Board of Directors
Sara Berman, Chair |
Norman Green |
Maureen Gonzalez Campbell, Principal
Education & Training
BA, Vassar College ( Tutorial at Oxford University)
MA and 30 credits beyond MA, Teacher's College and City College of NY
I became an educator because...
I chose to work in education because it is an opportunity to faciliate learning for adults and children.
My favorite memory from teaching and learning...
My favorite memory was finishing my classwork and being able to use the reading kit. The reading kit had stories with different levels coded by colors. It was fun selecting stories to read, completing the activities and then earning the next level "up". I remember enjoying reading in my own quiet place and traveling the world through the stories while at "my desk".
I joined HLA because...
It was an opportunity to start up a school that aims to be an excellent institution through teamwork among children, parents, staff, and the community at large.
My vision for our children at HLA...
To create a learning environment where each child is successful in attaining knowledge, acquiring skills while joyful as a thinker and doer at home, school and in society at large.
Lisa DiGaudio, Director of Curriculum and Instruction
Education & Training
BA, Adelphi University
MA, Walden University and Stony Brook
I became a teacher because…
When I was a junior in high school, my Psychology teacher asked me to tutor a fellow student in math so she could graduate. The entire semester, I worked with this girl so she could walk with us on graduation. The success of that moment pushed me to seek education as my career. Having taught for over twelve years, it was natural for me to pursue leadership opportunities. By working with teachers and building a community that thinks outside of the box, I feel hopeful that we will be able to increase the potential of our young learners to do the same as adults. Teaching and teacher leadership are very humbling experiences, and I would not trade that for the world!
My favorite memory from teaching and learning…
One of my favorite memories was from my first year as a fifth grade teacher in another charter school. I had a student who was giving me a very hard time every day. She would write me "break up" letters that would ask me to give up on her. I never stopped trying. When she graduated, she would always come back to visit me and when I had her sister three years later, she sent me a Valentine's Day card thanking me for never giving up. I still have all of the letters she wrote me and I read them every time I need to be reminded that I have what it takes to work with children and make a difference.
I joined HLA because…
HLA is a school that encourages thought, supports its teachers, and molds our children with love and respect. It is an institution that will become the standard measure of excellent schools.
My vision for our children at HLA…
The vision I have for students at HLA is that our population will grow to be role models to the community and demonstrate what it means to be citizens of the world. I want our students to be the measure of what well rounded and eclectic truly means, and use their knowledge and experiences from HLA to guide their next steps as productive adults in their community. It is my wish that by learning what it means to "make a difference" at HLA, our students will embody that mission and positively impact the people around them to do the same.
Esosa Ogbahon, Director of General Studies
Education & Training
BA, Bucknell University
MA, Brooklyn College, CUNY and Teachers College, Columbia University
I became an educator because...
I chose to work in education for two reasons: 1) I had wonderful teachers; 2) I feel that through education I can have the greatest positive impact on society.
My favorite memory from teaching and learning...
While teaching kindergarten, I had many wonderful experiences. Many of my favorite experiences involved witnessing a child's joy as they learned how to read. On many occasions, children returned to school excited that a word they learned in school existed in the world outside of school. Children shared their real world reading connections with each other, reinforcing their excitement.
I joined HLA because...
I joined the HLA team because of the school's mission of immersing a diverse student body in the Hebrew language and culture.
My vision for our children at HLA...
As you walk into classrooms at HLA, students will be actively engaged in reading and conversing. They will understand that they bring knowledge to the classroom that is worth sharing. Children will also know and feel that there is a large and interesting world outside of the four walls of the classroom.