from Lehman College with a degree in Political Science. Before working at Valence, Anthony was an active AmeriCorps member, and worked with several community organizations to provide after-school programming for elementary and middle schoolers. He developed a passion for communicating high expectations to sculpt students into the best versions of themselves. Anthony spends a lot of his free time participating in physical activities, also enjoys traveling. Mr. Mercedes is committed to showing scholars how discipline and structure can change someone’s life for the better.Mr. Mercedes is the Dean of Students at Valence. Anthony was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. He graduated from Lehman College with a degree in Political Science. Before working at Valence, Anthony was an active AmeriCorps member, and worked with several community organizations to provide after-school programming for elementary and middle schoolers. He developed a passion for communicating high expectations to sculpt students into the best versions of themselves. Anthony spends a lot of his free time participating in physical activities, also enjoys traveling. Mr. Mercedes is committed to showing scholars how discipline and structure can change someone’s life for the better.

The ENL Team

  • Melanie Flores is an ENL teacher at Valence College Prep. She was born in Ecuador before migrating to New York when she was 2 years old. Melanie is currently enrolled in Arizona State University to complete her Bachelor degree in English and is on the path to becoming a Valence teacher. She plans to continue her education by pursuing a Master degree in Teaching and is excited to be able to work.

  • Seraphine Lin is an ENL Teacher at Valence College Prep. Ms. Lin has been teaching ENL for the past seven years and is passionate about working with scholars from diverse cultural backgrounds.  She herself spent part of her childhood in China and speaks Mandarin Chinese. She believes in high quality language instruction that allows ELLs to succeed academically and socially. In her free time, Ms. Lin enjoys reading, fitness, exploring museums and galleries, and traveling. She has her M.A. and certification in K-12 TESOL from Fairfield University.

  • Nicole Oquendo is an ENL teacher at Valence College Prep. Ms. Oquendo was born and raised in the Bronx by Puerto Rican and Italian parents. She worked as a teacher-aide for 9 years in a special education environment until graduating from Lehman College with a BA in History and Middle/High School Education. Ms. Oquendo has a passion for traveling and exploring different countries and cultures. She is currently pursuing her Master's in TESOL at the College of Mt. St. Michael.

The ELA & Learning Specialists Team

  • Jennifer Bautista is the 8th grade Learning Specialist for ELA and Social Studies. Ms. Bautista is proud to represent Queens, NY. She is a first generation college graduate of a Mexican American family. Ms. Bautista has attended and gotten the opportunity to work in various schools in Queens. In high school, she developed a strong interest and love for the English subject. Coming from an immigrant family from Queens she realized the struggle many students of similar backgrounds face, from there Ms. Bautista has been motivated to help students accomplish and succeed their goals. Recently, she has began a small business on the weekends in which she choreographs quinceañeras/sweet 16 dances. Ms. Bautista aspires to create and release independent and ambitious individuals into society.

  • Charlene Benitez Avelino was born in Queens, New York and raised in San Pedro de Macoris in the Dominican Republic. She is super excited to teach 6th Grade ELA as a new staff member at Valence. Education has always been an extremely important part of her upbringing, "La educación lo es todo mi hija" her mother would say. Coming from a big immigrating family, although opportunity was scarce, the motivation and perseverance were instilled in her from a very young age. Ms. Benitez began her education at P.S 16Q in Corona, Queens, where she struggled with learning a new language and keeping up with her classmates who were way ahead. She was eventually placed in a bilingual class where she was given an IEP (ADHD) due to the many gaps she still had in her learning. Through the support of her family and the great educators in her life, Ms. Benitez was able to learn the English Language, excel in her classes and eventually tested out of her IEP and was placed in an English-Only classroom. She attended IS145Q in Jackson Heights, Queens where she was placed in honors classes, boosting her confidence and teaching her the importance of becoming an independent learner. She went on to attend Richard R. Green Highschool of Teaching in New York City where she graduated Valedictorian and was offered a full-tuition scholarship to DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. There Ms. Benitez received her Bachelor's of Arts in Education & Psychology. Afterwards she began her teaching career at Uncommon Schools Newark where she taught English Language Arts to 7th & 8th graders for 6 years. She also received her Master's Degree from RELAY/GSE and hopes to continue learning as she pursues her PhD in Education Policy. It is a privilege to be teaching at Valence, to children who share similar experiences in the community that watched her grow. 

