Faculty and Staff
Connect with Our Staff
D. Torres
Administrator
D. Torres
Administrator
Principal Torres has been an educator and founding member of the B-SMARt faculty (one of the first seven “Warriors”!) for the last twelve years. Her journey to becoming an educator was an indirect path fueled by her passion to support the success of young people of color and first-generation students like herself. Ms. Torres lives, breathes, and thinks like a Counselor. Based on the journey of her family, she knows firsthand the power that exposure and post-secondary opportunity programs can have in a student's life. As such, she advocates for the three-hundred-and-sixty-degree support of her students so that they have the social, emotional and academic supports to be successful at B-SMART and beyond.
In her time at the school, Ms. Torres has served as a Counselor, Dean of Counseling and Organization and Assistant Principal. Her areas of specialty includes Special Education and Programming.
Ms. Torres was formerly a public relations executive in both the beauty and entertainment industries. She grew up in Brooklyn and comes from an entire family of educators that have worked for the NYC Department of Education. Ms. Torres received her B.A. from Wheaton College in Latin American Studies; her M.A. in Counseling with a Bilingual Education Extension at Long Island University; her M.A. in School Building Leader and School District Leader at Hunter College.
Fun facts: Ms. Torres loves old school hip hop and everything Beyoncé, loves to travel, is learning how to sail and her favorite sneaker brand is converse.
D. Joyce
Administrator
D. Joyce
Administrator
Room: 335
Dianne Joyce has been an educator for 21 years and has not lost her zeal and passion for teaching and learning. As a chemistry & biochemistry major in college, she has always been a proponent of STEM. Seeing the underrepresentation of minorities in the STEM field, she is determined to increase equity and access that will allow students of color pursue careers in the STEM field. Immigrating to the U.S from Suriname in South America, she grew up in Brooklyn where she faced and overcame challenges that have shaped her growth mindset. As a former NYCDOE student, she is also aware of the hard work and dedication it will take to enter in and contribute to society in a meaningful and positive way. Her hopes are that BSMaRt students will be able to compete with peers not only on a national, but a global scale. She believes her students can do anything they put their minds to. As quoted by Jesse Jackson, all you need is the right attitude, which can determine your altitude. She is a safe space for students at B-SMaRt and welcomes everyone with big open arms.
Z. White-Stellato
Administrator
Z. White-Stellato
Administrator
Room: 303
This is one of our Assistant Principals, Mr. Stellato. He is Originally from Albany, NY. He has been working 13 years in the education field. He 's taught and specialized in Living Environment, Special Education, Chemistry, Physics, and Marine Biology for a long time. He's held various leadership positions such as lead teacher, Special Education Department Head, and Science Department Head before becoming an Assistant Principal here at BSMART. Mr. Stellato has been working at BSMART for two years now. One interesting fact about Mr. Stellato is that he is a fitness ethusiast, he goes to workout classes weekly to help keep him "sane".
A. Caesar
Staff
A. Caesar
Staff
Email: acaesar@schools.nyc.gov
Phone: 718-381-7100 ext. 3081
Room: 308
E. Ruiz
Staff
E. Ruiz
Staff
Email: eruiz9@schools.nyc.gov
Phone: 718-381-7100 ext. 5921
Room: 230
J. Arias
J. Arias
Email: jarias23@schools.nyc.gov
Room: 216
Office Hours: 1:16-2:05PM
Our scholars at B-Smart will come into the classroom and engage in rigorous assignments. The classroom is a safe environment, and everyone is encouraged to share their opinions and beliefs, and social topics, while at the same time respecting others who share differences of opinions. Most importantly, the students coming into my classroom get the utmost care and respect from me as their teacher, and I will help shape them to become better scholars and individuals when they head out to the real world.
Javier Arias has been teaching for NYCDOE for about a year, and he has been here at B-Smart officially since February 2022. Students will learn the central cores of Social Studies, from Global History I for first-year students to Government/Economics during their senior year. He wants to become a teacher because of my high school teacher. They had a one-on-one talk, and he told him he had a talent for helping my classmates when tutoring them on Social Studies. He asked me if he had ever thought about becoming a teacher in the future. His words got him thinking about it, and it made me realize that he does love to help my peers learn about social studies, and he wants to make it into a career. He also wants to give back to the community with the advantages I received in school. What better way to give back to the community is to teach the next generation of scholars and leaders about Social Studies and mold themselves to become model citizens!
His education history traces back to attending school in New York City. He graduated from City College in 2015 with a Bachelor in History and from Queens College in 2021 with a bachelor in Political Science and Secondary Education. Before attending college, he attended Washington Irving High School from 2003-2007; they were the best high school years he have ever experienced.
A fun fact about him is that he loves to cook different kinds of dishes and watch historical movies and documentaries. Also, he watches anime and plays Nintendo games during my free time.
C. Arroyo
C. Arroyo
Email: carroyo@schools.nyc.gov
Room: 304
Office hour: Request by email
Christopher Arroyo has been teaching English at B-SMARt for over 5 years and he served as a teaching assistant and tutor at other NYC high schools before that. He became a teacher because he is deeply concerned about the inequality that plagues our world, but he believes in the power of art and language to empower us to make change. He teaches because he hopes that by helping students become critical thinkers, informed citizens, and passionate advocates for their communities, we can fight to make the world more just.
