Eighth Grade Academy Team 2021-2022
Ms. Danielle Blair-Pierre
Principal
B.A., Spelman College; M.Ed., Georgia State University
dblair@ebrooke.orgDanielle Blair-Pierre joined Brooke in 2011 as a fifth grade math and science teacher at Brooke Mattapan. Since then, she has taught sixth grade for three years and served as an assistant principal for three years at Brooke Mattapan. Ms. Blair-Pierre is currently the principal of Brooke’s Eighth Grade Academy. Before coming to Brooke, Ms. Blair-Pierre taught fourth grade for two years in Atlanta. She was also a Teach for America corps member.
Mr. Matt Magoon
Assistant Principal
B.A., The College of Wooster; M.A., Boston College
mmagoon@ebrooke.orgMatt Magoon joined Brooke in 2014, as an Associate Teacher in East Boston. Since then, Mr. Magoon has taught 7th grade math and science, 8th grade English Language Arts and social studies at Brooke, and has served as a Dean. Mr. Magoon is currently an Assistant Principal at Brooke's Eighth Grade Academy.
Ms. Shantae Romain
Director of Operations
B.A., American International College
sromain@ebrooke.orgShantae Romain joined Brooke in 2019 as an Operations Manager for Brooke High School & Eighth Grade Academy. She now serves as the Director of Operations. Prior to Brooke, Ms. Romain worked at Tufts Health Plan for seven years in clinical strategy and member operations.
Ms. Tanairi Acevedo
Operations Manager
A.S., Bunker Hill Community College
tacevedo@ebrooke.orgTanairi Acevedo joined Brooke in 2014 as an office manager at Brooke Mattapan. since then, she served as operations manager at Brooke Mattapan. She is currently the operations manager for Brooke High School and Eighth Grade Academy.
Ms. Jackie Disch
School Psychologist
B.S., Tulane University; M.A., Tufts University
jdisch@ebrooke.orgJackie Disch joined Brooke in 2020 as a School Psychologist in Brooke High School. Before coming to Brooke, Ms. Disch completed her master’s degree in school psychology at Tufts University.
Ms. Darneala Sequeira
School Nurse
BSN, Laboure College
dsequeira@ebrooke.orgDarneala Sequeira joined the Brooke team in August 2017 as the school Nurse and is now the Founding School Nurse of the Brooke High School and Eighth Grade Academy. Prior to Brooke she worked at the Codman Square Health Center for 13 years, 8 years in Pediatrics and 5 years as a Staff Nurse in Family Medicine.
Ms. Nicole Eduwensuyi
Operations Manager
B.A., UMass Boston; M.S., Northeastern University
neduwensuyi@ebrooke.orgNicole Eduwensuyi joined Brooke in 2019, as an Associate Teacher with Brooke's Eighth Grade Academy, where she currently serves as a School Operations Manager. Before coming to Brooke, Ms. Eduwensuyi served as an AmeriCorps member with Massachusetts Promise Fellowship for two years. After serving, she lived in Nigeria for a year.
Ms. Thessa Andrade
English Language Arts Teacher
B.A., Bridgewater State University
tandrade@ebrooke.orgThessa Andrade joined Brooke in 2017, as Sixth Grade English Language Arts and Social Studies Teacher at Brooke Mattapan. Since then, she became an Eighth Grade English Language Arts Teacher at Brooke's Eighth Grade Academy. Before coming to Brooke, Ms. Andrade attended Bridgewater State University, was a mentor for a nonprofit organization called Friends and Mentors for change (FAM for change), and joined AmeriCorps (Jumpstart) in its fight to close the achievement gap for K-2 schools within the Brockton community.
Ms. Siri Carr
English Language Arts Teacher
B.A., Wesleyan University; M.A., Sposato Graduate School of Education
scarr@ebrooke.orgSiri Carr joined Brooke in 2020, as an English language arts teacher at Brooke's Eighth Grade Academy. Before coming to Brooke, Ms. Carr worked for five years as a Composition Teacher at MATCH Charter Public Middle School.
Mr. Jeremiah Laing
English Language Arts Teacher
B.A., University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
jliang@ebrooke.orgJeremiah Laing joined Brooke in July of 2020 as an Associate Teacher at Brooke Roslindale. He is now teaching English Language Arts at Brooke's Eighth Grade Academy. Before coming to Brooke, Mr. Laing studied English with a focus in writing, rhetoric, and communication at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.
