Justin A. Vernon – Principal
Justin Vernon, the founding principal of the Roger Clap Innovation School, previously served as principal of the Farragut Elementary School and the Edwards Middle School. Before these positions, he was the assistant principal at the Edison Middle School. Mr. Vernon completed a principal internship at the Harbor School. Before becoming a school administrator in Boston, he taught Math, Science, and exploratory Spanish in both Gaston, North Carolina and Denver, Colorado. Mr. Vernon holds a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science from Allegheny College and a master’s degree in school administration from the Harvard University Graduate School of Education. In 2009, Mr. Vernon completed the Boston Public Schools’ Instructional Leadership Institute course. He is currently a fellow with Boston College and the Lynch Leadership Academy
Teaching Faculty:
Ms. Amanda Sweeney – K1 Teacher
Prior to her K1 position at RCIS, Ms. Sweeney worked with kindergarten students in a Montessori classroom at the East Boston Early Education Center. She holds a Bachelors degree in both Early Childhood Education and Psychology from UMass Boston and is currently finishing her masters degree in Applied Linguistics with a focus in English as a Second Language. Ms. Sweeney has also completed the Boston Public Schools Pathways Program for Moderate Disabilities licensure.
Mrs. Donna Hill-Harris – K2
Donna Hill-Harris, K2 teacher, is a native Bostonian and a graduate of the Boston Public Schools. She earned a Master’s Degree in Education from Fitchburg University, and a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree from Wheelock College. She is professionally licensed in English as a Second Language, Elementary Education and Mild to Moderate Special Needs. She has been sharing her love of learning with students for more than 29 years, and is unwavering in her commitment to RCIS students and families.
Ms. Asha Park-Carter – K0/K1 Integrated
Asha Park-Carter is the K0/K1 Integrated teacher at RCIS. A graduate of Smith College, Ms. Park-Carter participated in the Boston Teacher Residency program (BTR) where she earned her Masters of Education through UMass Boston. She is passionate about Reggio and Montessori teaching practices, and plans to pursue Montessori Teacher certification in Portland, OR over the upcoming three summers. Ms. Park-Carter is also the Teach Plus T3 leader for the Kindergarten Team at RCIS.
Ms. Kamaria Powell – PTC Teacher
Mr. Timothy Appel – Grade 1 Teacher
Mr. Appel grew up in West Virginia and moved to Boston in 2008 to serve in AmeriCorps with a literacy non-profit. After 18 months with that organization, Mr. Appel attended BC and earned a masters degree in Curriculum and Instruction. During his two years at BC, he worked full time at the Gardner Pilot Academy in Allston co-teaching 3rd, and then 2nd grade.
Mr. Demond Criss – Grade 2 Teacher
Demond Criss, the second grade teacher at RCIS, formerly taught first grade at Gardner Pilot Academy (GPA). While teaching first grade, Mr. Criss obtained a master’s degree in Elementary Education from Boston College Lynch School of Education as a Donovan Urban Teaching Scholar. Besides teaching in Boston, Mr. Criss taught second grade for three years in Atlanta, Georgia as a Teach For America corps member. Then, he spent the following two years serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Guyana, South America. Mr. Criss also holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Morehouse College.
Ms. Christina Choi – Grade 3 Teacher
Ms. Suzanne Roddy – Grade 4 Teacher
Suzanne Roddy previously taught 4th grade at the Ralph W. Emerson School in Boston. Prior to that, Ms. Roddy taught in Connecticut for ten years, teaching first, third, and fourth grade over that time. Ms. Roddy received her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Salve Regina University and a master’s degree in Special Education from Southern Connecticut State University. This is Ms. Roddy’s first year serving as a T3 teacher leader in Boston.
Ms. Christine Valenti – Grade 5 Teacher
Christine Valenti is the 4th and 5th Grade Math and Science teacher and a T3 Teacher Leader at the Roger Clap Innovation School. Ms. Valenti previously taught 4th Grade at The Advent School in Boston. Before moving to Boston, Ms. Valenti was a New York City Teaching Fellow and taught 3rd Grade Dual Language Immersion at P.S. 75 in New York City. Ms. Valenti holds a master’s degree in Bilingual and Elementary Education from Fordham University and a bachelor’s degree in Economics, International Affairs, and Spanish from the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Ms. Danielle Aucoin – Resource Room Teacher
Danielle Aucoin graduated from Boston College with a BA in Philosophy and Elementary Education. As a graduate student Danielle interned in the Boston Public Schools. Prior to joining the RCIS team, Danielle earned a M.Ed. in Moderate Special Needs from Boston College.
