Nick Marinacci

He/HIM

Principal

Nick Marinacci is the principal of Murray Hill Academy, and while in his second year as principal here, has been in the field of education since 1996. Nick was inspired to be an educator from a class at Regis High School, where he was assigned to read Jonathan Kozol’s Savage Inequalities and knew that education was his calling. 

 He graduated from the College of William and Mary and entered teaching through the Teach for America program. Along the way he earned a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education from Lehman College and a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Baruch College. He taught in the Bronx and in Washington DC before becoming a principal through New Leaders for New Schools. Nick founded the Bronx Writing Academy, a middle school, in 2004 and after a successful tenure there was selected to become an Executive Principal in District 79. In D79 he led Passages Academy, founded East River Academy on Rikers Island, and was eventually promoted to Deputy Superintendent. During the Covid 19 pandemic, while still performing his duties as Deputy Superintendent, Nick led one of the city’s Regional Enrichment Centers for the children of first responders during the first months of the pandemic, and reported in person throughout school closures to juvenile detention centers to ensure that students had continued access to education. He was nominated for a Hometown Hero Award by the NY Daily news for these efforts. Nick then helped to lead the high school expansion of an arts focused charter school in the South Bronx. 

 Some of Nick’s other notable achievements include being selected to the Cahn Fellows program for distinguished NYC principals, receiving the Austin H MacCormick award for educational leadership in correctional settings, and the NYC DOE Tech Summit award for leadership in integrating technology into instruction.  When not at work, Nick can be found cheering on his 3 children at various sporting events throughout NYC or cheering on his beloved Mets and Jets. 

E-mail: NMarinacci3@schools.nyc.gov

Daniel Chu

he/him

ASSISTANT Principal/ pono’s dad

Daniel Chu is founding member of MHA and has served as the Assistant Principal of Murray Hill Academy since 2017 after teaching in the Bronx, Harlem, and at MHA since 2012. Mr. Chu received his B.A. in Secondary Education/Social Studies from the University of Maryland and his M.A. in Educational Leadership from New York University (NYU), where he completed field research studying international education during his semester abroad in South Africa. Mr. Chu has over 20 years of experience in teaching, educational leadership, consultant work, and currently serves on the Regional Board of a non-profit called BookTrust. He successfully completed the Advanced Leadership Program for Aspiring Principals (ALPAP) by the Executive Leadership Institute (ELI) and NYC Council for School Administrators (CSA).

As a grandson of Chinese immigrants, Mr. Chu believes that education can serve as a great equalizer and has made it his mission to ensure ALL students receive a high quality education, regardless of income or race and that ALL students can succeed when given the right resources and supports. It is for this reason that Mr. Chu is constantly working with students at MHA to set them up for success, whether it’s getting them extra classes they want, helping to set up more clubs, or increasing access to free college credits for his students.

Mr. Chu is a third degree black belt and five time national champion in Soo Bahk Do. He has spent over a decade living in NYC, but now commutes from his home state of New Jersey with his husband and two dogs, Pono and Olive. Mr. Chu’s hobbies include traveling the world, live music, gardening, hiking, yoga, basketball, and biking. Aside from his killer basketball skills during the annual staff vs. student basketball game and his board-breaking karate skills at the Talent Show, he is best known on campus as “Pono (our school dog)’s Dad.”

E-mail: dchu4@schools.nyc.gov

Text or Call: 646-266-9400

Pono

he/him

School emotional support Dog

Pono was born in South Carolina. He was rescued and raised by Mr. Chu in 2015 and lived in the East Village, Bushwick, Upper East Side, and now loves catching sticks in his backyard in New Jersey. His favorite part of the day is seeing his best friends at MHA and he loves going to work every day to the point where he sometimes “plays dead” trying to stay at MHA when it’s time to go home. He loves treats, body surfing, walks, and belly rubs. He dislikes the sound of trucks backing up and thunder.

Moe Islam

he/him

School Business Manager

Mr. Islam is the School Business Manager at Murray Hill Academy. He has been with the school since it first opened in 2010. Mr. Islam attended high school and college in NYC. He is originally from Bangladesh and migrated with his family when he was seven years old. He works with students and staff members for school events and budgeting. Mr. Islam enjoys watching movies, travelling, trying out new food, and swimming.