He grew up in NYC, hopping between Staten Island and Brooklyn as a kid. He is a proud CUNY alumnus, having received his B.A. in English Literature from The Macaulay Honors College at Hunter College and his M.A. in English Education from Brooklyn College. If he’s not at work, he’s probably out taking a walk in Prospect Park or at home with my two cats Miso and Lila.
M. Bracero
Staff
M. Bracero
Staff
Email: mbracero4@schools.nyc.gov
Room: 320
This is Ms. Bracero, but everyone calls her Mrs. Mickey. She’s one of the School Guidance Counselors here at BSMART. She has been a School Counselor at BSMART for three years. She is passionate about helping students reach their full academic, social and emotional potential; and she enjoys building relationships with her students, families and staff.
Her journey to becoming a counselor started when she began a part time position as a substitute teacher. She was finishing her Bachelor of Science in Television and Radio from Brooklyn College with a dream of becoming a talk show host. Her experience as a substitute teacher introduced me to the passion I have for working with children. She decided to pursue a career that would allow me to help students become successful, work with them to help them effectively deal with a variety of problems, and inspire them to do their best in their lives. Which led her to getting her masters degree in School Counseling from Hunter College. A fun fact about her is that prior to becoming a School Counselor, she was a School Counselor intern at BSMART for a year and a half.
A. Brown
Teacher
A. Brown
Teacher
Email: abrown250@schools.nyc.gov
Room:
Ms. A. Brown grew up in Long Island and has been in the education field since 2013. She teaches Science and specializes in Living Environment and Biology. Ms. Brown has been at BSMART since September 2024, we're happy to have her be apart of our team! An interesting fact about Ms. Brown is that she is a Scientist and she loves Anime and said, "I am a BIG BIG NERD!!!!"
J. Brown
Staff
J. Brown
Staff
Email: jbrown142@schools.nyc.gov
Room: Library 312
Jennifer Brown is one of the school counselors at BSMART. She joined the BSMART family in 2021 and she’s honored to be part of an amazing team of educators and staff. She received her master's degree in School Counseling from Long Island University. Her counseling program involves both individual and group counseling. She's passionate about what she does, and believes that everyone has a purpose. We just need reminding sometimes. As a school counselor, her primary goal is to promote all students' academic, personal, and social development. In addition, she hopes to offer support to the students, families, staff, and community. She look forward to getting to know you and your child and helping them succeed in meeting their personal goals.
Fun Facts: She loves Hip-hop, and R&B. My favorite rapper is Nas, and She’s an honorary member of the Beyhive :)
Dr. Buh-Mbi
Dr. Buh-Mbi
Email: jbuhmbi@schools.nyc.gov
Room: 324
Office Hours: request by email
Dr. Julius Buh Mbi teaches 9th-grade Physics and Chemistry. Along with 12th grade Earth Science. He's proud to be part of the BSMaRt family. He sees himself as a tough but kind teacher and expects a lot from his students. He's excited to teach the young minds of BSMaRt and looks forward to meeting you.
J. Carmody
Teacher
J. Carmody
Teacher
Email: jcarmody3@schools.nyc.gov
Room: Library 312
Office Hours: Lunch (7th Period) in Library
Mr. Carmody is from Vermont and graduated from the University of Vermont. He received his Master's degree in Adolescent Social Studies Education from Hunter College. This is his second year teaching social studies at BSMART. He has worked at a non-profit on criminal justice reform in Washington DC, as a house painter in Arizona, as a carpenter in Vermont, and as a bartender here in New York.
N. Charter
Teacher
N. Charter
Teacher
Email: ncharter2@schools.nyc.gov
Room: 301
Office Hours 1:15-2 pm every day except Wednesday
Ms. Charter is a Special education teacher from Brooklyn. She has over ten years of experience working with children and in education. Currently, Ms. Charter is co-teaching in the science department. Some of Ms. Charter’s passions are Computer science, Art/Design, and Mental health. Ms. Charter likes to play video games, watch anime, code, paint, and playing with her dog.
A. Chen
Teacher
A. Chen
Teacher
Email: achen41@schools.nyc.gov
Room: 331
B. DeGarmo
Teacher
B. DeGarmo
Teacher
Email: bdegarmo@schools.nyc.gov
Room: 229
S. Deratus
S. Deratus
Email: sderatus@schools.nyc.gov
Room: 229
Office Hours: request by email
Ms. Deratus is a Math Teacher and this will be her 5th year teaching.She have taught all subjects of math from Algebra 1 to Pre- Calc. She became a teacher because she love interacting with kids and building rapport with them, and she get the opportunity to do that while teaching them math. She attended Hunter College for her undergrad and for her Masters in Education, She attended Saint John's University. She was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY but then her family moved to Long Island. She is always in Brooklyn for either work, family/friends, or church so she's still a Brooklyn girl at heart. Fun fact about her is that the first time she went hiking was in a rainforest in Puerto Rico, she jumped off a cliff into the water. It was scary and exciting at the same time. She's afraid of heights, so during that excursion she was definitely conquering her fears that day.
J. Diaz
Teacher
J. Diaz
Teacher
Email: jdiaz89@schools.nyc.gov
J. DiLeonardo
J. DiLeonardo
Email: jdileonardo@schools.nyc.gov
Room 205
Office Hours: Monday through Friday 7:30 am to 8:00 am. Tuesdays and Thursdays 3:00-3:30pm.