Ms. Emily Murphy
English Language Arts Teacher
B.A., Boston College; M.Ed., Southern Methodist University
emurphy@ebrooke.orgEmily Murphy joined Brooke in 2021 as an English Language Arts teacher at Brooke's Eighth Grade Academy. Before coming to Brooke, Ms. Murphy spent four years teaching middle school reading and writing at a charter school in Dallas, Texas as a Teach for America corps member.
Ms. Marisa Taylor
English Language Arts Teacher
B.A., Fairfield University; M.A., Emmanuel College
mtaylor@ebrooke.orgMarisa Taylor joined Brooke in 2018 as an Eighth Grade English Language Arts and social studies teacher for Brooke's Eighth Grade Academy. She currently serves as an eighth grade English Language Arts teacher. Before coming to Brooke, Ms. Taylor worked at Roxbury Prep for six years with varying positions from fifth grade ELA teacher, Individual Needs Specialist, seventh grade ELA and math teacher, and Dean of Curriculum and Instruction.
Mr. Caleb Johnson
Math Teacher
B.A., Harvard College
cjohnson@ebrooke.orgCaleb Johnson joined Brooke in 2021, as an Algebra Teacher at the 8th Grade Academy. Before coming to Brooke, Mr. Johnson taught algebra at Roxbury Prep Lucy Stone and taught special education at State College High School in Pennsylvania.
Ms. Dianne Lam
Math Teacher
B.S., Harris-Stowe State University
dlam@ebrooke.orgDianne Lam joined Brooke in 2021 as math teacher at Brooke's Eighth Grade Academy. Before coming to Brooke, Ms. Lam taught two years in Saint Louis, MO at Ritenour High School as a math and leadership teacher.
Ms. Kaylee Pena
Math Teacher
B.A., Boston College
kpena@ebrooke.orgKaylee Pena joined Brooke in 2019 as a math teacher at Brooke's Eighth Grade Academy. Before coming to Brooke, Kaylee had five years of teaching experience, and four of those years she worked as a seventh grade math teacher at Roxbury Prep Charter School.
Mrs. Brittany Ryan
Math Teacher
B.A., Texas A&M University
bryan@ebrooke.orgBrittany Ryan joined Brooke in 2021 as a math teacher at Brooke's Eighth Grade Academy. Before coming to Brooke, Mrs. Ryan was an eighth grade math teacher for six years at Richardson North Junior High in Richardson, Texas.
Mr. Rayshawn Buchanan
Science Teacher
B.A, Dean College
rbuchanan@ebrooke.orgRayshawn Buchanan joined Brooke in January 2020 as an Associate Teacher at Brooke's Eighth Grade Academy. He is currently serving as an Instructional Support Teacher. Before coming to Brooke, Mr. Buchanan served a Student Life Counselor at the Seed School of Miami in Florida.
Mr. Patrick Lanciault
Science Teacher
B.A., University of South Carolina
planciault@ebrooke.orgPatrick Lanciault joined Brooke in 2018 as one of the founding 8th Grade Academy science teachers. Prior to Brooke, Mr. Lanciault taught 6th grade science in Dallas, Texas, 7th grade science at Roxbury Prep Mission Hill, as well as 10th-12th grade ESL in rural Thailand.
Mr. Jayson Joyce
Social Studies Specialist
B.A., Boston College; M.Ed., Boston University
jjoyce@ebrooke.orgJayson Joyce joined Brooke in 2015 as a fifth grade teacher at Brooke Roslindale. Since then, Mr. Joyce has moved to teach eighth grade ELA and social studies at Brooke Eighth Grade Academy, where he currently serves as a social studies specialist. Before coming to Brooke, Mr. Joyce worked on President Obama's and Senator Markey's election campaigns, and he served as a Teach for America corps member in Chicago.
Mr. Khang Phan
Social Studies Teacher
B.A. and M.Ed., Texas A&M University
kphan@ebrooke.orgKhang Phan joined Brooke in 2021 as a social studies teacher at Brooke's Eighth Grade Academy. Before coming to Brooke, Mr. Phan spent ten years working at Title I schools in Dallas, Texas. Mr. Phan has taught social studies to a variety of grade levels, and has served as both a campus- and district-level content team leader.
Ms. C.E. Tomlin
Social Studies Teacher
B.S., Northeastern University
ctomlin@ebrooke.orgC.E. Tomlin joined Brooke in 2020 as social studies teacher for Brooke's Eighth Grade Academy. Before coming to Brooke, Tomlin had two years of teaching experience as a seventh grade U.S. history teacher at Roxbury Prep Lucy Stone.