  • Bristol Francis was born and raised on the Upper West Side and has attended New York City schools during the entirety of his pre-college years. After attending University of Pennsylvania and graduating with a Bachelor's in History, he taught Math and ELA at Success Academy. He is currently an ELA Learning Specialist at Valence College Prep and is dedicated to helping students overcome obstacles to opportunity.

  • Lisa-Marie Ludford is an 7th Grade ELA teacher at Valence College Prep. She was born in Jamaica and raised in Jamaica, Queens. She graduated from Syracuse University in 2016 with a B.S in Selected Studies in Education. She also has her masters from Relay Graduate School of Education. She has been a teacher for 6 year teaching both elementary and middle school students. She has a passion for teaching, reading and traveling and wants to help build the knowledge and skills that scholars need to thrive professionally, personally and academically.

  • Noelle O'Neil is a 5th grade ELA teacher. Ms. O'Neil holds a BA in Social Work and Criminal Justice and is currently pursuing her Master's Degree from Hunter College. She is a first year teacher here at Valence College Prep and is a current Teach For America corps member. Ms. O'Neil is a born and raised New Yorker and is passionate about meeting the needs of all students in her classroom. In her free time she enjoys gardening, and reading. 

  • Ms. Pagan was born and raised in the Lower East Side neighborhood in New York City, NY. She attended the public school system of New York City from Kindergarten to 12th grade. Ms. Pagan attended SUNY New Paltz, where she became the first in her family to earn a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Communications. She started her career in education working as an administrator and then became a History Teacher. This is her 7th year in education and she has held administrative, teaching, and leadership positions in various school communities throughout New York City. She is an ELA Learning Specialist here at Valence College Prep and will soon pursue a Masters of Arts Degree in Education!

  • Ms. Paras was born and raised in Queens, and teaches ELA at Valence She holds a BA in Communications Sciences and Disorders from Queens College and is currently pursuing her MA in education at Relay Graduate school of Education. She has been a camp counselor and youth advocate in her community over the last five years. Some of her hobbies are baking, reading, and discovering new food places all over NYC. A passion of hers is music; she was a classical singer for almost a decade. She spends almost all of her time with her puppy named Fauna.

  • Ms. Thomas is an enthusiastic educator with a deep-rooted connection to Queens, NY. After high school, she attended the Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC). Upon graduating from BMCC, she furthered her educational aspirations at York College and earned a Bachelors in Psychology. She then attended Relay Graduate School of Education where she obtained a dual master's degrees in General Education and Special Education. She became the first generation to proudly graduate with a Master's Degree in her family. For the past four years, she has taken on the role of an ELA teacher. She believes in fostering a classroom environment that encourages creativity, critical thinking, and a genuine love for language and literature. Beyond the classroom, she explores the city's cultural gems, tries out new recipes, or spends quality time with loved ones.

  • Henry Hunter is a 6th Grade ELA Teacher and 6th Grade Level Lead. Mr. Hunter graduated with degrees in Educational Studies and Political Science from Vanderbilt University. Mr. Hunter is excited to return to Valence for his third year at the school, where he previously taught 8th Grade ELA. He joined VCP as a Teach for America Corps Member, and is an alumni of the 2022 Corps. In his free time, he likes to cook, run, and read.

The Math & Learning Specialists Team

  • Ms. Byam is an educator with a deep-rooted passion for working with children, particularly those facing resource challenges. Born in Manhattan and raised in the Bronx, she has a unique perspective shaped by diverse experiences in social services and education. This combination has enriched her understanding of children's needs and strengths. With a focus on mathematics, Ms. Byam strives to help students build essential skills that empower them in their everyday lives. She is dedicated to closing foundational gaps in learning, ensuring that all concepts become accessible and manageable for her students. Her greatest joy comes from witnessing children thrive in their own element, fostering self-awareness and confidence along the way.

  • Andy Coloma was born in Ecuador and raised in Queens, NY. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Music Performance in 2013. He earned his Master’s degree in Childhood Education from CUNY Hunter College in 2020. He has been in the education field for 5 years and loves teaching math. In his free time, he enjoys listening to music and playing the piano.

