Staff

Geno Aloi is one of our Special Education teachers. Geno graduated from Temple University with a Bachelor's degree in Special and Elementary Education, and he is currently pursuing a Master's degree and Reading Specialist Certification at Gwenydd Mercy College.
Aisha Al-Muid is a 4K teaching assistant at Russell Byers. Mrs. Al-Muid has an Associate degree in Early Childhood Education from Borough of Manhattan Community College, a Bachelor's degree in English form Hunter College and is currently working towards her Master's degree in Elementary Education with certification in reading specialist at Lincoln University. She is also pursuing ESL certifications. Aisha has worked as a substitute teacher in the Philadelphia school district and various Charter schools since 2003.
Heather Bowyer is a teaching assistant for the special education team at Russell Byers. She has a Bachelor's degree in Anthropology and a Master's degree in Special Education from the University of Virginia. Heather previously taught 6th grade special education for two years in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Shawn Brandon is our reading and math specialist. Shawn taught in New York City for nine years. She has a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Boston University and a Master's degree in Guidance and Counseling from Hunter College. Shawn also participated in a teacher leadership program at The Reading and Writing Project at Teachers College, Columbia University.
Roberto Carrizales is our facilities manager, and this is his fifth year at Russell Byers. Roberto was a goal keeper on a city-league soccer team in Mexico before coming to Philadelphia.
Jennifer Carvalho teaches 4 year old kindergarten at Russell Byers. She graduated from Eastern University with a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. Before coming to Russell Byers, Jen spent two years teaching at a charter school in Chester, PA. She is currently pursuing a certificate in Early Childhood Education at Eastern University.
Holly Chapman teaches 3rd grade. She has a Bachelor's degree from The College of William and Mary. Holly worked in publishing and association management before obtaining her Masters in Curriculum and Instruction with Elementary Certification from Rosemont College.
Juliana Chapman is a 5K teacher at Russell Byers. She received her Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education from Chestnut Hill College and is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Education at Gratz College. Juliana spent seven years teaching in private schools in Philadelphia and the surrounding suburbs prior to coming to Russell Byers.
Rebecca Chase is a special educator who currently works as a full time inclusion teacher for 5th grade at Russell Byers. Rebecca has a Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood, Special Education, and Elementary Education from Temple University. She has recently completed her Master's in Reading from Gwenydd Mercy College.
Emily Coffin is the Development Coordinator for the Byerschool Foundation. A native of Massachusetts, she earned her B.A. from Bowdoin College in Brunswick, ME where she majored in Government and Spanish. Before joining the Byerschool Foundation, she worked on the Obama campaign as the Deputy Youth Vote Director for the state of Pennsylvania. Emily was part of the team that educated and mobilized high school and college students across the state to get out the vote. She was thrilled to join the Byerschool Foundation and its commitment to Philadelphia youth.
Jennifer Coppertino teaches first grade. She began her work at Russell Byers as a teaching fellow. She has a Bachelor's degree in English from Temple University and is currently pursuing her Master's Degree in Special Education from St. Joseph's University. Jennifer is a yoga instructor for both adults and children.
Sara Demoiny teaches 6th grade at Russell Byers. She taught in the Philadelphia public schools for four years before coming to our school. She has a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Carson-Newman College and a Master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Penn State University.
  Ms. Dominguez is a teaching fellow for 2nd grade. She learned about our school through her work with Big Brothers Big Sisters. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications.
Bill Fitzgerald is a 5th grade teacher at Russell Byers. He received a Bachelor's degree from Holy Family University and a Master's in Education from St. Joseph's University. Bill has been teaching in Philadelphia schools for 18 years.
Vanessa Gelbaugh is the Executive Assistant to Laurada Byers at the Byerschool Foundation. She received her B.A. from Bloomsburg University in English. Before joining the Byerschool Foundation in 2006, she worked as an Executive Assistant/Office Manager for a financial institution. Vanessa and her husband just welcomed their first child, a beautiful baby boy named Liam.