James DiLeonardo was born in Coney Island, New York. As a child he was raised by a single parent and my grandparents. He has lived in Brooklyn, Queens, and Long Island. He comes from a large Italian family. He has 4 aunts, 3 uncles, and 28 first cousins. He has been teaching Physical Education for 10 years and this is his 6th year at BSMART. He became a teacher because they have helped him grow as a person starting from childhood all the way to college. He studied and received a master degree in Physical Education and Health Education at Adelphi University in New York.
A. Espinal
Staff
A. Espinal
Staff
Email: aespinal43@schools.nyc.gov
Room: Main office 230
E. Espinal
Teacher
E. Espinal
Teacher
Email: eespinal11@schools.nyc.gov
S. Fofana
Teacher
S. Fofana
Teacher
Email: sfofana@schools.nyc.gov
Room: 306
Mr. Fofana has been teaching English Language Arts and Special Education since 2007. He became a teacher to help young people become better versions of themselves and to have them teach him to do the same. He got his Master's in Special Education from The City University of New York in 2013. He went to high school in Boston, where he grew up. He has been with BSMARt since its beginning in 2011 and hasn't left. One fun fact about him is that his favorite sneaker brand is Converse.
J. Harvin
Staff
J. Harvin
Staff
Email: jharvin@bsmartnow.com
Office Room: 320
Phone: 718-381-7100 ext. 1320
S. Hilario
Teacher
S. Hilario
Teacher
Email: shilario3@schools.nyc.gov
S. Jefferson
Teacher
S. Jefferson
Teacher
Email: sjefferson7@schools.nyc.gov
Room: 305
Office Hours: request by email
Ms. Jefferson is a social studies teacher at BSMaRT. Ms. Jefferson supports young minds in learning history, geography, and human civilization, including how people interact, govern themselves, and solve conflicts. She believes high school education is essential to creating life-long learners. She looks forward to working with your child.
M. Li
M. Li
Email: mli15@schools.nyc.gov
Room: 321
Office Hours: request by email
Ms. Li graduated from CUNY Hunter College with a Bachelor degree in Mathematics and Chinese Language Literature and with a Master degree in Adolescent Math Education
Q. Li
Q. Li
Email: qli@schools.nyc.gov
Room: 301
Office Hours: Request by email
Ms. Li has been teaching Chinese in schools since 2005 and has been teaching in BSMART since 2015.
E. Liu
Teacher
E. Liu
Teacher
Email: xliu18@schools.nyc.gov
Room: 202
Originally from China, Ms. Liu has a background as a curriculum designer for Ed-tech companies. She earned her Master’s degree from NYU in TESOL and World Languages (Mandarin). Ms. Liu began her ESL teaching journey with B-SMART in September 2024. She's excited to teach English, share cultural insights, and foster a growth mindset with her students. Outside of class, she enjoys listening to music, playing sports, and exploring social sciences. Ms. Liu speaks Mandarin, English, and Russian, and is currently learning Spanish from her students.
L. Liwa
Teacher
L. Liwa
Teacher
Email: lliu13@schools.nyc.gov
R. LoBianco
Teacher
R. LoBianco
Teacher
Email: rlobianco2@schools.nyc.gov
Room: 305
F. McIntosh
F. McIntosh
Email: fmcintosh3@schools.nyc.gov
Room: 331
Office Hours: request by email
I am a proud member of the Brooklyn School for Math Research teaching staff. I have been with B-Smart since February 2021. I have a diverse work experience background other than teaching.
I graduated from St. John's University with a BS in Finance, New York Institute of Technology with a M.B.A.
After working in the private sector in Finance where I analyzed financial data, risk, and trained new employees. While training I realized that was what I enjoyed the most. The joy of helping someone learn something new or just to help was very fulfilling. It was then I knew I wanted to teach and be that influential Educator to the next generation.
I went back to school and earned my M.S. Ed in Adolescent Education & Teaching Students with Disabilities from St. John's University. Based on my love for math, problem solving, and reconciling accounts my content specialty is Mathematics and Special Education.
J. McPherson
Staff
J. McPherson
Staff
Email: jmcpherson8@schools.nyc.gov
Room: Main Office 230
Phone: 718-381-7100 ext. 5900
E. Moerer
E. Moerer
Email: emoerer2@schools.nyc.gov
Room: 310
Office Hours: request by email
Elizabeth Moerer received a B.A. in Fashion Design from Iowa State University, and recently graduated with her M.A. in Art and Design Education from Pratt Institute. Prior to pursuing her Masters, she worked in the fashion industry for several years. This is her first-year teaching! She teaches Visual Arts and Advanced Arts, where you’ll explore a variety of art mediums. Since her time at Iowa State University, she has always aspired to become an educator. At B-SMART she provides students with a creative and collaborative space where they can explore their identity, develop their voice as an artist, and engage with new materials to advance their technical art skills. Her primary art discipline is ceramics. She practices wheel throwing and hand building ceramics at her studio in Brooklyn. She’s originally from the Midwest and primarily grew up in Northeast Iowa.