E-mail: mislam@schools.nyc.gov

Text or Call: 646-235-8130

Mr. Alicea

he/him

supervising school aide

Mr. Alicea (Jason) was born and raised in Brooklyn, graduated from Norman Thomas High School in 1993, and now lives in the Lower East Side in Manhattan. He went to BMCC for a few years and began working at Norman Thomas High School in 2001. He then continued working on campus, but with Murray Hill Academy as a founding member in 2010 and is now a Supervising School Aide. He is an expert at memorizing every student’s name at MHA and is often described as the “heart and soul” of MHA. During his free time, he likes to play video games, loves WWE wrestling, swimming in the ocean, and spending quality time with his wife and 2 kids.

E-mail: JAlicea3@schools.nyc.gov

Mr. Al-Nomani

he/him

AP Literature Teacher

Joining the MHA team in 2025, Mr. Al-Nomani comes in with 6 years of teaching experience at both the middle and high school level. Mr. Al-Nomani comes from Houston, TX where he first began to teach with Teach for America, a program that inspired him to recognize that to achieve real change, we have to educate our future generations with the tools to change things for the better. Mr. Al-Nomani first attended Texas A&M University majoring in both Philosophy and English, aiming to learn complex systems of thought and how to write about them. After moving to NYC in 2021, he attended City College of New York to receive his Masters in English Education to better his knowledge and ability to teach students. Mr. Al-Nomani believes that everyone has the power to change the world for the better, it's only a matter of uniting and fighting for a common cause. Beyond teaching, Mr. Al-Nomani reads a lot of literary fiction and sociological texts, bikes across the city, hosts and plans community events, forages for cool plants and mushrooms, and plays the occasional video game.

Email: malnomani2@schools.nyc.gov

Ms. Antonsanti

she/her

school secretary/pupil accounting and attendance

E-mail: YAntonsanti@schools.nyc.gov

Ms. Bedoya

SHE/HER

AP US history teacher/ ALL SCHOOL SGO CO-ADVISOR/chess club advisor

E-mail: mbedoya@schools.nyc.gov

Mr. Bernstein

he/him

physical education teacher

Mr. Bernstein has been a member of the MHA staff since the school opened in 2010 and has over 20 years teaching experience between Long Island and the City of New York Department of Education. Bernstein has worked with COSA and Senior Trip, Prom, Graduation and numerous school-wide activities over the years. Mr. Bernstein volunteered time with recruiting students at city-wide high school fairs and helped as Social Chair for a couple of years. He is a long standing member of the New York State Physical and Health Education Teachers Association. In his spare time, Bernstein works for his alma mater Stony Brook University producing Football and Men's and Women's Basketball games for ESPN. Mr. Bernstein received his B.A. from Stony Brook University and Masters Degree in Physical Education from Adelphi University.

E-mail: jbernst9@schools.nyc.gov

Mr. Burstein

he/him

English SPECIAL EDUCATION teacher/TESTING COORDINATOR

Josh Burstein has been at MHA since the beginning. He earned his BFA in Dramatic Writing from NYU, and his MA in English Education at Columbia University. Mr. Burstein believes in having high expectations for his students. In his spare time, he enjoys trivia, watching hour-long dramas, axe-throwing, and the Mets (whenever they decide to be enjoyable). He lives with his wife, Rachel, their beagle, Penny, and two children.

E-mail: jburstein@schools.nyc.gov

Mr. Cheung

HE/HIM

Math teacher/12th Grade team leader/soccer club advisor

Kevin Cheung mainly teaches Geometry but is also involved with Algebra 1, Financial Math, and Pre-Calculus. Mr. Cheung received his B.B.A. in Finance and Business Management from Pace University and his M.A. in Adolescent of Mathematics from Hunter College. Mr. Cheung has experience teaching in both public and private schools. He also had close to 10 years of working experience as a tax accountant before changing his career to education. As a Chinese immigrant who came to the country at the age of twelve, Mr. Cheung believes education is the essential key leading to a successful future. Inside his classroom, you will find Mr. Cheung and his students being fully engaged in hands-on lessons. He believes students learn best when they are being involved. Mr. Cheung is a new dad and his interests/hobbies have all shifted to taken care of baby Jace!