Mr. Angel Albelo
Athletic Director, Eighth Grade Academy, and Brooke High School
B.S., Bentley University; M.Ed, University of Miami
aalbelo@ebrooke.orgAngel Albelo joined Brooke in 2017 as the Athletic Director and PE teacher for Brooke Mattapan. Mr. Albelo is currently serving as the Athletic Director for both Brooke Mattapan and the 8th Grade Academy and as the PE teacher for the 8th Grade Academy. Before coming to Brooke, Mr. Albelo worked at State Street Bank as an account controller and then served in the United States Coast Guard.
Ms. Jaclyn Bryson
Student Support Coordinator
B.A., University of Massachusetts; M.Ed., Francis Marion University
jbryson@ebrooke.orgJaclyn Bryson joined Brooke in July of 2020 as a Student Support Coordinator at Brooke's Eighth Grade Academy. Before coming to Brooke, Ms. Bryson was a Teach for America corps member where she served as a special educator in South Carolina for five years.
Ms. Heather Flaherty
ELL Coordinator
B.A., Georgetown University; M.Ed., Relay Graduate School of Education
hflaherty@ebrooke.orgHeather Flaherty joined Brooke in 2018 as a 1st Grade Teacher. Since then, she has transitioned to the role of English Language Learner Coordinator. Before coming to Brooke, Ms. Flaherty served as a 2014 Teach for America Corps Member in the South Bronx, a Fulbright Teaching Scholar in Barranquilla, Colombia, and a 3rd grade teacher in Brooklyn, New York.
Ms. Hannah Kearns
Student Support Coordinator
B.S., University of Vermont
hkearns@ebrooke.orgHannah Kearns joined Brooke in 2019 as a Student Support Coordinator for Brooke's Eighth Grade Academy. Before coming to Brooke, Ms. Kearns taught sixth grade special education in San Diego as a Teach For America corps member.
Ms. Tiffany Thibault
Instructional Support Teacher
B.A., University of Vermont
tthibault@ebrooke.orgTiffany Thibault joined Brooke in 2020 as a Instructional Support Teacher at Brooke's Eighth Grade Academy. Before coming to Brooke, Ms. Thibault was a preschool teacher at Greater Quincy Childcare Center.
Mr. Nicholas Johnson
Art Teacher
B.A., Bunker Hill Community College; Massachusetts College of Art and Design
djohnson@ebrooke.orgNicholas Johnson joined Brooke in 2021 as the Studio Arts Teacher. Before coming to Brooke, Mr. Johnson had more than 10 years of experience with drawing, painting, teaching, and mentoring within the Boston community.
Mr. Alex Drumm, Jr.
Associate Teacher
B.A., Denison University
adrumm@ebrooke.orgAlex Drumm, Jr. joined Brooke in the fall of 2021 as an Associate Teacher at Brooke's 8th Grade Academy. Before coming to Brooke, Mr. Drumm taught 8th grade literature with Breakthrough Boston for two years, 8th grade math with Breakthrough Cambridge for a year, and teaching film at the Brockton Boys and Girls Club.
Ms. Lorraine Ruiz
Office Manager
B.A., Boston University
lruiz@ebrooke.orgLorraine Ruiz joined Brooke in July 2020 as an Office Manager at Brooke High School. Before coming to Brooke, Ms. Ruiz worked at SaaS company in customer success. Previous to that, she spent almost 14 years at a telecommunications company where she held different roles in customer service, logistics, and account management.
Mr. Omar Matos
Facilities Manager
omatos@ebrooke.orgOmar Matos is a graduate of Brighton High School. He is originally from the Dominican Republic and moved to the U.S. in 1992. At Brooke, he is responsible for ensuring schools are always clean, functional, and safe for students and teachers. Prior to Brooke, Omar worked in construction and for the Massachusetts DYS.
Ms. Mayra Ferreira
Day Porter
Mayra Ferreira joined Brooke in 2020 as a day porter at Brooke High School and Eighth Grade Academy. She is part of CM General Services who provides maintenance and cleaning for Brooke Charter Schools.
Mr. Manuel Lopez
Day Porter
mlopez@ebrooke.orgManuel Lopez relocated from Guatemala to Boston 24 years ago. He began working at Brooke High School and Brooke Mattapan in 2016. He is part of CM General Services who provides maintenance and cleaning for Brooke Charter Schools.