B. Moreno
Teacher
B. Moreno
Teacher
Email: bmoreno2@schools.nyc.gov
Room: 202
S. Negroni
Staff
S. Negroni
Staff
Email: snegroni@schools.nyc.gov
Room: 302
Phone: 718-381-7100 ext. 3010
K. O'Hanlon
K. O'Hanlon
Email: kohanlon5@schools.nyc.gov
Room: 324
Office Hours: request by email
Mr. O’Hanlon teaches science, mathematics and is a member of the special education department He’s Been working at BSMaRt since January 2020. He chose to be a teacher because He’s one of the kids! He’s a product of the NYC public education system. (shout outs to PS107, PS 230, MS 51 and HSTAT). He’s an educator because he believes that the only way to improve society is to elevate all people. We have to empower our youth, especially ones from marginalized groups, so they can contribute to the greater good in the most meaningful way possible. He wants to be on the ground level and work with young people so they can accomplish this goal.
C. Paguandas
C. Paguandas
Email: cpaguandas@schools.nyc.gov
Room: 307
Office Hours: request by email
Chantelle Paguandas attended SUNY Oswego for her bachelor's in communications majoring in Journalism and then went onto CUNY Brooklyn College graduating with a master's degree in Education. She chose to work in the education field because she highly enjoys working with the high school population and finds the job to be rewarding. She believes this career is transformative and loves to see her students grow academically as well as impacting the lives of our future. Altogether she has been teaching for 7 years, however she has been at BSMART for 1 year. One fun fact about her is that she studied abroad in Belize for 2 months.
P. Paramananda
P. Paramananda
Email: pparamananda@schools.nyc.gov
Room: 318
Office Hours: Monday & Friday from 4 pm to 5.30 pm
Mr. P has been teaching for 11 years. Out of those 11 years, 10 years have been right here at BSMARt. He joined BSMARt in 2012. He teaches physics, robotics, and AP Biology. He became a science teacher because he loves science and he considers himself to be a lifelong learner. He grew up in Sri Lanka. He moved to the U.S when he was 14. He went to Harry S. Truman High school in the Bronx. He went to Hofstra University and Lehman College for his Undergrad and graduate degree. Fun fact about him is that he has an identical twin.
C. Pica
Teacher
C. Pica
Teacher
Email: cpica2@schools.nyc.gov
W. Pichardo
Staff
W. Pichardo
Staff
Email: wpichardodisla@schools.nyc.gov
Office: Main Office 230
Phone: 718-381-7100 ext. 5924
B. Pinsky
Teacher
B. Pinsky
Teacher
Email: bpinsky4@schools.nyc.gov
Room: 228
C. Roberts-Saunders
C. Roberts-Saunders
Email: crobertssaunders@schools.nyc.gov
Room: 304
Office hours: Request by email
Catandra Saunders was born and raised on the island of Grenada. Although she was born and raised on an island she cannot swim!
She holds a Masters of Arts in Teaching with a concentration in English Language Arts from the Relay Graduate School of Education. Moreover, she has been an educator for over four (4) years. Ms. Saunders teaching philosophy is that students' imagination can go wherever she takes them with the use of questioning. As such, she takes pride in providing multiple opportunities for students to explore deeper knowledge of content and the world. Her love for children and her passion for learning are two reasons she became an educator. Within the classroom, Ms.Saunders is given an opportunity to help students find, or re-discover their unique voices. She understands that learners thrive when they feel seen, heard and understood. She aims to create an environment where students can share their voices and listen to the voices of others. Also, she aims to create a warm and affirming environment where students can feel safe to learn. Furthermore, Ms. Saunders believes that when a learning community believes in honoring stories and voices, vulnerability becomes its greatest asset and to find empowerment in vulnerability is to open portals of connection, intellectual risk-taking, and transformation. In her classroom, everyone will embrace a growth mindset.
R. Rodrigues
R. Rodrigues
Email: rdesouzarodrig@schools.nyc.gov
Room: 307
Office Hours: request by email
Mr. Rodrigues' early childhood dream was to be a teacher, since he loves to inspire, help and promote academic growth. Since 2017 he has been working at BSMaRT, where we have this amazing school community focused on bringing academics, socio-emotional and human development to our students. His background as a Brazilian immigrant and being able to speak 5 different languages is a gift to be used towards helping his students.
N. Rodriguez
N. Rodriguez
Email: nrodriguez185@schools.nyc.gov
Room: 309
Office Hours: request by email
Ms. Rodriguez is BSMART’s Speech-Language Provider and this will be her second year teaching. After graduating with her Speech Language Pathology Degree she knew she wanted to provide services to children in an educational setting.Ms. Rodriguez was born in Flushing, Queens then moved to Valley Stream, Long Island where she grew up and attended Valley Stream South High School. She then went on to continue her education and received a bachelor's degree in Queens college and a Master’s Degree in St. John’s University. A fun fact about Ms. Rodriguez is that she has a twin sister.
L. Scott
L. Scott
Email: Lscott19@schools.nyc.gov
Room: 210
Mr. Scott has been teaching Social Studies (SPED) at BSMaRt since 2015. He always loved working with children. He went to the University of Guyana and Long Island University. He’s from Guyana. A fun fact about him is that he was a sports jock in high school.