E-mail: kcheung8@schools.nyc.gov

Ms. Chung

she/her

Math / Computer Science / Special Education Teacher/Robotics club advisor

Ms. Chung received her BA from CUNY Hunter College and MSED from Mercy College. She believes that equity and a high quality of education should be provided to every student in her classrooms. Ms. Chung’s life was influenced by two amazing teachers from her youth: a high school math teacher who trained Ms. Chung to develop a strong work ethic in mathematics and a high school ENL teacher who never gave up on her. Her goal is to give this wonderful life-changing experience to the next generation in MHA through her teaching. Ms. Chung is originally from South Korea. She loves to listen to Broadway show songs, watch Ballet performances, and bake pastry with fruit and vegetables inside.

Email: jchung19@schools.nyc.gov

Ms. Aida Diop

she/her

LMSW, SOCIAL WORKER

BRINGCHANGE2MIND MENTAL HEALTH CLUB ADVISOR

Ms. Aida Diop is the School Social Worker at Murray Hill Academy. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Ohio University and her Master’s in Clinical Social Work from Fordham University. Born in Brooklyn and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, Ms. Aida is a licensed social worker with four years of experience supporting students in high schools.

Passionate about guiding students through life’s challenges and successes, Ms. Aida is committed to helping them achieve their personal and academic goals. Raised in a Senegalese household by immigrant parents and being a first-generation college student herself, she deeply values education. She looks forward to empowering youth to feel supported enough to graduate and pursue their dreams.

For self-care, Ms. Aida loves listening to music and cooking. She enjoys spending time walking her puppy, Kuma, with her high school sweetheart and husband. Ms. Aida also enjoys trying new things and brings that creativity into her counseling sessions and school environment. Her guilty pleasure is binge-watching TV shows and movies during her free time.

E-mail: MDiop4@schools.nyc.gov

Cell: (929)-737-6965

Ms. Esses

she/her

Speech-Language Pathologist

Ms. Esses received her B.S./B.A. in Psychology and Advertising from Boston University and her M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology from Long Island University - Brooklyn Campus. She has been working with students on the Norman Thomas High School campus for almost two decades and has loved every minute of it. She has also had experience in writing copy for an advertising firm and in co-founding and running a small, gluten-free cookie company. Ms. Esses is passionate about her work with students and believes in a student-centered approach to therapy. She maintains that students must be active and motivated participants in their own educational process and that different students learn in individualized ways. Ms. Esses believes that students of ALL abilities have the potential to learn and to make meaningful and significant contributions to our society. In her free time, Ms. Esses enjoys spending time outdoors, running, yoga, baking, reading, and having living room dance parties with her two children and uncoordinated husband.

E-mail: jesses2@schools.nyc.gov

Ms. Fletcher

she/her

SPANISH TEACHER/Enlgish as a new language teacher

Ms. Fletcher was born in California and lived briefly in Nevada before settling in Oregon where she received her B.A. in Spanish with a minor in Education from the University of Portland and during which time she studied abroad in Spain. After graduation she taught English in Chile for a year. It was through this experience that she truly fell in love with the Spanish language and living in another culture, a love she strives to share with her students. She spent the next few years working in Oregon, working for the Ministry of Education in Chile, and windsurfing and teaching English as a New Language (ENL) in Hawaii. She then moved to NYC where she earned a dual masters, an M.A. in Teaching Spanish and an M.A. in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from New York University. She spent her first five years after graduating teaching Spanish and ENL in the Bronx, followed by eight years teaching Spanish in Brooklyn, and has been teaching Spanish at Murray Hill Academy since 2023. Ms. Fletcher believes learning should be fun and works hard to create an engaging classroom where all students feel comfortable. When she is not teaching, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two kids, traveling the world, playing soccer, running, yoga, and baking.

E-mail: Lfletcher6@schools.nyc.gov

Text or Call: 929-737-6965

Mr. Hwang

(he/him)

Math SAT SKILLS and Computer Science Teacher

Mr. Hwang is excited to join the Murray Hill Academy community. His love for teaching comes from a deep passion for making math more accessible and less intimidating. He hopes his students can discover the same joy and curiosity he finds in the subject because he believes there is real beauty in mathematics, and everyone deserves a chance to experience it.

He earned a BS in Mathematics and another BS in Computer Science from St. John’s University. After that, he completed his MA in Math Education at Teachers College, Columbia University, where he is now pursuing his PhD. His current research explores whether artificial intelligence can support deeper learning by engaging with the ways students think mathematically. Mr. Hwang is certified to teach both math and computer science.