Sonia Gerena is a teaching assistant for 5K, and she has been at Russell Byers from its beginning. She attended Temple University and worked in another Philadelphia charter school for four years before coming to Russell Byers. Sonia also runs the school's breakfast program.
Nora Hildenbrand is a 5th grade teacher at Russell Byers. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art History from Boston University and a Masters degree in Elementary Education from the University of Pennsylvania. Nora taught middle school science for two years in the School District of Philadelphia before coming to us, and she has also worked as an educator in London, Syracuse and New Orleans.
Lindsey Hofflich is a Special Education teaching fellow. She earned a Bachelor's of Science Degree from Temple University in Special Education, Early Childhood and Elementary Education with a minor in Sociology. She taught Pre-K at a local private school for two years prior to coming to Russell Byers.
Linda Hopkins teaches 5K. She has a Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education from West Chester University. Linda taught in The Archdiocese of Philadelphia for two years before coming to Russell Byers in 2005.
Meg Howley has been the Russell Byers Charter School nurse, through Bayada Nurses, since 2008. She is a Registered Nurse and has over 25 years in the health care field. She has experience in Medical-Surgical nursing, home care nursing, and as an instructor for certified nursing assistant training before coming to Russell Byers Charter School.
Teron B. Ivery is a founding 4K teacher. Teron earned a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Millersville University and a Master's degree from Holy Family University. He is permanently certified in the fields of Early Childhood and Elementary Education. Teron has had multiple experiences with Expeditionary Learning, professional development and Outward Bound courses.
Amy Jared is the art teacher. She has a Bachelor's degree from Rhodes College and a Master's degree from The University of the Arts. Amy has over 20 years of experience in the field of art education. Prior to coming to Russell Byers in 2005, Amy worked in the Division of Education at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, where she developed award-winning art programs for children, families, schools, and communities.
Delores Johnson is a teaching assistant for 5K. Delores retired from Verizon with 31 years of experience in telecommunications and customer service. She also coached a track team for her church for ten years.
Pamela Jones-Knapper is our Office Manager. Prior to joining Russell Byers in 2002, Pam was a supervisor for TWA for fifteen years.
Rebecca Levenberg is our Special Education Coordinator. She received her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Learning Disabilities from Northwestern University. Rebecca has more than fifteen years of experience in special education and has worked with preschool, elementary, middle, and high school students.
Judith Locicero teaches 5th grade at Russell Byers. Judi also taught 4th and 8th grades for ten years in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. She received her Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Holy Family University, and she is currently pursuing her Master's degree from Gratz College.
John-Carlos Marino is the 6th grade Science and Social Studies teacher at RBCS. He received a Bachelor's degree in sculpture from Washington University in St. Louis and a Master's degree in Elementary education from the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to coming to Russell Byers, John-Carlos had experience working as a preschool teacher, faux-finisher, and custom sculpture fabricator.
Elizabeth McGuire teaches 4th grade. She joined Russell Byers in 2007 as a Special Education teaching fellow for the upper grades. Elizabeth graduated from The University of Delaware with a Bachelor's degree in Elementary and Special Education.
Beth Morris teaches 2nd grade at Russell Byers. Beth received a Bachelor's degree in Sociology with a Concentration in Social Inequality and Diversity from The University of Massachusetts in Amherst. Beth also has a Master's degree in Elementary Education from The University of Massachusetts in Amherst.
Christopher Pandolfi teaches physical education. A graduate of Ursinus College with a Bachelor's degree in Exercise and Sports Science, he taught for seven years in area Catholic schools before coming to Russell Byers in 2001. Chris is currently pursuing a Masters of Education, and he is certified in CPR and First Aid.
  Julie Parker earned her bachelor's degree and post-baccalaureate elementary teaching certificate from Western Washington University. She gained six years of teaching experience at the middle school level in Atlanta, Georgia and Raleigh, North Carolina. She has been involved in North Carolina State University doctoral studies on learning at the middle level and curriculum planning teams in Atlanta.
