Celebrating 15 Years at AF!
Allison Barkley, Dean at Elm City ES
Allison Barkley: The Unshakable Leader, Educator, and Friend!
Fifteen years of wisdom and grace,
A guiding light in this cherished place.
Through every change, through every scene,
You've led with heart—our steadfast dean.
Students cheer when they hear your name,
Families grateful, voices proclaim.
Staff stand steady, knowing it's true—
Elm City wouldn't shine without you.
Numbers dance at your fingertips,
Equations solved with joyful quips.
Data tells a story grand,
And you decode it, hand in hand.
Through shifting teams and brand-new faces,
You've held strong, embraced all spaces.
An anchor, thread, a steady guide,
A leader we hold deep with pride.
So here’s to Allison Barkley bright,
Fifteen years of pure insight.
We celebrate, we cheer, we beam—
For you, our rock, our Elm City dream!
Serena Johnson, Elm City ES Principal
Tiffany Blake, Dean at AF East New York MS
WOW, 15 years!!! This is an amazing accomplishment, and I know first-hand the impact you’ve had on so many scholars and staff members. For the past 15 years, you’ve led one of the strongest enrichment programs before we’ve created formal Enrichment support from the network. You’ve developed over three hundred teachers between your campuses and New Team Training. You’ve created one of the strongest J-Factor programs for two schools – which is now the blueprint for Team Student Experience. And you’ve created one of the strongest Behavior Specialist training and development programs – one I’m proud to have been a part of. You’ve done all of this and so much more. You’ve done all of this through an ever-changing, constantly evolving network and have done it with excellence. I appreciate having you by my side during this principal journey, and I look forward to seeing you excel, grow, and develop into your best self. Thanks for everything you do, and know I’m always here to support you. – Shamel Duncan, AF East New York MS Principal
Katie Hagen, Dean at Elm City MS
Katie! Congratulations on FIFTEEN years of service at AF! That is an amazing accomplishment and we've been lucky to have you. It has been such a pleasure working alongside you and the Elm City team for the past three years. You have truly been a staple at Elm - reliable, resourceful, supportive, flexible, and a true team player. You do such a great job supporting teachers at getting better faster from the work you do around IPP, to thoughtful coaching meetings, and differentiating your support to meet their (and the kids) needs. I am so proud of the progress you all have made at Elm over the years and you've been integral to that success. Katie, sincerest gratitude for all you do and congrats on 15 years well done! - Charmayne Joseph, Regional Superintendent
Sun Hwang-Beckham, DSO at AF Aspire MS
For the past 18 years, Sun has been a shining light at Achievement First, bringing dedication, passion, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. From uplifting colleagues to making a lasting impact on students and the organization, Sun’s contributions have been nothing short of extraordinary.
Sun’s hard work, leadership, and heart have helped shape a culture of achievement, inspiring those around them every step of the way. Their tireless efforts and unwavering dedication have left an indelible mark, making Achievement First a better place for all.
Thank you, Sun, for 18 amazing years! Here’s to celebrating your legacy and looking forward to many more years of success. - Shailah Philips, AF Aspire MS Principal
Sun has an incredibly high bar for excellence, and you can instantly tell when you’ve walked into a school building where she’s on the Ops Team – there’s just something about the way she brands everything to make it seem special and wholly unique to the school! Sun has held all the roles in the Operations – AND School Counseling! – world at AF and I suspect that anyone who’s ever worked with her (or at a school she worked at…or even just visited once) has a template they use daily that stems from her. Sun has a mind for systems and the giant heat to back them all up. We are so incredibly lucky to have had her supporting our kids, families, and staff for EIGHTEEN YEARS at AF! ❤ - Erin McGonegle Crespi, Regional Director of Operations
Monique Johnson, Dean at AF Brownsville MS
MJ!! HUGE congrats on 16 years! It is no small feat to have this kind of longevity in the classroom—it says so much about you, your love for your content, and your love for our kids. Your classroom is a place of pure joy—you get the best out of kids who struggle during other parts of their day, build authentic love for music, and teach the value of pushing through learning something that tests patience for the reward of being able to play an instrument. Beyond your classroom, you have leaned into leadership this year, exemplified growth mindset, and demonstrated a real strength in meeting people where they are and pushing them to reach their fullest potential. I am so grateful that you have chosen to be here for as long as you have and can’t wait to see all that you accomplish in the next 16 years - Liz Harnett, AF Brownsville MS Principal
Cristina Lopez Del Castillo, Dean at AF Ujima HS