Mr. Hwang grew up in an immigrant family and a low-income household, where education played a big role in shaping his path. That experience continues to influence how he approaches the classroom. He believes math does not have to be a subject students either love or hate. It can be a universal language that helps them make sense of the world.

Outside of school, Mr. Hwang enjoys traveling, exploring new cultures, and learning something new whenever he can, whether that is through a good conversation, a book, or hands-on experience. He is always looking for ways to keep growing, both as a teacher and a learner.

E-mail: SHwang8@schools.nyc.gov

Ms. Jurska

she/her

ENGLISH & special education TEACHER

Coordinator of student activities (COSA)

Ms. Jurska is passionate about fostering a classroom environment where students develop not only as strong readers and writers but also as critical thinkers who can navigate and challenge the world around them. In her role as the Coordinator of Student Activities and SGO co-advisor, she collaborates with faculty and students to plan school events, extracurricular activities, and supports student initiatives that cultivate leadership, teamwork, and social responsibility. She believes that education extends beyond academic skills, it's about empowering students to advocate for a more just and equitable world, and that starts with nurturing students as whole beings. 

Ms. Jurska holds BAs in English and Psychology from Hunter College, a Master’s degree in English and Special Education from St. John’s University, and School Building & School District Leadership licenses from the College of St Rose. She approaches her teaching with the belief that every student has a voice that deserves to be heard, and that school should be a place where they learn how to question, engage, and contribute to a community committed to collective well-being.

Outside the classroom, Ms. Jurska enjoys reading, baking sweet treats, hiking, kayaking, and watching films. Her commitment to community-building informs both her personal and professional life, and she is always eager to help students explore their roles in creating a better and more compassionate world.

E-mail: cjurska@schools.nyc.gov

Ms. Killelea

SHE/HER

SOCIAL STUDIES and SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER

IEP COORDINATOR

Originally from New England, Ms. Killelea has been a global history teacher at MHA since 2017. She graduated from Syracuse University with a dual major in History and International Relations with a concentration in International Security and Diplomacy, and a minor in Medieval and Renaissance Studies. Before training to be a teacher, Ms. K worked in the travel industry and has been lucky enough to travel extensively around the world. She earned her M.S in Education from LIU-Brooklyn in 2019 and her M.S in Library and Information Science from Pratt Institute in 2023. In addition to teaching, Ms. Killelea is also the MHA IEP coordinator.

If you have any questions concerning IEP documents or meetings, please feel free to contact her!

E-Mail: rkillelea@schools.nyc.gov

Ms. Lamb

she/her

ART teacher/cheerleading and dance coach/art club advisor/ talent showcase director

Before joining Murray Hill Academy, Ms. Lamb danced and taught dance professionally. She was the first person to graduate with a dual degree between NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts (MFA in Dance) and Steinhardt (MA in Dance Education, Teaching all Grades). She graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2014 with a BFA in Fibers and a minor in dance from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). As a dancer, Ms. Lamb has performed in numerous events, festivals and theaters including: Crystal Pite’s Polaris as a part of Lincoln Center’s White Light Festival, Table of Silence Project 9/11, KODAFE, Ballet Inc.The Series, as a guest solo artist in Dance ARIS (Artist Residence in the Smokies), Radio City Music Hall, City Center, Dixon Place and Dance Theatre of Harlem. She continues to perform with Bodies Never Lie Dance Company. Ms. Lamb is passionate about arts education and the magic of creativity. She discovered this magic through her own arts teachers and hopes to transfer this same joy to her students

E-mail: mlamb4@schools.nyc.gov

Ms. Leon

she/her

SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER

Ms. Leon is a Special Education Teacher at Murray Hill Academy. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Finance from New York University, a Master’s in Special Education from Queens College, With over 13 years of experience in special education, she has worked as a teacher, job coach, instructional leader, and advocate for diverse learners.

Of Dominican descent, Ms. Leon is passionate about viewing language and culture as strengths in learning. She is dedicated to creating specially designed instruction that supports students of all abilities, while also preparing them with job readiness skills and real-world tools for independence and long-term success.

For self-care, Ms. Leon enjoys long walks on the beach, solo-travel and reading.