  • Ms. Lewis is our 7th Grade Level Culture Leader and Special Populations Content Fellow. She teaches 7th Grade Math as a Learning Specialist. Ms. Lewis is a fifth year teacher at Valence College Prep. She completed her Masters of Arts in Teaching at Relay Graduate School of Education and is a Teach for America New York City alumna. Ms. Lewis received her Bachelors of International Area Studies from the University of Oklahoma. She previously taught in both elementary and high schools in the Paris, France region.

  • Kerry-Ann Robertson is the 6th Grade Math teacher at Valence. Ms. Robertson is originally from Jamaica. She has 15 years of teaching experience in both elementary and middle schools. She has a diploma in Teaching Education with a specialization in Elementary Math, a Bachelors in Elementary Education, and a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Mathematics 6-9. She loves to travel, hang out with friends, and share knowledge with others.

  • Ms. Shamid is a graduate of Adelphi University and earned her Bachelor of Science in Mathematics with a minor in Biology. Throughout high school, she participated in many academic opportunities that also served her community. She was a Classroom Assistant as well as a Peer Mentor. She was also a member of the Scholar and Arista Committee for students that excelled academically. Ms. Shamid's inspiration and dedication to become a teacher started as a tutor. It was something that always stuck with her as she became wiser and more knowledgeable that education is a pathway to the doors of opportunities. Ms. Shamid has been teaching for about three years at charter schools and aims towards her master's in middle-grade math education.

  • Ms. Dong was born in Beijing, China. And grew up in Queens, NY. Ms. Dong loves traveling and has been to many places in the world. Ms. Dong obtained her first major in Linguistics and minored in Japanese. Ms.Dong was teaching English as a second language in China after graduation from College. She returned to the U.S and started to run her own after school program. As she was the director of the program, she noticed that many students were struggling with math. She also found math to be interesting and challenging. So she decided to go back to school and pursue her degree in math education in order to help more students. “Math is a great subject! Every answer has a logic reasoning behind it!”

  • Ms. Singh was born and raised in Kathmandu, Nepal. She came to the United States in 2008. She went to Hunter College (CUNY) and obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and a Master’s degree in Adolescence Education in Mathematics. She is a member of Pi Mu Epsilon, the national honorary mathematics society. Drawing, cooking, and traveling the world are some of her hobbies. Ms. Singh is excited to share the knowledge of math with future generations!

  • Peter is a Math Learning Specialist at VCP. Before joining VCP, Peter worked at a charter school in Washington D.C. as an inclusion teacher. Mr. Smith also worked in two Americorps program called City Year and Urban Teachers. His interests include exercise, reading, and spending time with friends!

Operations & Family Support Team

  • Joseph Burdiez is one of the Operations Associates at Valence. He was born and raised in Queens, NY by his Dominican family who immigrated to NYC in the 1980’s. Before Valence, Joseph had a variety of jobs in sales; from selling sneakers on the Avenue to selling Cake and Chips with Bimbo Bakeries. Joseph loves to sing, play videos games, watch movies and hang out with his friends and family. Joseph brings great energy and a happy presence to all the staff and scholars who spend their day here at Valence College Prep. You will mainly find Joseph serving our scholars delicious food so they can keep their energy up all day!

  • Sandra Miranda is part of the Ops Team at Valence College Prep. She was born and raised in El Salvador. Before coming to Valence, Sandra worked at Queens College for 12 years as a supervisor in the kitchen. At Valence, Sandra now supports food service operations for our scholars. For fun, Sandra enjoys cooking and watching TikTok!

  • Claribel Rodriguez is part of the Operations team at Valence College Prep. She holds an Associate of Science in Occupational Studies and has worked as a medical assistant for several years before joining the Valence team. Claribel finds great joy in spending time with her family and traveling the world.

  • Jeffrey Rodriguez is part of the Ops team at Valence College Prep. He was born in Jersey City, NJ and raised in the Dominican Republic. Prior to working at Valence, Jeffrey attended college In the Dominican Republic where he was majoring in marketing. Jeffrey enjoys to hang around friends and family and he loves music.

  • Ms. Ortiz comes from a very hardworking and work-oriented family that pushed her to pursue her passion in working with children. She is currently enrolled at Ashford University to complete her Bachelor's in Early Childhood Education. Before joining the Ops team at Valence, she was a preschool teacher. Although she enjoys observing behaviors and being in front of a classroom, Ms. Ortiz took a break from teaching and is focused on her current role at Valence College Prep and her business. Ms. Ortiz enjoys traveling, being adventurous with her friends and making new memories with her family.

