Mastery Charter Schools Foundation verified non-profit

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

About

Mastery Charter Schools and Mastery Schools of Camden form a non-profit school network of 21 schools in Philadelphia, PA and Camden, NJ serving approximately 12,000 students in grades K-12. Our mission is to ensure that all students learn the academic and personal skills they need to succeed in higher education, compete in the global economy and pursue their dreams.

At the core of every Mastery school is a set of values that guides all of our actions. Mastery’s values are infused in the everyday life of the organization -- in the recruitment criteria for new staff, in staff evaluation and promotion decisions, in the organization’s growth strategy, and in the way staff interact with each other and the parents and students we serve.
$92,518 Raised
1,151 Investors
McGraw Thanksgiving Baskets
by Danielle Horowitz
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
$0
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Revving Up for Grease at Thomas High
by JacQueline Palmer
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
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McGraw's "Lend a Hand, Give a Can" Food Drive
by Kristen Saggiomo
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
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Wister Needs to Print Color Posters!
by Erica Smith
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
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Literacy and Justice for ALL
by Lauren Bonner
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
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Support Our 1st Musical - Little Shop of Horrors
by Chanelle Baylor
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
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Pickett a Puerto Rico- Study Abroad Trip
by Katarina Akridge
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
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WE SERVE: Holiday Basket of Love
by Tianna Kilgore
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
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Restore Not Ignore! Thrive Not Survive!
by Brynn Dixon
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
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Gratz Gives 2021
by Saroya Royster
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
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Wister Winter Wear Pop-Up
by Alexandra Schreiber
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
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WE SERVE: Holiday Baskets of Love 21
by Tianna Kilgore
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
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When in Doubt, We Cheer Our Hearts Out!
by Jennifer Falcone
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
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Gift a Book!
by Jen Lee
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
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Winter Wear for Wister Families!
by Erica Smith
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
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Ongoing Food Pantry at Simon Gratz H.S.
by Evangeline Berube
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
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WE SERVE: Holiday Baskets of Love
by Tianna Kilgore
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
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Every Kid Deserves a Good Book!
by Charmaine Giles
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
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¡Pickett a Puerto Rico 2020! Immersion and Service
by Amy Mardis
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
$470
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Mastery Shoemaker Class of 2020 Scholarship Fund
by Kerry Sorensen
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
$896
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Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
by Vincent Garrett
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
$205
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WE SERVE: Holiday Baskets of Love
by Tianna Kilgore
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
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Mastery Shoemaker Class of 2019 Scholarship Fund
by Linda Donatoni
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
$220
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Engineering Using Geometry!
by Josh Bargiband
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
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¡Pickett a Puerto Rico! Immersion and Service Trip
by Amy Mardis
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
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Celebrating Success the Right Way: BOWLING!!!!
by Callan Sturgis
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
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Launching Latina Leaders Service Trip
by Veronica Williams
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
$420
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Mastery McGraw Holiday Food Baskets of Love
by Jessica McCreary
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
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Ceramics Program at Mastery Charter Thomas High
by Christen Sanderson
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
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Nurturing Science Scholars
by Shemi Edwards
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
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Hands on Materials for a Life Skills Classroom
by Samantha Solomon
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
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Internships for Special Education Students
by Lauren Kleinz
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
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Summer Climb -- Books for Kids
by Lorin Jackson
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
$385
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Sponsoring a Future in STEM
by Isobel Dewey
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
$781
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Help Send us to the Soapbox Derby!
by Nikki Thiemann
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
$1,135
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Starting a Ceramic Program at Mastery Thomas High
by Christen Sanderson
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
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Bridging the Border: PHL to MEX
by Amy Mardis
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
$7,007
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Standing Desks for Smedley Students
by James Vonholtz
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
$100
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Student Whiteboards
by Michele Haughey
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
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Watch our Garden spring into action!
by Kenneth Watson
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
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Practicing for Post-Secondary Success
by Carrie Stoltzfus
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
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K-2 Listening Centers
by Michele Haughey
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
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Writing Stations for My Brilliant 3rd Graders!
by Katie Lushi
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
$250
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Smedley Family BBQ
by Amy Zeigler
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
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McGraw Holiday Food Baskets
by Jessica McCreary
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
$1,670
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B Avenue Cafe - Smedley
by Amy Zeigler
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
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Step Up to Multiplication!
by Tonya Howard
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
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Education Day with Delaware 87ers
by Danielle Swiggett
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
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The Wolf Pack: "A good book and time to read it."
by Stu Warshawer
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
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Sit, Relax, Read, Grow
by Susan Lapacinski
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
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Flexible Seating for My Fervent Learners
by shavon jordan
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
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Opening a New Realm of Learning for Readers!
by Lauren Irby
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
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A little T.L.C for Mastery Shoemaker's Gym
by Kyle Epps
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
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Performance Attire for Mastery Chorus
by Jared Moskowitz
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
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No One Wants to Hitchhike in Dress Clothes
by Kerry Sorensen
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
$565
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Building Middle School Readers
by Megan Zor
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
$976
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The Paw Print Newspaper: Woke Literacy
by Chloe Brown
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
$50
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Shoemaker Class of 2018 Scholarship Fund
by Linda Donatoni
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
$890
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MFDM Presents: Winter Fest 2017
by Men of Frederick Douglass Mastery
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
$1,047
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iPad Pro & Apple Pencil + Google Classroom
by Zachary Wright
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
$1,660
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Building Middle School Readers
by Gerald Dessus
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
$177
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Supplying The Future: Back To School Materials
by Men of Frederick Douglass Mastery
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
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Supplying The Future: Back To School Materials
by Kara Stevenson
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
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MFDM Back to School Drive
by Men of Frederick Douglass Mastery
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
$2,754
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Journalism Isn't Dead : Engaging in Woke Literacy
by Chloe Brown
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
$330
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Connecting Our Classroom Through Google Expeditions
by Lila Corgan
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
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Trauma Sensitive School Environment
by Avril Takiff-Weiner
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
$699
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B Avenue Cafe
by Amy Zeigler
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
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Playground Face-lift!
by Kayann Chisholm
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
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We Come From Many Homes
by Lila Corgan
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
$214
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Help Build a Multi-Media Library at Simon Gratz Mastery Charter!
by Simon Gratz Staff
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
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Taking Our Reading Skills To The Next Level With Readorium!
by Shanna Teschner
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
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Nicaragua: Cultural Immersion and Service- Final Funds
by Samantha Sloan
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
$2,921
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MCSC Class of 2017 Scholarship Fund
by Linda Donatoni
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
$2,295
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Semester 2 Kickoff...Supplies, Supplies, Supplies
by Kara Stevenson
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
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Semester 2 Kickoff...Supplies, Supplies, Supplies
by Caitlin Ruiz
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
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Awarding Student Success: Pizza Parrrtay
by Christopher Jackson
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
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A Cause for Cheerleading
by Jennifer McAnany
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
$26
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Reading Materials Needed!
by Jennifer Reiser
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
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Bringing Books Home - Developing the Independent Reader
by Michelle Brown
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
$641
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Nicaragua: Cultural Immersion and Service
by Samantha Sloan
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
$4,871
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Support Your Local Bookshelf
by Kara Stevenson
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
$562
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A Love For Reading
by Shanna Teschner
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
$385
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Masterys Smedley Elementary Drumline
by Christopher Jackson
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
$112
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Rewarding Our Most Spirited Kids - Emotional Support Program Incentives
by Tifanie Pierce
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
$164
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Help the Harrity Upper School Wolf Pack
by Stu Warshawer
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
$7,487
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MCSC Literary Magazine
by Zach Wright
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
$448
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Early Literacy Skill Builder
by Nya Terrell
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
$71
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AP Government and Politics Study Guides
by Jennifer Montano
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
$152
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No One Wants to Hitchhike in Dress Clothes
by Kerry Sorensen
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
$1,000
raised
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Developing Future Computer Specialists!
by Michelle Brown
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
$77
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Bringing "Raisin" to the Shoemaker Stage!
by Michelle Brown
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
$0
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Supporting Our English Language Learner Students
by Michelle Brown
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
$1,365
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Help Us Be A School of Readers!
by Michelle Brown
at Mastery Charter Schools Foundation
$607
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Michelle Brown