E-mail: ILeon6@schools.nyc.gov

Mr. Marquez

he/him

math and computer science teacher/LGBTQI+ Club advisor/11th Grade Team leader

Mr. Marquez completed a double major in Binghamton University, where he studied Financial Economics and Philosophy. After college, Mr. Marquez worked in the private financial sector, where he worked in Private Equity Research. After 5 years, Mr. Marquez pursued Education and earned a Masters of Science in Education from CUNY - Lehman College. Mr. Marquez currently teaches Math, Computer Science, and Psychology, and he serves as the Faculty Advisor for Murray Hill's LGBTQ+ Club. In his free time, Mr. Marquez enjoys traveling to foreign countries and working out. Mr. Marquez lives by the quote "Do what you love, and you'll never work a day in your life."  

E-mail: emarquez4@schools.nyc.gov

Mr. Male

he/him

social studies teacher/dean

Mr. Trek

he/him

PHYSICS Teacher

Mr. Trek joined MHA in 2025, but has eight years of experience teaching in a variety of countries, locales, and disciplines. Mr. Trek carries a wealth of experiences from his time as an engineer and international developer out of Africa, and has enthusiastic attitudes towards perpetual and lifestyle learning that informs the way he lives and teaches--we should always seek to grow and learn. Mr. Trek has multiple degrees out of Columbia University, as well as University of Utah and a few others, for a total of seven programs across science, psychology, engineering, and education. But, true to his word, Trek never stops, and is now working on programs in biology (spec: botany) and an advanced program for Physics. Outside of MHA, Mr. Trek takes classes, runs, keeps plants and mosses, mods Gameboys, digs up and restores old tech, collects board games, participates in local community research labs, biolabs, and makerspaces, and has a very unpopular YouTube channel that will one day host DIY project content, but for now just hosts exceptionally boring video game stuff.

Yes, it’s from Star Trek.

E-mail: dmartin107@schools.nyc.gov

Mrs. Morales

she/her

CTE TEACHER, including 9th grade Financial Literacy and virtual enterprise

Mrs. Morales graduated from City College, New York Technical College and Albany University, with a bachelor’s degree in education, minor in African studies and a Masters in Curriculum development. Her teaching career began at the age of 19 when she took a rare route that encouraged talented vocational high school graduates to become CTE teachers. The Substitute Vocational Assistants Program, a collaborative effort between City College, the Board of Education and the United Federation of Teachers gave Carmen a head start in the teaching profession.

Before joining Murray Hill Academy, Mrs. Morales was a master teacher for district 79 schools and programs. An award-winning educator, she is the recipient of the New York City Big Apple Award, Daily News Hometown Hero award, Anna M. Kross Award for outstanding youth justice educator, honoree of the Medal of Meritorious Duty awarded by the Department of Corrections, the recipient of the Joseph A Felder Award for outstanding work in the field of printing and an awardee of the NFTE national award for excellence in the teaching of entrepreneurship. Mrs. Morales’ class has been televised on PBS as well as broadcasted on the Department of Corrections NYC DOC TV series to highlight her student’s academic achievements.

For 32 years Mrs. Morales has prepared incarcerated adolescents at Rikers Island and other district 79 schools for the high school equivalency exam and spearheaded the first SAT exam given at East River Academy. Determined to change the stereotype that plagues incarcerated youth, Mrs. Morales created a college initiative program that enabled eight of her students to be accepted to both SUNY and CUNY colleges while still incarcerated. She became a part of the Raise the Age effort by developing a TASC preparation program at the Passages Horizon school. After which, she collaborated with the Brooklyn District Attorneys’ office and developed a hybrid alternative to incarceration GED program; the only one of its kind where both adults and adolescents learn together.  Both programs have since expanded and are continued today.

E-mail:   cmorales23@schools.nyc.gov

Ms. Nappy

she/her

College counselor/pathways advisor/12th grade lead academic tracker

Ms. Nappy received her B.A. in Biology and Sociology from Providence College. It was during her junior year of college that she realized she no longer saw herself pursuing a career on the Pre-Health track, but she was unsure of a future path forward. As a grandchild of immigrants who were not able to pursue higher education opportunities, Ms. Nappy was driven to work to increase college access through an opportunity to become a College Counselor in NYC public schools upon graduation. 

While serving as a College Counselor for 5 years, Ms. Nappy fell in love with the counseling field, particularly the college and career focus. Consequently, she went on to obtain her M.A. in School Counseling and Guidance from NYU. Ironically, Ms. Nappy credits her students for inspiring her to find her vocation, for it is through guiding them to find theirs that she has found hers.

