Faculty and Staff
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Emily Barbara
Special Education Coordinator
ext 143
ebarbara@codmanacademy.org
Emily is the Special Education Coordinator at Codman. A native of Massachusetts, she is a graduate of Hood College, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and American Studies, and the University of Virginia, where she completed her Masters of Education in Special Education. Emily spent the last seven years teaching English and World History at a high school in Ashburn, Virginia, working with both general education students and students with disabilities in the inclusion classroom. She has also worked as a mentor and Best Practices instructor, working with new teachers in induction programs. She is excited about returning to the Boston area and looks forward to supporting the students and faculty at the school, as well as working with the greater Codman community.
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Shalaun Brown
Office Manager
ext 101
snbrown@codmanacademy.org
Shalaun joined Codman in June 2008 as Office Manager, bringing eight years of experience having worked in Boston Charter Schools at the elementary and middle school level. Prior to joining Codman Academy, Shalaun was the founding Office Manager at the Edward W. Brooke Charter School serving two years and then four years as the school's Program Manager. Shalaun was also the founding Office Manager at the Frederick Douglass Charter School. She has also worked at several Boston area adolescent group homes in varied office administration capacities and direct care.
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Thabiti Brown
Principal
Fisk Crew Leader
ext 118
tbrown@codmanacademy.org
Thabiti is a graduate of Brown University (BA in American Civilizations) and Teachers College - Columbia University (MA in Social Studies). He has taught at the Beacon School in New York and at the International School of Panama. His special interest is in schools as community and family centers. Thabiti is a recipient of a 2005 Educator Award from the Milken Family Foundation. He is a member of the Codman Square Health Center board of directors. In 2011, he was awarded a Lynch Fellowship for Boston school leaders affiliated with Boston College Graduate School of Education.
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Robert Bustamante
Dean of Students
ext 104
rbustamante@codmanacademy.org
Robert is the Dean of Students at Codman Academy. He holds a B.A. in Psychology from Eastern Connecticut State University and is currently a master's degree candidate at Cambridge College in school guidance. Previously, he worked for ten years as a Student Support Coordinator at the The Harbor School and before that at Washington Irving's Alliance for Inclusion and Prevention program as a behavior specialist. He lives in Roslindale with his wife and daughter.
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Elizabeth Butler
Science Teacher
Spelman Crew Leader
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ebutler@codmanacademy.org
Liz earned a B.S. in Biology and a B.A. in Japanese from George Washington University as well as a Master's in Japanese Studies from the University of Cambridge in the UK. She taught Biology for short time at Charlestown High School in Boston before returning to the UK where she taught middle and high school science for two years. She is now happy to be at Codman teaching 9th grade physical sciences.
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Meg Campbell
Executive Director
ext 103
mcampbell@codmanacademy.org
Meg Campbell is the 2001 founder of the school and its Executive Director. She is former Executive Director of Expeditionary Learning Schools and was also a Lecturer at Harvard Graduate School of Education where she taught social policy and curriculum design. She is the author of the forthcoming collection of poetry, More Love (Midmarch Arts Press, 2012), Solo Crossing (Midmarch Arts Press, 1999) and an editor of Split Verse: Poems to Heal Your Heart (Midmarch Arts Press, 2000)and Literacy All Day Long (Kendall Hunt, 2000). A graduate of Harvard-Radcliffe and Wheelock Graduate School of Education, Meg holds a C.A.S. from Harvard Graduate School of Education. She is a 2009 Barr Foundation Fellow, member of the Community Advisory Board of Grand Circle Travel Foundation and is a founding board member of the Margarita Muniz Academy, a two way bilingual high school which is part of the Boston Public Schools.founding board member of the Boston Women's Heritage Trail, recently served on the Boston Public Library Compass Committee, and . Meg has lived in Dorchester, where she raised two daughters, for over thirty years. She holds Massachusetts certification as a high school principal and superintendent.