Director of Development

At Mastery Charter Schools, we believe all children deserve high-quality education, regardless of their zip-code.

Michelle Brown

Director of Development

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Kerry Sorensen

Internship Coordinator

Internship Coordinator at Mastery Charter School Shoemaker Campus.

Samhita Basuthakur

K-2 Social Studies Science Teacher

I am a K-2 Science and Social Studies teacher at Hardy Williams Elementary Mastery Charter School in West Philadelphia. I love what I do everyday; combining quality literacy and hands-on experiences to bring science and social studies to life for my students. For the same reason, I am constantly on the look out for meaningful and enduring learning experiences that will enrich the whole child.

Isobel Dewey

9th Grade Science and Engineering Teacher

Science and Engineering teacher in Philadelphia committed to stem education and a nerdtastic time for all.

Kyle Epps

Phys. Ed Teacher / AD

Mastery Charter Shoemaker Campus Athletic Director

Men of Frederick Douglass Mastery

Men of Frederick Douglass Mastery Co-Leader

The purpose of Men of Frederick Douglass Mastery is to provide a space to influence and uplift strong children who will become future leaders and contributors to their community through positive interactions with men of color. Our men of color will partner with the teachers of Douglass to help cultivate these young, powerful minds as they learn to become authors, activists, mathematicians, scientists, and influencers.