If you know Ms. Nappy, you know she is a proud Queens resident, a zealous NY Liberty fan, and a dedicated member of the BeyHive. In her free time, she enjoys reading, writing, being active, dancing (for fun), traveling, trying new foods, and spending time with her family and friends.

E-Mail: CNappy@schools.nyc.gov

Text or Call: 646-879-2876

Mr. Nielsen

he/him

social studies teacher/ SUBJECT AREA LEADER

After growing up in the great state of New York, he traveled south where he earned his B.A. in History from the University of Maryland. After his graduation, he made his triumphant return to New York to pursue a career in historical scholarship at Fordham University. But alas, a potential lifetime of researching the enforcement of labor laws in Essex following the Black Death or the development of medieval debtor jails quickly became unappealing, so, once he earned his M.A. in History from Fordham, he decided to move on in search of more dynamic career options. After earning a M.A. in Social Studies Education from NYU, he began his career teaching in NYC in 2009. After a nomadic beginning to his career, he began teaching at Murray Hill Academy in 2012, where he remains to this day. When not working to forge the youth of NYC into agents of positive change in the world, Christopher Nielsen enjoys reading voraciously, supporting and consuming all manner of artistic pursuits, traveling the globe, and pondering the mysteries of the universe.

E-mail: cnielsen@schools.nyc.gov

Ms. Bou (Owusu-Safo)

she/her

SCIENCE teacher/SUBJECT AREA LEADER/Green team advisor/step team advisor

Since the age of 14, every job and endeavor Ms. Owusu possessed involved working with kids which led her to become a high school teacher. Ms. Bou received her B.S. in Geology from Syracuse University and M.A. in Earth Science Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. From her academic experiences, she believes students learn best by applying major science concepts through real-world scenarios. Ms. Bou taught 6th and 7th grade general science to a middle school in the Bronx tailoring her lessons to attenuate the needs of her students. She is also a proud Math for America Master Teacher and is currently teaching Earth Science and AP Environmental Science at Murray Hill Academy.

E-mail: dowususafo@schools.nyc.gov

Mrs. Parra Innocent

she/her

SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER and special education liason

Mrs. Parra-Innocent was born in Bogota, Colombia and emigrated to the United States at the age of five. She attended New York University and majored in Philosophy and Sociology, and minored in Psychology. She coordinated various youth programs at the YWCA of New York City prior to becoming a teacher. She was selected as a New York City Teaching Fellow and has been teaching in NYC since 2006. She holds a Masters in Urban Education from Mercy College. In 2011, she was awarded the NYC Teaching Fellows Award for Classroom Excellence, for her work at DeWitt Clinton High School. She has been teaching at Murray Hill Academy since 2011, and has taught ELA and Social Studies. She is currently the Special Education Lead at MHA, and strongly believes in every student’s potential for excellence.

E-mail: mparra@schools.nyc.gov

Mr. Robinson

he/him

Science teacher/9th grade team leader

Mr. Robinson received his B.S. from Stony Brook University studying Marine Biology, and his M.A.T. in Adolescent Science Education from Relay Graduate School of Education. Before becoming a teacher, he held various jobs educating the public about environmental affairs and the animals on the land and under the sea. Mr. Robinson believes that it is essential for students to understand science in order to make informed decisions about their place in the natural world, and how they can make a positive change in it. Students in his classes will be designing and executing experiments, using models to understand concepts such as how a disease is spread, as well as researching topics such as the human body systems and endangered species. On his free time, Mr. Robinson enjoys photography, hiking, camping, watching horror films, and playing board games.

E-mail: wrobinson@schools.nyc.gov

Mr. Rodriguez

he/him

Guidance Counselor, Grades 9-12

Mr. Rodriguez was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio. In 2008 he joined the Army just after high school at the age of 17. He was stationed at Fort Wainwright, Alaska for 4 years. He served 8 years, traveling and deploying to countries in the Middle East, Europe and all over the U.S. In 2018 he received his B.B.A. from Berkeley College in New York City. In 2018 he completed a service year with AmeriCorps under two organizations- Academics in Motion and Up2Us, placed at Bronx Regional High School and M.S. 127, where he found his passion working with students. In 2020 he went on to pursue and earn his Masters in Counselors Education with a focus in School Counseling, graduating in 2022 from Capital University in Ohio. 