Ms. Nicole Field – ESL Teacher
Ms. Field comes to RCIS after teaching 1st grade at the Farragut Elementary School in Roxbury. Prior to beginning her career in BPS, Ms. Field graduated magna cum laude in Sociology and Elementary Education from Simmons College. Ms. Field continued at Simmons for her Master of Arts in Teaching and received the Lydia Averhill Hurd Smith Fellow Award for distinguished work in student teaching. In addition to being certified in general elementary education, moderate special education, and English as a Second Language, Ms. Field is currently enrolled in the Boston Teacher Leadership Certificate Program. Ms. Field enjoys being an active member of the RCIS community with her roles as Literacy Leader, Language Acquisition Team Facilitator, Boston Teacher’s Union Representative, Governing Board Teacher Representative, and Data Team member.
Ms. Serena Hayman – Resource Room Teacher
Ms. Amanda Shrekengaust – Science Teacher
Amanda Schreckengaust is the science specialist at RCIS. Before arriving at RCIS, Ms. Schreckengaust taught 8th grade science and 10th grade chemistry at Boston Prep Charter Public School. Before that, she was the founding 5th grade science teacher at the Edward Brooke Charter School. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Tufts University and master’s degree in teacher leadership from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education.
Ms. Connie Cummings – Art Teacher
Ms. Cummings is the visual arts teacher at RCIS and has over twenty-five years experience in the arts and education. Before coming to RCIS, she taught art at the Edward Everett School in Dorchester. Previously she coordinated arts programs for adults and children in cultural centers and museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art. She has a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from Indiana University and a master’s degree in Visual Arts Administration from New York University. An artist as well as a teacher, she exhibits her own work throughout the Boston area. This year she was one of seven BPS educators awarded aTeachers as Artists Fellowship, allowing her to study landscape painting in Italy.
Ms. Alexandria Grant – Chinese Teacher
Ms. Angel Scott – Physical Education Teacher
Ms. Scott has been a PE and Health teacher in BPS since 2006. She earned her undergraduate degree at Emmanuel College and is now pursuing a masters degree in Health at Cambridge College. Her goal is to get more people involved and being physically active here at RCIS.
Support Staff:
Ms. Carrie Hogan-Secretary
Mr. Marquis Victor – Community Field Coordinator
Marquis Victor formerly worked with Citizen Schools as a National Teaching Fellow. He taught at Garfield Middle School in Revere and finished the Fellowship up at Orchard Gardens K-8 School in Roxbury. During the Fellowship, Mr. Victor obtained a master’s degree in Education from Lesley University. In addition, Mr. Victor heads The Elevated Thought Foundation, a nonprofit organization. Mr. Victor also holds a bachelor’s degree in Communications from Salem State University where he captained the Men’s Basketball team his senior year.
Ms. Lauren Melone – City Connects / BC – Student Support Coordinator
Ms. Katie Hickey – Instructional Coach through Teach Plus
Ms. Hickey is the T3 coach at RCIS. She has previously taught ELA to grades 5-6 and is currently working on her doctoral dissertation at Boston University.
Ms. Mabel Picotte – Principal Intern
Ms. Mary Jane Brady – Special Education Support Coordinator
Mrs. Marylou Vivian-Morris – Nurse
Mrs. Vivian-Morris has been working as a nurse in BPS for the last 12 years. She has a master’s degree in Education from Cambridge College.
Paraprofessionals:
Ms. Jennifer Wilson – K1 Paraprofessional
Ms. Diane Wilson – K2 Paraprofessional
Ms. Gladialissa Grullon – K0/K1 Integrated
Ms. Shelly Britto- PTC Paraprofessional
Kitchen Staff:
Ms. Kay – Head of Kitchen
Ms. Kay has with worked with BPS for over 26 years and has been at the Clap school for 16.
Ms. Alicea – Lunch Monitor
Custodial Staff:
Mr. Eban Smith – Custodian