Jennifer Montano

11/12 History Teacher

Greetings! I teach AP Government and Politics and Government/Economics!

Micah Hart

AP of Instruction

I work with inner-city students at a charter school that is dedicated to providing them with opportunities to succeed in higher education and beyond. 99% of our students receive free/reduced lunch and come from neighborhoods heavily impacted by trauma. That said, they are the most resilient, driven, and overall amazing bunch of humans one may ever meet.

Nya Terrell

Special Education Teacher

I teach children with Autism for a charter school in Philadelphia. Our class continually strives to develop our social, academic, self, and community skills! Your support will allow us to continue to grow our abilities.

Lisa Rittler

1st grade teacher/ Talent Show Director/Stage Troupe Leader

I became a teacher 3 years ago at 41 years old. I felt a calling & passion to teach in Philadelphia and I'm thrilled to being do in it...in MY city! I teach in, what many consider, a "rough" neighborhood. My students are faced with adversities that most of us couldn't imagine. I love them and teach them because I want them to know that if they work hard, they can and WILL reach their dreams! They deserve it! Thank you for your consideration! My students, my co-workers and our school community appreciate it so much!

Zach Wright

11th and 12th grade teacher

11th and 12th Grade World and AP literature teacher at Mastery Charter School Shoemaker Campus.

The Fellowship BMEC, Inc.

Principal

Through four city wide Black Male Educator Convenings, The Fellowship will address the recruitment, retention, instructional support and coaching of black male professional career educators (teachers, deans, principals, CEOs, etc.) during the 2016-2017 school year. We also focus on policy Practices and advocacy work that impact Black male leaders in the education field where this group is severely under represented.

Kristin DiSipio

Assistant Principal

For the past 9 school years I have had the privilege of teaching, supporting, and empowering our urban youth in Philadelphia. The past three years I have been blessed to be an Assistant Principal of Specialized Services and I am always looking to bring new and improved resources to our K-8 students receiving services Philadelphia.

Kristin DiSipio

Elementary Special Education Teacher

For the past 12 years I have had the pleasure of teaching and leading in urban education. In particular I have been fortunate to work in Philadelphia for the past eight school years. I love that I every day I have the opportunity to learn from our students. Students receiving specialized services at our school have a very special place in my heart and I am eager to enrich our classroom space to provide students in grades 3rd through 6th with additional supports to support their reading, math, and social emotional growth!

Markita Floyd

API

Hello everyone! I am one of the proud school leaders at North Camden Elementary in Camden, NJ.

Stu Warshawer

Principal

I am the principal at Mastery Charter Harrity Upper School - a public, neighborhood middle school in Southwest Philadelphia that serves approximately 300 students in our catchment area. As a staff, student and family community, our mascot is the "West Philly Wolf Pack." Due to mandatory budget cuts, we can no longer afford a sports program at our school. We are seeking partners to help us raise the money to give our students the athletic opportunities they deserve.

Samantha Sloan

Spanish Teacher

I have been an active member of Teach for America, and I have spent the last year and a half immersed in the movement to solve education inequity in this country and provide all students with a quality education. I was fortunate enough to be selected from a nationwide talent applicant pool to join a teacher corps comprised of leaders who commit a minimum of two years to teach in high need public schools. I firmly believe that education exists to create global citizens who are prepared to take on the challenges of the 21st century world. For that reason, I am hoping to further this mission by providing my students with a culture/service trip outside of the United States.

Emily Murai

5th Grade Teacher

Category: General Class Size: 30 Grade: Prek - 12th Follow This Cause As a Teach For America Philly Corps Member I am responsible for my very own classroom! I engage daily with my students and their families and it is my responsibility to ensure that my classroom is a welcoming environment for everyone. One of the biggest hurdles that students in high need schools face is a lack of the necessary materials that are needed daily. It makes it infinitely more difficult for students to take part in activities and classwork when they do not have basic supplies. To get the year started off right, I will use the funds that I raise to purchase the startup supplies needed to welcome my students to a classroom that is clean and stocked full with materials. This will allow me to provide the required supplies to students that otherwise would not have them. I will also purchase copy paper to ensure that I can provide my students with high quality learning materials, whether that is exit tickets, independent activities, or homework. Here is a complete list of the materials that your generous investment will help provide for the students of my very first classroom: 2 Boxes of Paper (10 Reams) - $50 Kleenex (18 Pack) - $36 2 Boxes of Pencils (288 Count) - $32 Paper Towels (12 Rolls) - $28 Anchor Chart Paper (2 Pack) - $27 2 Packs of Dry Erase Markers (32 Count) - $22 Hand Sanitizer (Pack of 2) - $20 3 Packs of Erasers (36 Count) - $18 2 Packs of Ballpoint Pens (48 Count) - $15 Clorox Disinfecting Wipes (3 Pack) - $12 Grading Pens (12 Count) - $12 3x5 Index Cards (10 Packs) - $12 Pack of Highlighters (50 Count) - $10 Post-it Notes (24 Pads) - $9 Sharpie Chart Markers (8 Count) - $9 Sharpie Permanent Markers (12 Count) - $7 Paper Clips (Assorted 450 Count) - $6 Binder Clips (30 Count) - $3 If we do not meet our goal... If I do not meet my goal, I will purchase as many materials as possible. I will prioritize the materials that are most essential to students (pencils, paper, etc.) as they are the most important to ensuring that students can participate in daily lessons.