  • Jarlenys is part of the Ops Team at Valence College Prep. She was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York to Dominican parents. Jarlenys is currently pursing a Bachelor of Science in Social Work in York College as a first generation student. She acquired her passion for social work while working in a non-profit organization named Cypress Hills Local Development Cooperation. While at Valence Jarlenys also plans to earn her Master degree in Social Work. For fun Jarlenys enjoys reading , family game nights and listening to Podcasts.

  • Mrs.Vargas is the Family and Outreach Manager at Valence College Prep. She was born in the Dominican Republic and immigrated to NY in 2004. Mrs. Vargas has a passion for helping others, and dedicates her time to making a positive impact in her community. Additionally, she cherishes spending quality time with her family, as they are an essential source of love and support. Mrs. Vargas' favorite hobbies are taking her daughter to the local park and going to Target.

  • Coming soon!

  • Catherine Aponte is the Operations Manager at Valence. She was born in Manhattan and grew up in the Corona/East Elmhurst area with her Dominican family. Catherine holds a Bachelors Degree in Psychology from Hunter College and plans to continue her education in school leadership. She has over 5 years of experience in leadership roles in youth development/academic programs in public and charter schools in Jackson Heights and Corona. Catherine is passionate about working with students and families from her community. She enjoys solo travel, long bike rides, spending all day at the beach, trying new foods, and spending time with family and friends. Catherine is excited to join the Valence team this school year!

  • Patrick is the Operations and Communications Coordinator at Valence. He was born and raised in Jamaica, Queens. Patrick earned his Bachelors Degree in Marketing at the University of New Haven in Connecticut. Prior to coming to Valence, he worked in sales. Patrick is very passionate about fitness, food and family. Outside of Valence, Patrick is a personal trainer, focusing on Muay Thai and Kickboxing. 

Science & Learning Specialists Team

  • Diana Alonzo is an 8th grade STEM Learning Specialist at Valence College Prep. She was born and raised in Queens, NY. She earned her Bachelors of Science in Health and Human Physiological Science from Skidmore College. Prior to coming to Valence, she worked as a lead mentor for the Opportunity Network where she collaborated with mentors to identify what was the best way to guide and help mentees with their transition to college. Diana is passionate about traveling and guiding students to excel in math and science.

  • Mikayla Hubner is the 8th-grade Living Environment teacher at Valence. She graduated from Dartmouth College and earned her Bachelors of Arts in Anthropology and minors in Global Health and Spanish, while on the Pre-Medicine track. Throughout college, she was a member of the Varsity Women’s Rowing team and worked as an Emergency Medicine Technician and CPR and First Aid Instructor. Mikayla was a 2021 Teach for America NYC corps member and has her Master of the Arts degree in Teaching from Relay GSE. Mikayla is passionate about STEM education and the scholar-athlete experience. She is proud to be a founding member of the VCP athletics department.

  • Lewis Jones is a 7th Grade Science teacher. He has had the pleasure of teaching 6th Grade Math last year, but spent most of his teaching career educating 7th grade science scholars. Lewis Jones is originally from Slidell, Louisiana. He went to University of New Orleans to receive his Bachelor's degree in Earth Science. Mr. Jones has received his Master's Degree in Teaching at the Richard Glider Graduate School at the American Museum of Natural History. Mr. Jones enjoys playing video games, battling in Yu-gi-oh tournaments, and watching tons anime in his free time.

  • Mr. Choudhury (Mr. C) is a new teacher here at Valence. He was born and raised in Newark, NJ, and moved to the City of Brotherly Love (Philadelphia) just before starting high school. He has always found joy in learning and is eager to share that joy with his students. Growing up in the inner city, Mr. C uniquely connects with his students, which drives him to ensure they have every opportunity to reach their full potential.

    Mr. C graduated from Temple University in Philadelphia with a BA in English. After spending the majority of his life with his family, he made the bold decision to move to NYC to teach the scholars here at Valence. He looks forward to completing his master's degree someday soon!