Cristina, you personify love in action. You are CARING, JOYFUL, CREATIVE, & REAL. You bring next-level expertise, nuance & clarity to our work. You pride yourself in continuous learning, and have exposed various schools to exciting brain science research, building thinking classrooms in math & science, and so much more. You are grounded in our values, and have an unshakeable belief that our children deserve our best work. Because of all these things, teachers, kids and their families trust you immensely. For 15 years AF has benefited immensely from your outpouring of love, ideas, smarts, and effort. Thank you for your service. You are ONE OF A KIND, and the Ujima team loves you so much. - Nana Effah, AF Ujima HS Principal
Shana Robinson, Dean at AF University Prep HS
Celebrating Shana Robinson's remarkable 15 years of dedicated service to student success at Achievement First! Shana embodies our core values, consistently striving for excellence and embracing the challenge of college access for all. Beginning her journey as a Student Services Manager, Shana quickly demonstrated her passion for empowering students, reflecting her commitment to "Care for the Whole Person." As a Summer Programs Coordinator, she further developed her commitment to enriching student experiences, going further together with families and the community. As a College Counselor at University Prep High School, Shana honed her expertise, guiding students through the complex college application process, leading for racial equity by ensuring equitable access to opportunities. Her leadership and dedication to ensuring 100% of seniors applied and were accepted to best-fit colleges led to her promotion to Lead College Counselor. Currently, as Dean of College and Career Services at University Prep High School, Shana manages a six-person team, overseeing college counseling, summer programs, and alumni support. She expertly manages budgets, provides instructional coaching, and fosters collaboration across regions, choosing joy in her work. Shana's commitment to building strong relationships with colleges and universities, coupled with her focus on data-driven improvement, has significantly enhanced Achievement First's college readiness programs. Her 15-year legacy is one of unwavering support, empowering students to achieve their academic dreams. - Kiersten Gibson-Cooper, Regional Superintendent
Courtney Saretzky, Principal at AF Bushwick ES
15 years – what an incredible milestone! Courtney, thank you so much for your unwavering commitment to the Bushwick community. Under your leadership, Bushwick has not only become an amazing place for teachers to learn, grow, and call home, but also a place where ALL scholars can truly thrive. I have always been inspired by you and all that you’ve been able to accomplish as Principal – pioneering the Elementary Empower Program, piloting different curriculum, and supporting other AF schools and Principals, all while leading Bushwick with a strong vision of excellence and a high bar. Your deep belief in what’s possible for all scholars serves as a model across our network, and, across our country (Hey, National Blue Ribbon School!) Your leadership is truly a gift to scholars, staff, families, and everyone who has the pleasure of crossing paths with you. Bushwick ES is better because of your leadership. Cheers to 15 years! - Alicia Harper, Regional Superintendent
Ken Soder, Dean at AF Amistad HS
Ken “MF” Soder- a true leader in and out of the classroom! Ken has long been a pillar of our school community, bringing wisdom, dedication, and heart to everything he does. His instruction is top-notch, his knowledge is imparted with care, and the relationships he builds with students leave a lasting impact.
Watching Ken move from teacher to Special Services Dean this academic year has been nothing short of inspiring. He is a fearless advocate for what is best for kids, ensuring that every student receives the support and opportunities they deserve. His transition to the SPED team has been seamless, as he continues to bring the same level of excellence, commitment, and passion to this vital work. Ken, we are grateful for your leadership, your voice, and your unwavering dedication to our students. Your impact is immeasurable, and we are so lucky to have you in our community. Thank you for all that you do! - AJ Lowe, AF Amistad HS Principal
Shannon Werner, Dean at AF Hartford ES
Shannon, congratulations on your 15-year milestone! I can’t believe it’s been that long since we were co-teachers, learning and growing together on this journey. For the last 15 years, you have shown so much passion, dedication, and endless amount of work hours to support our kids, families, and staff. As a teacher, you attained incredible achievements, helping our scholars become better readers and writers. In your first year as a leader, you are now helping teachers do the same, with the highest reading proficiency in CT so far. Thank you for being a teammate that our staff and kids can depend on; you are so incredibly organized, thoughtful in your planning, and are always seeking to grow. I know you will continue to soar in your leadership journey, and I am so grateful to have you on my team supporting our school. Congrats again, Shannon! - Sueleidy Cruz, AF Hartford ES Principal 