Tifanie Pierce

Assistant Principal - Student Supports

Assistant Principal of Student Supports @ Mastery Charter Lenfest Campus - I taught special education for five years in the School District of Philadelphia before focusing on developing specialized programming and supports for students within Mastery Charter Schools' network.

Special Education Teacher

Nicole Jokola

7th/8th grade teacher

7th and 8th grade writing teacher in West Philly.

Lauren Kelly

ArtistYear Fellow

ARTISTYEAR FELLOW

Jessica Murphy

AP

Jessica Murphy

APSS

Mike Deegan

Middle School Physical Education

I'm a physical education teacher and athletic director at a charter middle school in Philadelphia.

Jason Wise

8th Grade Science Teacher

I am a teacher.

Laura Agosto

Case Manager and Replacement Composition Teacher

Case Manager and Composition Teacher at Mastery Charter Lenfest Campus.

Jenna Lubas

K-3 Music Teacher

I am an elementary music teacher at an urban school in Philadelphia, PA motivated to provide students with the education they need to succeed in higher education, compete in the global economy and pursue their dreams.

Caitlin Ruiz

Harrity Upper Intervention Math

Teacher at Harrity Upper

Rob Grega

8th math

8th Grade Math Teacher at Harrity Upper

Miranda Schuhle

Special Education Teacher

Special Education Teacher/Case Manager

Lea Kleinman

middle school special ed teacher

im a teacher

Shanna Teschner

6th Grade Literacy Teacher

I am currently a sixth grade literacy teacher in an urban school. Our school's focus this year is authentic and joyful independent reading. We want our students to love books that they choose and to be able to ready them comfortably.

Christopher Jackson

6th Grade Reading

Penn State and City Year alumni teaching 6th grade reading in the day and teaching drum line for after-school. In need of drums and equipment. I love music! My students love music! I want to teach them this craft that will make them more creative and more academically bound for college.

Anastasia Riley

Administrator

Mastery Charter Schools

Morgan Heryla

Coach and Teacher

I am a middle school coach and teacher.

Rob Miller

AP

I'm an Assistant Principal at Mastery Charter - Harrity Upper. I love helping students unlock their full potential.

Kara Stevenson

8th grade English teacher

I have been teaching middle school English in Philadelphia for the past ten years. During this time, I have served the communities of Kensington and South Philadelphia. My goal is to develop students' reading skills and joy for reading by offering quality literary selections that appeal to all students' interests.

Jennifer Cush

French Teacher 1-8

Hi! My name is Madame Cush and I am an elementary school French teacher in Camden, NJ. This is our school's first year offering French, and the students are excited to explore the Francophone world and its rich cultural and linguistic legacy!

Jennifer Reiser

Assistant Principal of Instruction

I am an Assistant Principal of Instruction with a passion for literacy. As an educator with 15 years of experience I know the power that literacy brings to the school community. My goal is to support the young learners in my building so that they can become lifelong learners who love reading!

Jennifer McAnany

6th Grade Teacher, Cheerleading Coach

As teachers at Hardy Williams Academy Mastery Charter School, a Title I elementary school in Southwest Philadelphia, part of our mission includes doing whatever possible to ensure educational equity for our students. This mission does not cease at the end of the school day. Our children deserve extra-curricular opportunities that promote values of teamwork, motivation, and responsibility, as well as ensure a safe space for our children to be after school. Therefore, we have started a cheerleading team for 26 of our young ladies to participate in twice a week after school. This is the first athletic team for females at Hardy Williams, and the majority of the team has never been a part of a cheerleading team before. Since our start in October, we have seen these young ladies come together as a team and accomplish great improvements in their cheerleading abilities, as well as their behaviors in school. We would love to enter our team in a cheerleading competition, as well as other school events to showcase their hard work and skills. Unfortunately, the cost of proper uniforms, pom-poms, sneakers, bows, etc. is far too high to ask our girls to pay, or for school fundraisers to cover in its entirety. Sneakers are a major need, considering the safety of the girls when performing certain tricks and stunts. We are asking for any type of donation or monetary assistance/discounts you could provide to support the first ever Hardy Williams Academy Mastery Charter School Cheerleaders. Anything helps!