    Mr. C is a very outgoing person; he cares a lot for his loved ones and his students. He is a team player and will go the extra mile to help out or get the job done. In his free time, he enjoys playing and watching basketball, spending time with friends and family, trying different restaurants, and exploring places he’s never been before!

  • Mikhail Leybovich grew up in Lithuania and moved to Queens in 1991. After working as a socio-therapist at Graham Windham, a foster care agency, he decided to pursue a career in education. Now, after fourteen years working with scholars all across the city, he is excited to join Valence College Prep as a science teacher in 7th and 8th grade. He is excited to bring his love for gardening and all things outdoors to help enrich and grow within our community.

  • Anisah Anif is the 5th grade science teacher at Valence College Prep. She graduated from City College of New York with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and is currently pursuing a Masters degree in Education at Hunter College with dual certification in general education and special education. She is passionate about helping all her scholars learn and grow. When she’s not teaching or studying, she loves reading, traveling, and spending time with her family and friends.

  • Karilyn Nieves is from the South Bronx, and she recently moved back after some time in Astoria. She went to SUNY Geneseo for undergrad and double majored in History and Philosophy. She joined the education field in 2020 with elementary school students and recently made the change to middle school with VCP. Her dream is for NYC to have equitable and accessible education for all students. Karilyn enjoys trying new foods, long walks, reading, and spending time with family and loved ones. Her favorite quote is by singer - songwriter Pitbull: “Everyday above ground is a great day, remember that.”

Social Studies & Learning Specialists Team

  • Tanima Rahman is a 5th and 6th grade learning specialist at Valence, serving both social studies and science classrooms. She was born and raised in Queens, NY. Ms. Rahman earned her Bachelor of Arts in History and Adolescent Education from the State University of New York at Geneseo, where she was able to foster her passion for social history. During her time at Geneseo, she was a summer program mentor to incoming students in the Access Opportunity Program, as well as continued mentoring during the school year. In her free time, Ms. Rahman enjoys reading, spending time with loved ones, and practicing yoga.

  • Ms. Roberts was born and raised in Queens, New York. She is currently a 5th Grade Social Studies teacher. Ms. Roberts received her Bachelors of Art in Journalism and Media Studies from Bennett College for Women in Greensboro, North Carolina in 2011. In 2014 Ms. Roberts received her Master of Science in Communication from Drexel University. From 2018-2023 she served as a Special Educator for the NYC Department of Education. She is currently enrolled at Relay Graduate School of Education pursuing a Master of Education. Her goal is to create an environment for scholars to thrive academically and build the skills needed to be global thinkers and world leaders. In her spare time Ms. Roberts enjoys traveling and spending quality time with her family and friends.

  • Kelly Sullivan is the 6th grade Social Studies teacher here at Valence College Prep. Ms. Sullivan grew up locally in Queens, New York. She received her BA in Sociology from CUNY Queens College in 2016. In May of 2023 she is set to receive her MS in General and Special Education, grades 1-6, from Touro University. Ms.Sullivan has worked in school settings for years in various positions. She is also the Associate Director at a local summer camp. In her spare time, Ms. Sullivan enjoys traveling and cake decorating at her very own company!

  • Ms. Ruiz Diaz is a History Teacher at Valence College Prep. She was born and raised in Queens, New York. Her parents immigrated separately from Ecuador and Paraguay. Ms. Ruiz Diaz graduated from St. Johns University with a Bachelors in Adolescent Education 7-12 with a focus in Social Studies/History, and a minor in Psychology. Additionally, she graduated from New York University with her Masters in Literacy Education 7-12. She has taught History for 5 years in Brooklyn, New York and has taught ELA at Valence. During her free time, she likes to draw, write, and read poetry. She became a teacher to ensure that every student she taught felt seen, heard, and appreciated in the classroom as they continue to grow as learners of the world. She is excited to be part of the team at Valence College Prep.

  • Crystal Burdiez is a Learning Specialist at Valence College Prep after starting out as a Pod Leader for the Spring 2021 term and teaching ELA at Valence for the 21-22 term and 22-23 term. She was raised in the rustle and bustle of Brooklyn, NY for half of her childhood before moving to Ridgewood, Queens. She graduated from Brooklyn College in 2018 and studied Creative Writing and Theatre. While being extremely passionate for musical theatre performance and writing, she has discovered a passion for instilling strong academic habits in ALL scholars she encounters to reach for the stars and beyond.