A. Taylor
Teacher
A. Taylor
Teacher
Email: ataylor@schools.nyc.gov
Room: 210
Office Hours: request by email
This is Alyssa Taylor second-year teaching Physical Education at B-SMART. She believe that all students can be successful regardless of their ability, because PE is about improving personal skills and learning to have a healthy lifestyle within your limits. She attended Brooklyn College, where she received her Bachelor's of Science. My favorite sports include Basketball, Swim, Cross Country, and Volleyball.
A. White
Teacher
A. White
Teacher
Email: awhite45@schools.nyc.gov
Room: 306
D. Torres
Administrator
D. Torres
Administrator
Principal Torres has been an educator and founding member of the B-SMARt faculty (one of the first seven “Warriors”!) for the last twelve years. Her journey to becoming an educator was an indirect path fueled by her passion to support the success of young people of color and first-generation students like herself. Ms. Torres lives, breathes, and thinks like a Counselor. Based on the journey of her family, she knows firsthand the power that exposure and post-secondary opportunity programs can have in a student's life. As such, she advocates for the three-hundred-and-sixty-degree support of her students so that they have the social, emotional and academic supports to be successful at B-SMART and beyond.
In her time at the school, Ms. Torres has served as a Counselor, Dean of Counseling and Organization and Assistant Principal. Her areas of specialty includes Special Education and Programming.
Ms. Torres was formerly a public relations executive in both the beauty and entertainment industries. She grew up in Brooklyn and comes from an entire family of educators that have worked for the NYC Department of Education. Ms. Torres received her B.A. from Wheaton College in Latin American Studies; her M.A. in Counseling with a Bilingual Education Extension at Long Island University; her M.A. in School Building Leader and School District Leader at Hunter College.
Fun facts: Ms. Torres loves old school hip hop and everything Beyoncé, loves to travel, is learning how to sail and her favorite sneaker brand is converse.
D. Joyce
Administrator
D. Joyce
Administrator
Room: 335
Dianne Joyce has been an educator for 21 years and has not lost her zeal and passion for teaching and learning. As a chemistry & biochemistry major in college, she has always been a proponent of STEM. Seeing the underrepresentation of minorities in the STEM field, she is determined to increase equity and access that will allow students of color pursue careers in the STEM field. Immigrating to the U.S from Suriname in South America, she grew up in Brooklyn where she faced and overcame challenges that have shaped her growth mindset. As a former NYCDOE student, she is also aware of the hard work and dedication it will take to enter in and contribute to society in a meaningful and positive way. Her hopes are that BSMaRt students will be able to compete with peers not only on a national, but a global scale. She believes her students can do anything they put their minds to. As quoted by Jesse Jackson, all you need is the right attitude, which can determine your altitude. She is a safe space for students at B-SMaRt and welcomes everyone with big open arms.
Zach White-Stellato
Administrator
Zach White-Stellato
Administrator
zstellato@bsmartnow.com
J. Arias
J. Arias
Email: jarias23@schools.nyc.gov
Room: 216
Office Hours: 1:16-2:05PM
Our scholars at B-Smart will come into the classroom and engage in rigorous assignments. The classroom is a safe environment, and everyone is encouraged to share their opinions and beliefs, and social topics, while at the same time respecting others who share differences of opinions. Most importantly, the students coming into my classroom get the utmost care and respect from me as their teacher, and I will help shape them to become better scholars and individuals when they head out to the real world.
Javier Arias has been teaching for NYCDOE for about a year, and he has been here at B-Smart officially since February 2022. Students will learn the central cores of Social Studies, from Global History I for first-year students to Government/Economics during their senior year. He wants to become a teacher because of my high school teacher. They had a one-on-one talk, and he told him he had a talent for helping my classmates when tutoring them on Social Studies. He asked me if he had ever thought about becoming a teacher in the future. His words got him thinking about it, and it made me realize that he does love to help my peers learn about social studies, and he wants to make it into a career. He also wants to give back to the community with the advantages I received in school. What better way to give back to the community is to teach the next generation of scholars and leaders about Social Studies and mold themselves to become model citizens!
His education history traces back to attending school in New York City. He graduated from City College in 2015 with a Bachelor in History and from Queens College in 2021 with a bachelor in Political Science and Secondary Education. Before attending college, he attended Washington Irving High School from 2003-2007; they were the best high school years he have ever experienced.
A fun fact about him is that he loves to cook different kinds of dishes and watch historical movies and documentaries. Also, he watches anime and plays Nintendo games during my free time.
C. Arroyo
C. Arroyo
Email: carroyo@schools.nyc.gov
Room: 304
Office hour: Request by email
Christopher Arroyo has been teaching English at B-SMARt for over 5 years and he served as a teaching assistant and tutor at other NYC high schools before that. He became a teacher because he is deeply concerned about the inequality that plagues our world, but he believes in the power of art and language to empower us to make change. He teaches because he hopes that by helping students become critical thinkers, informed citizens, and passionate advocates for their communities, we can fight to make the world more just.
He grew up in NYC, hopping between Staten Island and Brooklyn as a kid. He is a proud CUNY alumnus, having received his B.A. in English Literature from The Macaulay Honors College at Hunter College and his M.A. in English Education from Brooklyn College. If he’s not at work, he’s probably out taking a walk in Prospect Park or at home with my two cats Miso and Lila.