Nicole McCreight

Emotional Support Teacher

Working with a large Special Education population in a low income areas.

Linda Donatoni

College Advisor

Mastery Charter Shoemaker Campus is a neighborhood school located in West Philadelphia. We serve 750 low income students and families each academic year ranging from grades 7th through 12th grade. Shoemaker was historically known as a failing school and the 2nd most violent middle school in Philadelphia before it was converted to a charter school in 2006 by Mastery Charter Schools. Since the conversion, Shoemaker has had significant success in math scores, with an increase of 56 points in 8th grade and 71 points in 7th grade and reading scores have increased 41 points in 8th grade and 51 points in 7th grade. Additionally, violent incidences have dropped 90% and attendance and retention are above 90%. Most importantly, Shoemaker is producing high school graduates with 100% acceptance rates into institutions of higher learning and over 83% of those students have officially transitioned into those programs.

Heather Sapelbweyar

Middle School Special Educator

I am a Special Educator in Philadelphia serving students whose needs vary from a daily high-five to get her day started on the right foot, to recreated lessons one-on-one so that he can better understand math concepts. Special education is about taking the time to KNOW each student for the PERSON they ARE, and committing to teach him or her in whatever way is best for them.

Aiesha Gary

Library Committee

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Simon Gratz Staff

Secondary Education Teachers

Hello! We are a group of passionate educators in North Philadelphia, who want to instill a love of learning in our students through access to top technology, books, and opportunities!

Phillip Smith

Lead Case Manager

Lead Case Manager Simon Gratz

Kayann Chisholm

Administrator

My name is Kayann and I have worked with the Mastery Charter Schools since 2010. I have also been a Girl Scout Leader for over 30 years. I love working with children and will do whatever I can to make sure that every child has the tools to make it in this World. I am a Parelegal by Profession, but chose to work with the Parents and Children to help remove the barriers that the Urban Youth may encounter to gaining an education. I work closely with the District Attorney's office to find resources to help families in Crisis eliminate the barriers that would prohibit their children from attending school daily.

Lila Corgan

10th grade Literature teacher, QSA advisor

I began teaching in the 2006 Teach for America Baltimore Corps and fell in love our youth right away - as much as they drove me nuts at times, I remember telling my family, "Every single day, I belly laugh at least once." And ten years later I'm still laughing the creativity, humor, joy, and authenticity that our children and young adults offer. I moved from Baltimore to Philadelphia, to be with my now-husband, and although I missed Bmore's kids (shout out to Mount Royal Middle School!!) I've fallen in love with teaching in Philadelphia. Currently, I teach 10th grade Literature, after having spent nine years in the 7th grade. I'm loving the change, and especially the fact that I get to re-teach the kids I taught just a few years ago. It has taught me to respect and honor every child's potential; some kids that struggled immensely in the 7th grade are now positively thriving. I've haven't yet tried raising money for my students through investors, but I'm grateful for the opportunity to connect with folks who aren't in schools every day but still believe in and support our youth. Our children are not only the future- they are our present!

Amy Zeigler

I am a special education teacher working at Mastery Charter Smedley Elementary School located in the Frankford section of Philadelphia. I am collaborating with a colleague to create a functional life skills program to teach and practice in real time the following domains: reading, writing, math, social studies, art, music, and social skills. Over the past 2 months, our students created a restaurant, B Avenue Café, and successfully ran 2 openings for a self-contained classroom and for the school leadership team. Through the journey, they learned about restaurant hierarchy, their contact information, applying for a job, making decorations, writing a menu, calculating change, food safety/hygiene, confirming reservations, making no-bake bakery items, serving food, cleaning up, and calculating profits. My colleague and I have funded the project on our own, but would like to expand next year with a culminating visit to a restaurant.

Avril Takiff-Weiner

School Social Worker

My name is Avril Takiff-Weiner and I am a clinical social worker who has been working in urban education for several years. There is a famous quote that defines the reason why many of the staff here work with the students. "A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove... but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child." About 70% of the children at my school, Pastorius Mastery Charter School K-8, have experienced at least one or two traumatic events. Our school is working to become more trauma informed to help support the large percentage of kids who have experienced trauma. Research has shown that placing a "calming corner" in the classroom can provide a space for a student to de escalate in the moment and reintegrate themselves back into the learning environment. We are hoping to put a calming corner in every classroom to help these students who have extreme trauma responses, de escalate in the moment and then feel safe to rejoin the classroom. This pledge cents is to raise enough money to provide a safe space in the classroom for every student who needs a few minutes to calm down, as well as a sensory room to help the students who have extreme sensory needs have support and to be used as a therapeutic tool to help the children who need additional sensory support.