Specials Team

  • Conor Harmon is the 8th Grade Level Spanish Teacher at Valence College Prep. Prior to arriving to Valence, he worked at Northside Charter High School in Williamsburg, Brooklyn as a 9th grade Level Spanish 1 Teacher. Conor has lived and worked for more than 11 years outside of the US, including countries such as Nicaragua, Bolivia, Chile and Saudi Arabia. Conor also has ample experience teaching English as a second language both domestically and internationally and holds both an MA in TESOL as well as Cross-Cultural/International Education.

  • Matthew McGuire is the Music teacher at Valence. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Musical Theatre from Syracuse University, and is inspired by his training and experience in the arts to reach scholars with a variety of approaches, catered to their needs as unique individuals. He is passionate about making math fun and accessible to all learners, and applying those skills to real world situations. He started his journey at Valence as a Pod Leader, and is thrilled to be continuing his work in an even more impactful role.

  • Ms. Okungbowa graduated from SUNY Geneseo in 2018 with her Bachelors of Science in Biochemistry. She them worked at Success Academy Charter Schools shortly after as a Biology Teacher and then went on to get her masters. She graduated with her Masters in Biochemistry and Cell Biology in 2021. She began her journey teaching Computer Science here at Valence during the 2022-2023 school year.

  • Shahana Munmun is the Visual Arts teacher for grades 6th, 7th, and 8th. Born in Bangladesh, raised in Manhattan. She studied at Lehman College for her undergraduate degree earning a Bachelor of Studio Arts. This is her third year teaching art and she has a passion for art history. Ms. Munmun loves to travel and visit museums all around the world. She hopes to inspire her students to pursue their dreams and keep striving for success.

  • Wellington Lima Porto (Bohasha) was born in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. In 2001 he moved to the USA. In 2002, Mr. Porto began traveling around the world teaching and performing capoeira. Capoeira has taken Mr.Porto to many different places, including France, Turkey, Greece, Japan, and Amsterdam. Mr. Porto also founded a percussion band called Breeza Brasil, which also blended with capoeira. Mr.Porto has performed in weddings and music festivals, fundraisers, and other events. With capoeira, Mr. Porto has participated in many different teaching programs, such as raising money for children with cancer and people with disabilities. Mr. Porto loves to share capoeira with the students in his physical education classes at Valence College Prep.

  • Paul White was born and raised in Brooklyn. After graduating from Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School, he attended Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, where he majored in Black Studies with and minored in Philosophy. He was a part of many clubs and societies at Lincoln University. Mr. White developed a love of learning and finance that he carries with him to this day. Mr. White began his career in education as an In-School ELA tutor in 2015 with The Literacy Trust under My Brother’s Keeper initiative in Brooklyn, New York. He taught Technology and Coding for 2 years in 6-8 grade in Brooklyn New York prior to coming to Valence. Prep. Ms. Sullivan grew up locally in Queens, New York. She received her BA in Sociology from CUNY Queens College in 2016. In May of 2023 she is set to receive her MS in General and Special Education, grades 1-6, from Touro University. Ms.Sullivan has worked in school settings for years in various positions. She is also the Associate Director at a local summer camp. In her spare time, Ms. Sullivan enjoys traveling and cake decorating at her very own company!

  • Ms. Riese is the Founding Performing Arts Teacher at Valence. She has been teaching Theatre for 14 years. Originally from Florida, she went to college for Theatre at the Univeristy of Central Florida. Ms. Riese founded The Narwhal Players, Valence’s after-school Drama Club and she is the registered Troupe Director for Valence’s New York Jr. Thespian Troupe #10145. Ms. Riese is also an Instructional Leader at Valence, working with the Music and Art teachers on staff. She is excited to be continuing her journey here at Valence!

  • Darren Davy is the Physical Education (PE) teacher at Valence College Prep. Previously, he was the PE teacher at a private school, also located in Rego Park, NY. Mr. Davy received his bachelor’s in Mathematics from Fairleigh Dickinson University and his master’s in Education from Hofstra University. He is also set to receive his advanced PE certificate from Queens College at the end of the 2024 school year. Athletically, Mr. Davy was a standout high school basketball and volleyball player. After high school, he went on to play college basketball at the Division 2 and Division 3 levels. Currently, Mr. Davy coaches youth basketball and is also a New York State certified referee in boys & girls basketball, boys & girls volleyball, and girls lacrosse.