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Sydney Chaffee
9th Grade Humanities Teacher
Bennett Crew Leader
ext 112
schaffee@codmanacademy.org
Sydney comes to Codman Academy from the Citizen Schools National Teaching Fellowship, where she taught eighth graders, coordinated the Boston Public Library's citywide Homework Assistance Program, and earned a Master's in Education from Lesley University. Before that, she graduated from Sarah Lawrence College with a concentration in women's history and writing. When she's not teaching (and sometimes when she is), Sydney enjoys making people laugh with improv comedy.
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Maxime Charles
Soccer Coach
mcharles@massconstruct.com
Maxime is a soccer coach at Codman. He played for the varsity team at The Boston English High School from 1987 to 1989 and was a player and coach for the Temple Salem varsity team. As a coach, he has the ability to teach and get positive results from players. Maxime is also the President & Senior Construction Management Consultant of Mass Construction & Management.
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Karen Crounse
Mathematics Teacher
Lincoln Crew Leader
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kcrounse@codmanacademy.org
Previously a computer programmer, Karen made a career change to teaching to share her passion for and excitement about mathematics with students. She returns to Codman for her third year, working with students in grades 9 and 10. When she's not immersed in mathematics, Karen also enjoys running and knitting (but not at the same time). Karen is a graduate of Wesleyan University and Harvard School of Education.
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Danielle Denufrio
Mathematics Teacher
ext 115
ddenufrio@codmanacademy.org
Danielle teaches the ninth grade Algebra course. Beginning in 2008, she worked at Codman Academy as Inclusion Specialist. As a participant in a Colorado Outward Bound course, Danielle carries a great appreciation for the philosophy and pedagogy of Expeditionary Learning. She earned her Bachelors Degree from Union College in New York. When she is not at school, Danielle enjoys hiking, art and travel.
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Shelby Derissaint
Social Worker
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sderissaint@codmanacademy.org
Shelby is a social worker at Codman Academy. She was born and raised in Boston. She is an alum of Simmons College where she graduated with a Masters degree in Social Work. Shelby's job mainly includes crisis intervention, individual counseling, group work, and providing array of resources. In her spare time she loves to play soccer, go to the movies, and spend time with her family/friends. Shelby's goals are to learn more about herself by reflecting on who she is, what she wants to do, and where she would like to end up.
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Mark Destler
Director of Tutorial and Title One
ext 108
mdestler@codmanacademy.org
Mark Destler has worked in the Massachusetts public schools system for thirteen years in a wide range of capacities. In the summer of 2000, he left his job teaching 8th grade English and reading in Duxbury, MA to join The MATCH School as a founding teacher and administrator. In four years at MATCH, he served a technology coordinator, lead teacher of student life, and as lead teacher of literacy. Inspired by the power of individualized instruction, he left MATCH to build Tutors for All programs dedicated to bridging the achievement gap one student at a time. As consultant and then as Director of Title One and Tutorial at City on a Hill, he built programs that closed the achievement gap between African-American students at CoaH and Caucasian students state-wide. As Director of Tutorial and Title One at Codman Academy, his programs have contributed to a similar effect. His work in public education has given him a deep understanding of and respect for the work that goes on in classrooms throughout Massachusetts. At the same time, however, it has convinced him that the deep needs of under prepared adolescents can only be met through individualized instruction and that the federal work-study system offers a uniquely affordable opportunity to do this.
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Nora Dowley
Dean of Enrichment
ext 106
ndowley@codmanacademy.org
Nora graduated from Bowdoin College (BA Government and Legal Studies, minor Education) and earned a Master of Education (Risk and Prevention) from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She tookher teaching certificate to the Booker T. Washington Public Charter School for the Technical Arts in Washington, D.C. where she taught history and coached the girls basketball team. She then traveled to Alexandria, VA and taught history and coached basketball and soccer at the St. Stephen's and St. Agnes High School. Nora also spent several summers with the Upward Bound program at Wesleyan University serving as a college advisor, teacher, and mentor. She is thrilled to be serving Codman as the college advisor and Dean of Enrichment. In 2010, Nora was recognized by the national organization, Colleges that Change Lives (CTCL), as a Counselor that Changes Lives. When not at Codman Nora enjoys delicious gluten-free food, playing basketball and running. She is especially passionate about Broadway musicals.