A. Brown
Teacher
A. Brown
Teacher
Email: abrown250@schools.nyc.gov
Room:
Ms. A. Brown grew up in Long Island and has been in the education field since 2013. She teaches Science and specializes in Living Environment and Biology. Ms. Brown has been at BSMART since September 2024, we're happy to have her be apart of our team! An interesting fact about Ms. Brown is that she is a Scientist and she loves Anime and said, "I am a BIG BIG NERD!!!!"
Dr. Buh-Mbi
Dr. Buh-Mbi
Email: jbuhmbi@schools.nyc.gov
Room: 324
Office Hours: request by email
Dr. Julius Buh Mbi teaches 9th-grade Physics and Chemistry. Along with 12th grade Earth Science. He's proud to be part of the BSMaRt family. He sees himself as a tough but kind teacher and expects a lot from his students. He's excited to teach the young minds of BSMaRt and looks forward to meeting you.
J. Carmody
Teacher
J. Carmody
Teacher
Email: jcarmody3@schools.nyc.gov
Room: Library 312
Office Hours: Lunch (7th Period) in Library
Mr. Carmody is from Vermont and graduated from the University of Vermont. He received his Master's degree in Adolescent Social Studies Education from Hunter College. This is his second year teaching social studies at BSMART. He has worked at a non-profit on criminal justice reform in Washington DC, as a house painter in Arizona, as a carpenter in Vermont, and as a bartender here in New York.
N. Charter
Teacher
N. Charter
Teacher
Email: ncharter2@schools.nyc.gov
Room: 301
Office Hours 1:15-2 pm every day except Wednesday
Ms. Charter is a Special education teacher from Brooklyn. She has over ten years of experience working with children and in education. Currently, Ms. Charter is co-teaching in the science department. Some of Ms. Charter’s passions are Computer science, Art/Design, and Mental health. Ms. Charter likes to play video games, watch anime, code, paint, and playing with her dog.
A. Chen
Teacher
A. Chen
Teacher
Email: achen41@schools.nyc.gov
Room: 331
S. Deratus
S. Deratus
Email: sderatus@schools.nyc.gov
Room: 229
Office Hours: request by email
Ms. Deratus is a Math Teacher and this will be her 5th year teaching.She have taught all subjects of math from Algebra 1 to Pre- Calc. She became a teacher because she love interacting with kids and building rapport with them, and she get the opportunity to do that while teaching them math. She attended Hunter College for her undergrad and for her Masters in Education, She attended Saint John's University. She was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY but then her family moved to Long Island. She is always in Brooklyn for either work, family/friends, or church so she's still a Brooklyn girl at heart. Fun fact about her is that the first time she went hiking was in a rainforest in Puerto Rico, she jumped off a cliff into the water. It was scary and exciting at the same time. She's afraid of heights, so during that excursion she was definitely conquering her fears that day.
J. Diaz
Teacher
J. Diaz
Teacher
Email: jdiaz89@schools.nyc.gov
J. DiLeonardo
J. DiLeonardo
Email: jdileonardo@schools.nyc.gov
Room 205
Office Hours: Monday through Friday 7:30 am to 8:00 am. Tuesdays and Thursdays 3:00-3:30pm.
James DiLeonardo was born in Coney Island, New York. As a child he was raised by a single parent and my grandparents. He has lived in Brooklyn, Queens, and Long Island. He comes from a large Italian family. He has 4 aunts, 3 uncles, and 28 first cousins. He has been teaching Physical Education for 10 years and this is his 6th year at BSMART. He became a teacher because they have helped him grow as a person starting from childhood all the way to college. He studied and received a master degree in Physical Education and Health Education at Adelphi University in New York.
E. Espinal
Teacher
E. Espinal
Teacher
Email: eespinal11@schools.nyc.gov
S. Fofana
Teacher
S. Fofana
Teacher
Email: sfofana@schools.nyc.gov
Room: 306
Mr. Fofana has been teaching English Language Arts and Special Education since 2007. He became a teacher to help young people become better versions of themselves and to have them teach him to do the same. He got his Master's in Special Education from The City University of New York in 2013. He went to high school in Boston, where he grew up. He has been with BSMARt since its beginning in 2011 and hasn't left. One fun fact about him is that his favorite sneaker brand is Converse.
S. Hilario
Teacher
S. Hilario
Teacher
Email: shilario3@schools.nyc.gov
S. Jefferson
Teacher
S. Jefferson
Teacher
Email: sjefferson7@schools.nyc.gov
Room: 305
Office Hours: request by email
Ms. Jefferson is a social studies teacher at BSMaRT. Ms. Jefferson supports young minds in learning history, geography, and human civilization, including how people interact, govern themselves, and solve conflicts. She believes high school education is essential to creating life-long learners. She looks forward to working with your child.
M. Li
M. Li
Email: mli15@schools.nyc.gov
Room: 321
Office Hours: request by email
Ms. Li graduated from CUNY Hunter College with a Bachelor degree in Mathematics and Chinese Language Literature and with a Master degree in Adolescent Math Education
Q. Li
Q. Li
Email: qli@schools.nyc.gov
Room: 301
Office Hours: Request by email
Ms. Li has been teaching Chinese in schools since 2005 and has been teaching in BSMART since 2015.