 He currently resides in West Harlem. He enjoys reading with his book club,  and running outdoors as much as possible, mostly along the Hudson River. He often binge watches shows, movies or documentaries about history. He has a serious fascination with history but please don’t quiz him on knowledge. His favorite place to eat is the Baylander Boat in Harlem on the river or any Korean BBQ restaurant. 

 Mr. Rodriguez believes that each student is unique and singular, possessing intrinsic personal worth and dignity, and is deserving of unconditional positive regard and respect. He believes that each student deserves an equal education in which they are appreciated and accepted for their race, gender identity, ethnicity, religion, sexuality, and socioeconomic status. His role is not just one of a counselor, but a collaborator, advocate, coordinator, and agent of change, promoting each students’ educational, emotional, social, and physical growth.

Cell (Call or Text): 929-683-1954

E-Mail: ARodriguez395@schools.nyc.gov

Mr. Trek

he/him

physics teacher

Trek (Yes, it's from Star Trek) is new to MHA but has eight years of experience teaching in a variety of countries, locales, and disciplines. Trek carries a wealth of experiences from his time as an engineer and international developer out of Africa, and has enthusiastic attitudes towards perpetual and lifestyle learning that informs the way he lives and teaches--we should always seek to grow and learn. Trek has multiple degrees out of Columbia University, as well as University of Utah and a few others, for a total of seven programs across science, psychology, engineering, and education. But, true to his word, Trek never stops, and is now working on programs in biology (spec: botany) and an advanced program for Physics. Outside of of MHA, Trek takes classes, runs, keeps plants and mosses, mods Gameboys, digs up and restores old tech, collects board games, participates in local community research labs, biolabs, and makerspaces, and has a very unpopular YouTube channel that will one day host DIY project content but for now just hosts exceptionally boring video game stuff.

E-mail: dmartin107@schools.nyc.gov

Mr. Viets

he/him

ENGLISH teacher/12th grade team leader/ELA TEAM LEADER

Mr. Viets received his B.A.'s in English & Journalism from the University of Connecticut and his M.A. in Secondary English Education from New York University. Mr. Viets has taught in schools throughout Brooklyn and Manhattan for over fifteen years, but has been thrilled to teach at MHA for the last six. Mr. Viets is passionate about transformative power of community and how the purpose of education is about learning to become your best self (or, in his words, a good dude). When not teaching Mr. Viets enjoys spending time with his daughter and wife or, if they are too busy for him, playing video games, catching up on his anime backlog, or trying to organize a trip to experience something new.

E-mail: eviets@schools.nyc.gov

Mrs. Waleski

she/her

Math/entrepeneurship teacher/Virtual reality ADVISOR

Ms. Waleski received her B.S. in Business Administration from Buffalo State College and her M. A. in Math Education from Adelphi University. Ms. Waleski has over twenty years of teaching math and business with the NYC Department of Education. Ms. Waleski believes that all students can learn no matter what they may struggle with. One thing that Ms. Waleski encourages students to do is to try something that they would have never thought of doing in high school. Ms. Waleski enjoys traveling, loves spending time with family and friends and enjoying life.

E-mail: dwaleski@schools.nyc.gov

Ms. Weihberg

she/her

science and HEALTH teacher

She earned her B.S. in Human Development and Family Studies with the option in Children, Youth, and Family Studies from The Pennsylvania State University. She has a M.S. in Secondary Education from Dowling College along with additional credits in Educating Computing from SUNY Stony Brook. She has four New York State Teacher Certifications for grades 7-12 in the following content areas: Secondary Biology, General Science, Health Education and Students with Disabilities in Biology. She is a highly skilled and dedicated professional educator with over 15 years of extensive knowledge of curriculum development, planning, organization, assessments, data analysis and presenting information across different grade levels, learning styles, subjects, and abilities using various instructional approaches. She is passionate about the improvement and increased performance for each individual student, with a proven track record of significant improvements in learning processes, student assessments and maintaining a positive learning environment. In her spare time, she is involved with both the Penn State Long Island Alumni Chapter as well as the President of the Phi Mu Long Island Alumnae Chapter. She also spends time volunteering to help raise funds for both the Four Diamonds Fund and Children’s Miracle Network. She enjoys reading, traveling, going to concerts, hiking and spending time with her family and friends.

E-mail: hweihberg@schools.nyc.gov