Stephen Prichard serves as the interim Chief Executive Officer and is responsible for leading, developing and sustaining the Russell Byers Charter School under the direction of the Board of Trustees. Prior to assuming this role, he served as a member of the RBCS Board of Trustee and Chaired the RBCS Governance and Audit Committees of the Board of Trustees. Most recently he was Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer for Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, a financial services firm headquartered in Philadelphia. Over the past 20 years, he has served in leadership positions with Internet Capital Group, Bose Corporation, DNA Plant Technology and FMC Corporation. Steve has also served in leadership roles in numerous community organizations. Stephen earned a bachelor's degree in Mathematics, Physics and Psychology from Ball State University and an MBA from the University of Chicago.
LaTanya A. Redden is a teaching fellow for 3rd and 4th grades. Before coming to Russell Byers, LaTanya spent five years working with 1st and 2nd graders. She graduated from West Chester University with a Bachelor's degree in Social Work, and she is currently attending Saint Joseph's University for a Master's degree in Education.
Mary Sacchetti is a Special Education teacher at Russell Byers. She works with 1st through 4th grades. Mary graduated from Temple University with a Bachelor's degree in Special and Elementary Education, and she is currently pursuing a Master's degree and Reading Specialist Certification at Saint Joseph's University.
Rafael Santiago is our Security Officer. He was in the Marine Corps for 10 years, and he spent 17 years working as a police officer for the Philadelphia Gas Works. Rafael worked for the School District of Philadelphia Police Department before joining Russell Byers in 2007. He has been involved with Chinese martial arts for over 25 years.
Kwame Sarfo-Mensah is the sixth grade teaching fellow. He graduated from Temple University with a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics and is currently pursuing a Master's degree and certification in Elementary Education at Temple University.
Drew Smith
Rachel Smith is our Spanish teacher. Prior to coming to Russell Byers, Rachel taught for seven years, including four years as an elementary bilingual teacher in Philadelphia and two years of teaching in Honduras. Rachel has a Bachelor's degree in Elementary and Special Education from Geneva College and recently completed her ESL certificate program from the University of Pennsylvania.
Debbie Sperbeck has been with Russell Byers for eight years. She worked with Laurada Byers as her Executive Assistant for the first four years and moved to the school building in 2005. She is now the Director of Enrollment Services, responsible for new and current enrollment. Prior to joining Laurada in 2001, Debbie was the Executive Assistant for the General Counsel at Safeguard Scientifics for 10 years.
April Tomarelli teaches third grade. She came to Russell Byers in 2007 as a teaching fellow for 1st grade. April attended Rosemont College and received both a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and a Master's degree in Elementary Curriculum and Instruction. She also provides private clarinet lessons to elementary aged children starting at the beginner level.
Kathryn Walker is a Teaching Fellow for the third grade. She received her Bachelor of Arts from Randolph-Macon Woman's College in Lynchburg, Virginia and is currently enrolled at Rosemont College taking classes to become a certified teacher and to earn a masters degree in Elementary Education. Kathryn also helps coach the chess team.
Dr. Erik Westby is our Science and Technology Coordinator. He earned a Bachelor's degree from Union College in Psychology and Master's and Doctoral degrees in Educational Psychology from Purdue University. He has 14 years of teaching experience at the university and graduate level. Erik's primary area of research focuses on how children develop an understanding of science. He is the author of numerous journal articles and book chapters on science learning and creativity in education.
Sarah R. Wing teaches 1st grade at Russell Byers. She has a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and a Master's degree in Education from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Sarah previously taught kindergarten and 1st grade in Massachusetts and Philadelphia.
Krista Yutzy-Burkey teaches music and is a founding teacher. She received a Bachelor's degree in Music from Goshen College and has over eight years of teaching experience in Philadelphia. Krista also has a certification from Eastern University to teach K-12 music. She directs the Horsefeather Singers, the Russell Byers Charter School Choir. Krista is also a harpist.
Dr. Elvira I. Zuazo-Legido, is our Certified School Psychologist and is licensed as a Professional Counselor. She has been working in the field for the past 17 years in New Jersey and in the Philadelphia School District. Prior to becoming a school psychologist, she worked as a school counselor. Elvira evaluates students' academic, emotional and behavioral needs and runs small support groups on a variety of topics. She also works closely with parents.