E. Liu
Teacher
E. Liu
Teacher
Email: xliu18@schools.nyc.gov
Room: 202
Originally from China, Ms. Liu has a background as a curriculum designer for Ed-tech companies. She earned her Master’s degree from NYU in TESOL and World Languages (Mandarin). Ms. Liu began her ESL teaching journey with B-SMART in September 2024. She's excited to teach English, share cultural insights, and foster a growth mindset with her students. Outside of class, she enjoys listening to music, playing sports, and exploring social sciences. Ms. Liu speaks Mandarin, English, and Russian, and is currently learning Spanish from her students.
L. Liwa
Teacher
L. Liwa
Teacher
Email: lliu13@schools.nyc.gov
R. LoBianco
Teacher
R. LoBianco
Teacher
Email: rlobianco2@schools.nyc.gov
Room: 305
F. McIntosh
F. McIntosh
Email: fmcintosh3@schools.nyc.gov
Room: 331
Office Hours: request by email
I am a proud member of the Brooklyn School for Math Research teaching staff. I have been with B-Smart since February 2021. I have a diverse work experience background other than teaching.
I graduated from St. John's University with a BS in Finance, New York Institute of Technology with a M.B.A.
After working in the private sector in Finance where I analyzed financial data, risk, and trained new employees. While training I realized that was what I enjoyed the most. The joy of helping someone learn something new or just to help was very fulfilling. It was then I knew I wanted to teach and be that influential Educator to the next generation.
I went back to school and earned my M.S. Ed in Adolescent Education & Teaching Students with Disabilities from St. John's University. Based on my love for math, problem solving, and reconciling accounts my content specialty is Mathematics and Special Education.
E. Moerer
E. Moerer
Email: emoerer2@schools.nyc.gov
Room: 310
Office Hours: request by email
Elizabeth Moerer received a B.A. in Fashion Design from Iowa State University, and recently graduated with her M.A. in Art and Design Education from Pratt Institute. Prior to pursuing her Masters, she worked in the fashion industry for several years. This is her first-year teaching! She teaches Visual Arts and Advanced Arts, where you’ll explore a variety of art mediums. Since her time at Iowa State University, she has always aspired to become an educator. At B-SMART she provides students with a creative and collaborative space where they can explore their identity, develop their voice as an artist, and engage with new materials to advance their technical art skills. Her primary art discipline is ceramics. She practices wheel throwing and hand building ceramics at her studio in Brooklyn. She’s originally from the Midwest and primarily grew up in Northeast Iowa.
B. Moreno
Teacher
B. Moreno
Teacher
Email: bmoreno2@schools.nyc.gov
Room: 202
K. O'Hanlon
K. O'Hanlon
Email: kohanlon5@schools.nyc.gov
Room: 324
Office Hours: request by email
Mr. O’Hanlon teaches science, mathematics and is a member of the special education department He’s Been working at BSMaRt since January 2020. He chose to be a teacher because He’s one of the kids! He’s a product of the NYC public education system. (shout outs to PS107, PS 230, MS 51 and HSTAT). He’s an educator because he believes that the only way to improve society is to elevate all people. We have to empower our youth, especially ones from marginalized groups, so they can contribute to the greater good in the most meaningful way possible. He wants to be on the ground level and work with young people so they can accomplish this goal.
C. Paguandas
C. Paguandas
Email: cpaguandas@schools.nyc.gov
Room: 307
Office Hours: request by email
Chantelle Paguandas attended SUNY Oswego for her bachelor's in communications majoring in Journalism and then went onto CUNY Brooklyn College graduating with a master's degree in Education. She chose to work in the education field because she highly enjoys working with the high school population and finds the job to be rewarding. She believes this career is transformative and loves to see her students grow academically as well as impacting the lives of our future. Altogether she has been teaching for 7 years, however she has been at BSMART for 1 year. One fun fact about her is that she studied abroad in Belize for 2 months.
P. Paramananda
P. Paramananda
Email: pparamananda@schools.nyc.gov
Room: 318
Office Hours: Monday & Friday from 4 pm to 5.30 pm
Mr. P has been teaching for 11 years. Out of those 11 years, 10 years have been right here at BSMARt. He joined BSMARt in 2012. He teaches physics, robotics, and AP Biology. He became a science teacher because he loves science and he considers himself to be a lifelong learner. He grew up in Sri Lanka. He moved to the U.S when he was 14. He went to Harry S. Truman High school in the Bronx. He went to Hofstra University and Lehman College for his Undergrad and graduate degree. Fun fact about him is that he has an identical twin.
C. Pica
Teacher
C. Pica
Teacher
Email: cpica2@schools.nyc.gov
B. Pinsky
Teacher
B. Pinsky
Teacher
Email: bpinsky4@schools.nyc.gov
Room: 228
C. Roberts-Saunders
C. Roberts-Saunders
Email: crobertssaunders@schools.nyc.gov
Room: 304
Office hours: Request by email
Catandra Saunders was born and raised on the island of Grenada. Although she was born and raised on an island she cannot swim!
She holds a Masters of Arts in Teaching with a concentration in English Language Arts from the Relay Graduate School of Education. Moreover, she has been an educator for over four (4) years. Ms. Saunders teaching philosophy is that students' imagination can go wherever she takes them with the use of questioning. As such, she takes pride in providing multiple opportunities for students to explore deeper knowledge of content and the world. Her love for children and her passion for learning are two reasons she became an educator. Within the classroom, Ms.Saunders is given an opportunity to help students find, or re-discover their unique voices. She understands that learners thrive when they feel seen, heard and understood. She aims to create an environment where students can share their voices and listen to the voices of others. Also, she aims to create a warm and affirming environment where students can feel safe to learn. Furthermore, Ms. Saunders believes that when a learning community believes in honoring stories and voices, vulnerability becomes its greatest asset and to find empowerment in vulnerability is to open portals of connection, intellectual risk-taking, and transformation. In her classroom, everyone will embrace a growth mindset.