Jessica Petrillo

3rd Grade Teacher & Director of Extended Learning

I am a career changer who is passionate about teaching. I have been teaching in urban Philadelphia since I started teaching in 2012. I love what I do and the students that I do it for.

Justin King

Director of Enrichment

I serve as Director of Enrichment at Simon Gratz Mastery Charter High School in Philadelphia PA. We are working to build a vibrant and impactful Music and Art Program that provides students with opportunities to explore and develop skills that connect with their passion.

Chloe Brown

Lower School Special Education Case Manager at MC Shoemaker

Special Educator in Philadelphia, PA.

Megan Zor

Teacher

Education is one of the greatest civil rights issues of today, and I am committed to ensuring that my students develop their reading identity and accelerate their reading growth. I'm a reading specialist and have been teaching middle and high school students since 2004. I love young people and reading!

Gerald Dessus

Reading & Mindset Teacher Leader

A native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Gerald Dessus has dedicated his career as an educator to serving historically under-represented youth in Philadelphia. After graduating from The Lincoln University with a Bachelor of Science degree in English Education, he began teaching at Alliance for Progress Charter School where he assisted in the development of a quality middle school experience for over 100 students. In 2013, he went on to serve as a founding middle school teacher at Francis D. Pastorius Mastery Charter School. Since joining Mastery, he has extended his role as an educator outside of the classroom by serving as a Writing Teacher Leader, Grade Team Leader, Cultural Context Facilitator, and a Summer Mentor Teacher for Teach for America. Now serving as a Social Justice teacher at Mastery Charter Schools – Shoemaker Campus, Gerald Dessus is committed to helping his students take action in their communities. In addition to teaching, Gerald has continued his academic studies at the University of Kansas - receiving a Master of Education degree in Curriculum and Teaching in Fall 2016.

Zachary Wright

12th Grade & AP Literature Teacher

I am a 9th year 12th grade English/AP Literature teach at Mastery Charter Schools in Philadelphia. I am constantly reflecting on my practices as a teacher with the goal of continuous improvement.

Michelle Price

Spanish Teacher

I teach Spanish II and III and have done so for the past ten years. My love for students and seeing them grow in language is what has sustained me in this profession.

Krystian-nicole Nuble

3rd Grade Teacher

I am a 3rd grade teacher in the inner city.

Michele Haughey

Director of Operations

My name is Michele Haughey and I am the Assistant Principal of Operations at Grover Cleveland Mastery Charter School which is located in North Philadelphia. Our school consists of 750 students from grades K-8. We are a public charter school that serves students who live in our neighborhood. I have held various roles in my 7 years at Cleveland which started with special education. In this current role I am able to support and make decisions that will provide our students with a word class education. I have created these fundraising pages based on needs I see throughout our building.Thank you for visiting our fundraising pages and we hope you can support our students at Grover Cleveland!

Lauren Irby

3rd grade teacher

My name is Lauren Irby. I have been a teacher with Mastery Charter Schools since 2012 in which I have served as a 1st and 3rd grade teacher. Prior to Mastery, I worked in Special education and am dual certified as an Elementary and Special Education Teacher. In 2015, I received my Reading Specialist Certification and am gearing towards graduation from Neumann University with a Masters in Education, Principal Certification and Autism Endorsement. I take much pride in being an advocate for our youth and helping build their mindset to be the future leaders I know one day they will be.

Jared Moskowitz

Music / Performing Arts Teacher

Music and Performing arts instructor at MCSC

Shemi Edwards

Science Teacher

I am a 3rd and 4th grade science teacher who believe that hands on interaction with the lesson is the best way for students to learn!

Susan Lapacinski

6th Grade Teacher

I have been teach for over 10 years, all in the city of Philadelphia- where I have lived all of my life. I love my city and everything it has to offer. I am a mother to 3, in addition to my students. I enjoy reading, Disney World, and anything that gets you out of the house.

shavon jordan

4-5 Emotional Support Teacher

I teach at Mastery Charter Douglass Campus.My classroom is home to the 4-5 Emotional Support Anchor program, some amazingly resilient children.

Kenneth Watson

4th grade math teacher

I am a 4th grade math teacher in a Title 1 Elementary School in Philadelphia where all students receive free breakfast and lunch. I retired from the Army in 2003 and received my BA in Education from Temple University. I have been teaching for 11 years.

Jessica McCreary

APSC

Love serving children and families through education. Knowledge is Power!

Carrie Stoltzfus

Transition Coordinator

I am the transition coordinator a high school in North Philadelphia. My job is to ensure that all students who receive special education services are prepared for their post-secondary lives!

Tonya Howard

Assistant Principal of Instruction

This is my first year as Assistant Principal of Instruction at Mastery Charter Schools of Camden), (Cramer Hill Upper Elementary campus). Also, our building is a brand new construction that just opened up in August of 2017! We serve over 700 students from the city of Camden, and love what we do!

