Eighth Grade Academy Team 2020-2021
Ms. Danielle Blair
Principal
B.A., Spelman College; M.Ed., Georgia State University
dblair@ebrooke.orgDanielle Blair joined Brooke in 2011 as a fifth grade math and science teacher at Brooke Mattapan. Since then, Ms. Blair taught sixth grade for three years and served as an assistant principal for three years at Brooke Mattapan. Ms. Blair is currently the principal of Brooke’s Eighth Grade Academy. Before coming to Brooke, Ms. Blair taught fourth grade for two years in Atlanta. Ms. Blair was also a Teach for America corps member.
Mr. Matt Magoon
Dean of Students, Eighth Grade Academy Athletic Director
B.A., The College of Wooster
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 and 8th grade ELA and Social Studies at Brooke.Mr. Magoon is currently serving as The Dean of Students at the 8th Grade Academy
Mr. Corey Yarbrough
Director of Operations
B.A., James Madison University
cyarbrough@ebrooke.orgCorey Yarbrough joined Brooke in 2016 as the Founding Director of Operations of Brooke High School and 8th Grade Academy. Before coming to Brooke, Corey founded and served as Executive Director of a local non-profit organization for 6 years and managed college prep programs for first generation college-bound students in the New England region.
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. Dorice Moise
School Psychologist
B.A., Boston College; Ed.M., Harvard Graduate School of Education; M.A., Ed.S, Tufts University
dmoise@ebrooke.orgDorice Moise joined Brooke in 2016 as the School Psychologist at Brooke Roslindale, where she was also an Associate Teacher from 2008-2010. Ms. Moise is currently the School Psychologist at Brooke High School. Prior to returning to Brooke in 2016, she worked at UP Academy Holland and UP Academy Boston, as a School Psychologist and Special Education Coordinator. Ms. Moise is passionate about trauma-informed learning and is dedicated to the academic and social emotional success of all students.
Ms. Shantae Romain
Assistant 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 Assistant Director of Operations. Prior to Brooke, Ms. Romain worked at Tufts Health Plan for 7 years in clinical strategy and member operations. Ms. Romain is also a proud member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, a community conscious, action-oriented organization focused on initiatives that uplift the communities Zeta serves.
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. C.E. Tomlin
Social Studies Teacher
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.
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.
Mr. Brandi Brillant
Math Teacher
B.S., Southern Connecticut State University; M.P.H., University of Massachusetts Amherst
bbrillant@ebrooke.orgBrandi Brillant joined Brooke in July of 2020, as a Math Teacher at Brooke's Eighth Grade Academy. Before coming to Brooke, Mr. Brillant had 3 years providing service with Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated in Springfield Massachusetts. Mr. Brillant also had 2 years experience working in education primarily in 7th and 8th grade math at Achievement First Bridgeport Academy Middle School.
Mr. Rayshawn Buchanan
Math 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 Eighth Grade Academy Math Teacher. Before coming to Brooke, Mr. Buchanan served a Student Life Counselor at the Seed School of Miami in Florida.
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.
Ms. Destiney Nancy Jones
Math Teacher
B.A., St. John's University; M.A., Brown University
djones@ebrooke.orgDestiney Nancy Jones joined Brooke in July of 2020, as a math teacher at Brooke's Eighth Grade Academy. Before Brooke, Ms. Jones completed a teaching fellowship at Prospect Hill Academy After her fellowship, she taught 6th and 7th grade at Prospect Hill Academy. She is also a Sci-Ed Fellow practicing the democratic style of teaching.
Ms. Darlande Joseney
English Language Arts Teacher
B.A., University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
djoseney@ebrooke.orgDarlande Joseney joined Brooke in 2019 as an Associate Teacher at Eighth Grade Academy. Ms. Joseney is currently serving as an Eighth Grade English Language Arts Teacher. Before coming to Brooke, Ms. Joseney worked with Generation Teach.
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. Mike Massey
Mindfulness Teacher
Ms. Kaylee Pena
Math Teacher
B.A., Boston College
kpena@ebrooke.orgKaylee Pena joined Brooke in 2019 as an algebra and pre-algebra teacher for Brooke's Eighth Grade Academy. Before coming to Brooke, Kaylee had 5 years of teaching experience, and four of those years she worked as a seventh grade math teacher at Roxbury Prep Charter School.
Mr. William Richardson
Math Teacher
B.A., George Washington University
wrichardson@ebrooke.orgWilliam Richardson joined Brooke in July of 2020 as a Math Teacher and House Chair at Brooke's Eighth Grade Academy. Prior to joining Brooke, Mr. Richardson had more than 5 years experience working as a math teacher and instructional lead at Synergy Academies, a charter organization in Los Angeles. He has also previously worked to help grow technology startups in the Philippines and Boston.
Ms. Jessica Rubin
Social Studies Teacher
B.A., Franklin & Marshall College; M.E.T., Sposato Graduate School of Education
jrubin@ebrooke.orgJessica Rubin joined Brooke in 2019 as an ELA and Social Studies teacher at 8th Grade Academy. Ms. Rubin currently serves as an 8th Grade Social Studies Teacher. Before coming to Brooke, Ms. Rubin served as a City Year Corps Member at Orchard Gardens Pilot School in Roxbury, MA, and then went on to teach for three years at Up Academy Boston.
Ms. Sarah Seltzer
Science Teacher
B.A., Bridgewater State University
sseltzer@ebrooke.orgSarah Seltzer joined Brooke in July of 2020, as a science teacher at the Brooke's Eighth Grade Academy. Before coming to Brooke, Ms. Seltzer was a Robert Noyce Science Scholar, working to bring STEM educational outreach to high needs school districts.
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 ELA and Social Studies teacher for Eighth Grade Academy. She currently serves as an Eighth Grade ELA 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.
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. Angel Albelo
Athletic Director, Brooke Mattapan, 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.
Mr. Charles Hughley
Video Production Teacher
B.A. and M.A., Northeastern University
chughley@ebrooke.orgCharles Hughley joined Brooke in 2017 to teach media literacy and video production at Brooke High School. He continues to teach that course at the high school as well as at Brooke's Eighth Grade Academy. Mr. Hughley also coaches the high school flag football and table tennis teams as well as the eighth grade basketball team. Before coming to Brooke, Mr. Hughley started and currently runs his own visual production company, Brothers in Beards.
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. Hannah Kearns
Student Support Coordinator
B.S., University of Vermont
hkearns@ebrooke.orgHannah Kearns joined Brooke in 2019 as a Student Support Coordinator for the 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. Nicole Eduwensuyi
Operations Associate
B.A., UMass Boston; M.S., Northeastern University
neduwensuyi@ebrooke.orgNicole Eduwensuyi joined Brooke in 2019, as an Associate Teacher with 8th Grade Academy. Ms. Eduwensuyi currently serves as an Operations Associate with 8th Grade Academy. Before coming to Brooke, Ms. Eduwensuyi served as an AmeriCorper with Massachusetts Promise Fellowship for two years. After serving, she lived in Nigeria for a year.
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. 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.
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.