R. Rodrigues
R. Rodrigues
Email: rdesouzarodrig@schools.nyc.gov
Room: 307
Office Hours: request by email
Mr. Rodrigues' early childhood dream was to be a teacher, since he loves to inspire, help and promote academic growth. Since 2017 he has been working at BSMaRT, where we have this amazing school community focused on bringing academics, socio-emotional and human development to our students. His background as a Brazilian immigrant and being able to speak 5 different languages is a gift to be used towards helping his students.
N. Rodriguez
N. Rodriguez
Email: nrodriguez185@schools.nyc.gov
Room: 309
Office Hours: request by email
Ms. Rodriguez is BSMART’s Speech-Language Provider and this will be her second year teaching. After graduating with her Speech Language Pathology Degree she knew she wanted to provide services to children in an educational setting.Ms. Rodriguez was born in Flushing, Queens then moved to Valley Stream, Long Island where she grew up and attended Valley Stream South High School. She then went on to continue her education and received a bachelor's degree in Queens college and a Master’s Degree in St. John’s University. A fun fact about Ms. Rodriguez is that she has a twin sister.
L. Scott
L. Scott
Email: Lscott19@schools.nyc.gov
Room: 210
Mr. Scott has been teaching Social Studies (SPED) at BSMaRt since 2015. He always loved working with children. He went to the University of Guyana and Long Island University. He’s from Guyana. A fun fact about him is that he was a sports jock in high school.
A. Taylor
Teacher
A. Taylor
Teacher
Email: ataylor@schools.nyc.gov
Room: 210
Office Hours: request by email
This is Alyssa Taylor second-year teaching Physical Education at B-SMART. She believe that all students can be successful regardless of their ability, because PE is about improving personal skills and learning to have a healthy lifestyle within your limits. She attended Brooklyn College, where she received her Bachelor's of Science. My favorite sports include Basketball, Swim, Cross Country, and Volleyball.
A. White
Teacher
A. White
Teacher
Email: awhite45@schools.nyc.gov
Room: 306
A. Espinal
Staff
A. Espinal
Staff
Email: aespinal43@schools.nyc.gov
Room: Main office 230
A. Caesar
Staff
A. Caesar
Staff
Email: acaesar@schools.nyc.gov
Phone: 718-381-7100 ext. 3081
Room: 308
E. Ruiz
Staff
E. Ruiz
Staff
Email: eruiz9@schools.nyc.gov
Phone: 718-381-7100 ext. 5921
Room: 230
J. Harvin
Staff
J. Harvin
Staff
Email: jharvin@bsmartnow.com
Office Room: 320
Phone: 718-381-7100 ext. 1320
J. Brown
Staff
J. Brown
Staff
Email: jbrown142@schools.nyc.gov
Room: Library 312
Jennifer Brown is one of the school counselors at BSMART. She joined the BSMART family in 2021 and she’s honored to be part of an amazing team of educators and staff. She received her master's degree in School Counseling from Long Island University. Her counseling program involves both individual and group counseling. She's passionate about what she does, and believes that everyone has a purpose. We just need reminding sometimes. As a school counselor, her primary goal is to promote all students' academic, personal, and social development. In addition, she hopes to offer support to the students, families, staff, and community. She look forward to getting to know you and your child and helping them succeed in meeting their personal goals.
Fun Facts: She loves Hip-hop, and R&B. My favorite rapper is Nas, and She’s an honorary member of the Beyhive :)
J. McPherson
Staff
J. McPherson
Staff
Email: jmcpherson8@schools.nyc.gov
Room: Main Office 230
Phone: 718-381-7100 ext. 5900
M. Bracero
Staff
M. Bracero
Staff
Email: mbracero4@schools.nyc.gov
Room: 320
This is Ms. Bracero, but everyone calls her Mrs. Mickey. She’s one of the School Guidance Counselors here at BSMART. She has been a School Counselor at BSMART for three years. She is passionate about helping students reach their full academic, social and emotional potential; and she enjoys building relationships with her students, families and staff.
Her journey to becoming a counselor started when she began a part time position as a substitute teacher. She was finishing her Bachelor of Science in Television and Radio from Brooklyn College with a dream of becoming a talk show host. Her experience as a substitute teacher introduced me to the passion I have for working with children. She decided to pursue a career that would allow me to help students become successful, work with them to help them effectively deal with a variety of problems, and inspire them to do their best in their lives. Which led her to getting her masters degree in School Counseling from Hunter College. A fun fact about her is that prior to becoming a School Counselor, she was a School Counselor intern at BSMART for a year and a half.
S. Negroni
Staff
S. Negroni
Staff
Email: snegroni@schools.nyc.gov
Room: 302
Phone: 718-381-7100 ext. 3010
W. Pichardo
Staff
W. Pichardo
Staff
Email: wpichardodisla@schools.nyc.gov
Office: Main Office 230
Phone: 718-381-7100 ext. 5924