Danielle Swiggett

3rd Grade Teacher,Bully Prevention Coordinator

I'm a third grade teacher and Bully Prevention Coordinator at Mastery Charter-Harrity Elementary School.

Katie Lushi

3rd and 4th Grade Writing Teacher

I am a 3rd and 4th grade writing teacher at Pastorius Elementary School.

Kendell Coleman

Assistant Principal of School Culture

Hello, My name is Kendell Coleman and I am the assistant principal of school culture at Hardy Williams High School in Philadelphia PA. Our mission here is to ensure that all student will learn the academic and social skills they need to be truly prepared for postsecondary success and able to pursue their dream.

Nikki Thiemann

High School Math and Engineering teacher

I am a high school math and engineering teacher. I love to design and build things and enjoy fostering the same passion in my students!

Christen Sanderson

Art Teacher

I am an art teacher at Mastery Charter-Thomas Campus in South Philadelphia. It is my goal to provide the best art education that is possible to my students.

James Vonholtz

Reading Teacher

Thank you for taking time to read my post. I work at Smedley Elementary School. In 2010, Mastery took over Smedley, which was formally known as the most dangerous elementary school in the state. As a founding Smedley teacher this is my 8th year teaching at our school. I began as a K-6 music teacher and eventually transitioned to teaching reading in third grade and now fourth grade. I am incredibly passionate about closing the achievement gap and supporting a love of reading within my students. I am also eager to develop a classroom environment that supports varying learning styles and interests.

Lauren Kleinz

Asst. Director of Low Incidence

I am the Assistant Director of Low Incidence. I support our network schools Life Skills, Multiple Disability and Autistic Support programs. We work to provide strong curriculum that develops well rounded and contributing members of society. We integrate social skills, self- help, vocational/ pre-vocational, functional academics, daily living, self advocacy and internship experiences for all students with higher needs.

DeShanti' Jones

Teacher

I am excited to be a part of the TFA family and join the movement to solve education inequity in this country and provide all students with a quality education. I'm fortunate enough to be selected from a nationwide talent applicant pool to join a teacher corps comprised of leaders who commit a minimum of two years to teach in high need public schools. This summer I will be participating in an intensive skill and knowledge development program aiming to increase student achievement as well as a comprehensive professional development program including seminars, discussion groups, workshops, and content and professional learning communities specific to teaching license areas. I can't wait for my first year with Teach for America.

Nick Hunter

Counselor, Coach

I'm a certified strength & conditioning specialist building a school/community rugby project in North Philadelphia. Rugby took me around the world and changed my life, and I love to teach and promote the best version of the game to our kids so they can build their own club and their own sporting community.

Samantha Solomon

11th Grade Low-Incidence Special Education Teacher

I am the 11th grade Low-Incidence Special Education Teacher at Mastery High School of Camden. I am entering my third year of teaching and recently graduated as top of my class from the Urban Teacher Residency Master's program at the University of Pennsylvania.

Callan Sturgis

Biology Teacher

As a 10th grade biology teacher and grade level lead in West Philadelphia, it is my honor and privilege to provide experiences that enrich and empower my students, our future. Thank you for considering to join me on this journey!

Veronica Williams

Assistant Director of ESL

Director of ESL Programming at Mastery Charter Thomas Elementary School in Philadelphia, PA.

Josh Bargiband

Teacher

Hello! I am a high school Geometry teacher at Mastery Charter School - Shoemaker Campus in West Philadelphia. I have been here for 6 years now and strive to be a better teacher every day. Geometry lends itself to some of the most hands-on learning opportunities in all of the high school math curriculum. My goal is to create one major hands-on project for each of the four report periods and with your help, this will be number three! So far we have created and used clinometers to study trigonometry; we have also built multi-sided picture frames to study regular polygons; and now we would like to study the geometry of bridges. I have implemented this bridge project in the past, but unfortunately we do not have enough funding anymore :( My students study various bridge structures in the classroom, go on a field trip to see the different structures in person to learn how they hold a load, and ultimately build their own bridges to compete in a competition! We are in need of funding for busses and building materials. The students I teach come from very low income backgrounds, so we try our hardest to not pass along costs to them. We need your help!

Tianna Kilgore

tianna.kilgore@masterycharter.org

My name is Tianna Kilgore. I am currently a school administrator at an elementary school in Camden.

