Melissa Katz
Director, The Collaborative for Inclusive Education

Melissa is an inclusion and equity advocate for historically underserved populations in NYC charter schools. As the Director of The Collaborative for Inclusive Education, she works to ensure that schools have access to the essential supports, trainings, resources and technical assistance necessary to ensure the success of all of their students. Prior to joining the Collaborative, she worked as a French dual language teacher and an ESL teacher within the NYC DOE. During her time in the classroom, she strived to provide equity and access for all her students through culturally relevant pedagogy and research-based language supports. Melissa holds B.A.s from Trinity College (Hartford) in French, Spanish and English, earned her M.S. in TESOL as a Teach For America corps member from Fordham University, and her M.S. in Educational Leadership from Hunter College.

mkatz@nyccharterschools.org

Corey Green
Special Education Specialist

Corey provides resources, trainings, and onsite expertise to support NYC charter schools in developing and maintaining inclusive, high-quality special education programs. Based on findings in the field and member feedback, she also programs the Collaborative’s annual professional development offerings. Her work experience reflects her commitment to ensuring that all educators, whether new or experienced, are coached and supported in formal and consistent ways. Corey became a special education teacher through the NYC Teaching Fellows program. After six years of teaching in NYC Department of Education public schools and training first-year teachers in the NYC Teaching Fellows program, she began working in charter schools. Following time at Achievement First as a learning specialist, she spent two years as the Director of Inclusive Learning at Great Oaks. Corey holds a B.A. in Social Work from Rutgers University and a M.S. in Education from Long Island University – Brooklyn.

corey@nycsped.org

Anna Reeve
Part-time Special Education Specialist

Anna provides resources and professional development to schools with a focus on literacy instruction and culturally responsive practices. Anna lives in Haiti, working as an education specialist with Universitè Quisqueya where she helps design alternative programs and pathways for teacher and school leader certification. Prior to moving to Haiti, Anna spent 7 years at Achievement First Endeavor Middle School in Brooklyn. Anna has worked as a special education teacher, coordinator, and dean for 9 years.

Kristen Coelho
ELL/MLL Specialist

Kristen provides resources, trainings, and onsite expertise to support charter schools in developing and growing high quality, inclusive programs for culturally and linguistically diverse students. Kristen has built her career as an international educator across multiple organizations and focused on developing inclusive program models for ELL/MLL populations. Kristen has served as Academic Director of a university pathway and intensive English program for undergraduate and graduate international students. She also taught in both district and charter schools in NYC where she designed and implemented culturally responsive curriculum and led collaborative co-teaching and schoolwide initiatives, resulting in significant performance gains for ELLs/MLLs. Kristen earned a Bachelor of Music degree from Boston University and a Master of Arts degree in TESOL from Columbia University Teachers College.

kcoelho@nyccharterschools.org

Jenn Rodriguez
Inclusive Education Specialist

Jenn facilitates high quality and equitable experiences for all learners via professional development, school visits, and the providing of necessary resources. Jenn started her career in education as an NYC Teaching Fellow and has since worked as a special education teacher, instructional coach, and school leader in both self-contained and co-taught classrooms in New York City district and charter schools. She has helped charter schools implement Universal Design for Learning, effective co-teaching, and Response to Intervention. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from Pace University, an M.A.T. in Special Education from CUNY Queens College, and a Certificate of Advanced Study in School Building and District Leadership from the College of St. Rose.

jodriguez@nyccharterschools.org