Student Support Team

  • Christina Buckley is the Manager of Data, Assessment, and Compliance at Valence. Christina was born and raised in Oakland, CA and received her BA in Sociology from St. Mary's College of California. She began her career in education as a literacy coach, then transitioned to school leadership managing special education programming at a charter school in Queens. Christina is passionate about assessments and data as tools for informing excellent teaching practices and reaching students' potential. In her spare time, Christina loves cooking, reading non-fiction, and spending time outdoors with her dog, Cinnamon.

  • Ms. Diaz was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY to Dominican parents who first came to the United States in the early 80s and decided to settle in NYC. She graduated from City College with a B.A. in English Literature and taught high School English for 3 1/2 years in Queens, NY. Although, Ms. Diaz loves teaching students about the power of words, she realized that she wanted to step away from teaching to work more behind the scenes in education. Ms. Diaz enjoys reading and writing in her spare time and is currently finishing her Masters in Education in Curriculum and Instruction.

  • Shamrin Hasan is the Associate Dean of Students at Valence. This year, she will also be coordinating our after school clubs & special programs at Valence. Graduating from Baruch with a BBA in Finance, she quickly learned her passion was giving back to the community through youth development work. Prior to joining the Valence team, she spent 8 years working with the youth of NYC in various after school and summer programs. In her last role, Shamrin worked as a program manager at DREAM Charter School in East Harlem managing out of school time programs for the elementary school. Being a first generation Bangladeshi-American college graduate, she is determined to set up the next generations for success, achievement, and a lifetime of chasing dreams. Outside of youth work, Shamrin enjoys spending time with family and friends, is a thrill seeker who is always down for an adventure, and always makes time for “self care,” aka retail therapy and nail appointments.

  • Alena Erhardt, Speech Pathologist at Valence, was born on Long Island and graduated with her Bachelors in Spanish Literature and Linguistics from Stony Brook University. She then went on to get a Masters in Speech Language Pathology with a bilingual extension in Spanish from Adelphi University in 2019. During her time at Adelphi, Alena traveled to Belize with a team of pathologists to provide speech and language treatment in underserved communities. Alena completed a year-long clinical fellowship to attain a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). In her free time, Alena enjoys playing tennis at her local park and reading comic books.

  • Ms. Juncal is the Social Worker for the 5th and 6th graders at Valence College Prep. She was born and raised in Queens, New York to Ecuadorian parents. Ms. Juncal graduated from Long Island University with both her undergraduate and graduate degrees in Social Work. Prior to coming to Valence, she worked with incarcerated youth and the undocumented community supporting families to get the support needed.

  • Yesenia is the Associate Dean of Students & High School Placement Coordinator at Valence College Prep. After being born and raised in the Bronx, NY, she studied Public Relations in Upstate NY at SUNY Plattsburgh. After graduating, Yesenia served as an Americorps volunteer for two years, providing intensive ELA tutoring at a middle school. Here, her passion for education truly blossomed, and since then she’s been committed to ensuring equitable education and opportunities for all students, especially those from underserved communities.

  • Ms. Oviedo is the co-school social worker at Valence College Prep. She was raised in NYC by Dominican parents who immigrated to the U.S. in the 80s. She received her Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work and is a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) in the State of New York. Before working at Valence, Ms. Oviedo worked in varying fields of social work as a mental health therapist for children from many backgrounds. Ms. Oviedo is committed to supporting all scholars learn, develop, and identify tools to help them succeed in school and life.

  • Veronica Sawyer-Boyd is an Eighth Grade Math Teacher at Valence College Prep. She has earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from Hofstra University and a Master of Education in Educational Leadership Administration and Policy from Fordham University. She started her teaching career in the Catholic School system and held a variety of positions as Teacher, Mentor, Department Chairperson, Director of Operations, and School Principal. Most recently, she worked for the NYC Department of Education as a Long-Term Substitute Teacher. She is an active member of The National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc., and currently serves as the Eastern Region Treasurer. She believes that an Educator should inspire and develop cognitive flexibility in a child. Nothing is as lasting as when children are taught how to think their way through life’s challenges as they encounter real-life situations