Vincent Garrett

vincent.garrett@masterycharter.org

Well I'm known by many as Mr.G, Mr.Garrett, or G. At the beginning of 2017 in the classroom, I remember assigning two of my black male students lunch detention to have a conversation about their missing homework. I saw myself in these two young men and was frustrated that they were so talented yet so unfocused on their studies. Throughout the conversation, I reminded them how talented they were and that the opportunities in life would be endless if they continuously strive for excellence. One of those students told me at the end of the year that that conversation let him know that I was someone who had his best interests in mind and that he wanted to make me proud. That moment lead to the start of "Mentor Leaders Produce Mentor Leaders" a nonprofit organization that provides mentoring programs for middle and high school young men in the Philadelphia area. Mentor Leaders goal is to foster a commitment to young people that will promote pro-social friendships, strong interpersonal skills, and reassert a sense of hope in the future. Mentor Leaders produce Mentor Leaders will focus primarily on middle school youths. It is projected that within three years, 50% of the system's students will be in middle school. This age group is particularly problematic and a perfect time for mentoring to be effective. Mentor Leaders Produce Mentor Leaders mentoring programs will pair a youth with mentor for 10 months. During that time the two will participate in weekly planned activities to strengthen the relationship between the two and improve the young person's confidence and hopefulness. NEXT LEVEL....."Mentors Leaders Produce Mentor Leaders" and "All the Kings Men" joined forces to create "KINGS UNIVERSITY" We are gearing up to launch an 8-week leadership academy program that will engage 40 young men across the city and we need your help to make it happen. We are soliciting sponsorship for boys ($200/boy) in order to accomplish our goal of funding the project. Sponsorship grants them uniforms shirts/blazer, program supplies and food (snacks/lunch).  With your support, we can guarantee successful programming for every boy who participates.

Charmaine Giles

Principal

Charmaine Giles is proud to serve as Principal of McGraw Elementary in Camden, NJ. Camden has become her home away from home, and she cherishes each and every moment she shares with McGraw students, families, staff, and the surrounding community. As an avid reader, Mrs. Giles has a passion for learning and loves sharing that love with her students. While quarantined, her goal is to read at least one book a week. With your contribution, McGraw students can also embark on a similar reading journey! Please follow us on instagram @mastery_mcgraw or on facebook @masterymcgraw

Evangeline Berube

Family and Community Engagement Liaison

I'm a special education program director at Simon Gratz Mastery Charter High School.

Erica Smith

Assistant Principal of Specialized Services

Mastery Charter John Wister Elementary is a K-5 school in the Germantown section of Philadelphia, PA.

Jen Lee

Teacher

Hi! My name is Jennifer Lee and I teach some of the best 3rd graders in Philadelphia. Thank you so much for being here and considering funding this mini project!

Jennifer Falcone

When in doubt, we cheer our hearts out!

I am a teacher by day, cheerleading coach by night. I live in Philadelphia, and have been working with my school in urban Philadelphia for 7 years. I am passionate about giving my students every tool to succeed, especially through extra-curricular and afterschool activities. It feels great to make them included in something bigger.

Alexandra Schreiber

Social Work Intern

School Social Work Intern at John Wister Elementary

Saroya Royster

Dean of Student & Community Support

Educator.

Brynn Dixon

Assistant Principal of Specialized Services

At John Wister Elementary we are passionate about equity in education. All students deserve to have everything that they need to succeed in pursuit of their dreams. We are fighting alongside students and families to make this vision a reality in the Germantown community of North Philadelphia.

Chanelle Baylor

Assistant Principal of Operations

We are Mastery Charter Thomas High School - a school in South Philadelphia that serves students in grades 7-12.

Katarina Akridge

Spanish Teacher

¡Hola! My name is Profe Akridge and I teach high school Spanish 1 at Mastery Charter Pickett Campus, a Title 1 school in Philadelphia, PA. I am passionate about educational equity and aim to provide as many opportunities for my students as possible.

Lauren Bonner

Reading Specialist

Hello! My name is Lauren Bonner and I am the Reading Specialist at Mastery Charter Thomas Elementary School in South Philadelphia. At Thomas we believe that literacy is social justice issue and that EVERY child deserves equal rights and opportunities. That is why in the past few years we have made big shifts in our literacy instruction to align with the Science of Reading. I am starting this fundraiser to raise money for grade level texts to put in front of our kids for the 23-24 school year. Teachers and staff members at Thomas Elementary should be able to provide students with the resources needed to effectively teach literacy in alignment with the science. Thank you in advance for making a difference in the lives of our students.

Kristen Saggiomo

Teacher

I am a founding teacher at Mastery Mcgraw Elementary School. We serve students in grades K-4. We are located in Camden, NJ.

JacQueline Palmer

English and Performing Arts Teacher

I'm a passionate teacher with over a decade of experience teaching English and performing arts. After school, I direct the high school musical, tutor students, and coach elementary school girls in biking.

Danielle Horowitz

Principal

I am the principal of Mastery McGraw Elementary. McGraw Elementary is a neighborhood school in the heart of East Camden. We serve students in grade K-4.