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Olawale Falokun
Soccer Coach
chicokid_2000@yahoo.com
Olawale is a soccer coach at Codman. He has been around the game all his life, including various levels of league soccer in Nigeria. After arriving in the US, he played high school soccer in the Bronx at All Hallows High School and then for one year at Skidmore College. After a brief break due to injury, Wale started coaching in Boston soccer leagues in 2008. He looks forward to applying his player development skills at Codman.
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Thony K. Ferdinand
Inclusion Associate
Stillman Crew Leader
ext
tferdinand@codmanacademy.org
A Mattapan native, Thony earned a bachelors degree from Morehouse College, in English & Language Arts. Thony serves as a member of The National Black College Alliance and the Greater Boston Morehouse College Alumni Association. Both are organizations that offer community support and promote higher education among minority students. His hobbies include barbering and enjoying the company of his friends and family.
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Tawanna Fulton
Academic Support Coordinator
ext. 113
tfulton@codmanacademy.org
Lisa Graustein
Humanities & Senior Internships
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lgraustein@codmanacademy.org
Lisa graduated from Harvard with a degree is Social Anthropology and a teaching certificate in Social Studies from the Harvard Ed School. After a year of teaching in the Arlington School system, Lisa taught for four years at City on a Hill Charter School and then taught at New Boston Pilot Middle School. From 2003-2006, Lisa served as the regional youth director for the Quakers in New England. She spent the first part of 2007 teaching and doing HIV/AIDS education in rural southern India before returning to Dorchester and teaching at Codman. Lisa sits on the boards and advisory committees of a number of local non-profits.
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Joan Green
Saturday Teacher
joangreen@gmail.com
Joan Green is a dancer, choreographer, and visual artist. She founded the Cambridge Performance Project and co-directed Back Porch Dance Company, an interracial, intergenerational company of women who performed throughout the New England area from 1990 to 2001. A lifelong visual artist, Joan spends part of each year painting in Jamaica and had a solo show of watercolors painted there in 2001 at the Cambridge Multicultural Arts Center. In 2005, she was awarded two commissions which hang in the new clinical wing of Childrens Hospital Boston, and in 2006 she had two paintings commissioned by Childrens Hospital Boston at Waltham. Joan will be having a solo exhibit of her paintings of dancers, together with a dance performance including her choreography at the Cambridge Multicultural Arts Center in June, 2007. She currently teaches dance to adults and elders, and performs with the Elder Ensemble of Prometheus Dance.
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Niki Janus
Dean of Alumni
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njanus@codmanacademy.org
Niki is Midwestern born, California educated and a Boston resident for thirty years and counting. Graduated from Mills College (Oakland, CA) and has a M.Ed from Tufts. Her career in higher educational administration included work at Harvard (25th reunion, Radcliffe special projects and athletics) and Wheaton (Admission Dir., Dean of Students and Athletic Dir). She has also been a partner in a home renovation business, run summer lacrosse camps for girls, and worked in development for Parents Helping Parents and Boston Baroque. At Codman, Niki is the Dean of Alumni. She will support Codman alumni in their pursuit of a college degree. At the Dean of Alumni, her goal is to improve college graduation rates and to build a data base to use in the creation of a program for similar groups of high school graduates. She believes communication is key and includes not only snail mail, email, phone and meetings at Codman, but, when feasible campus visits.
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Jana'e Johnson
Basketball Coach
janae.johnson@simmons.edu
Jana'e is a basketball coach at Codman. A former starting point guard and graduate of Virginia State Unversity, Jana'e she obtained a B.A. in English and a minor in Writing & Communications. She also earned an M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration at the University of Delaware. Currently, Jana'e is the Assistant Athletic Director at Simmons College. Prior to Simmons, Jana'e has been heavily involved in collegiate athletic administration, as well as coaching and mentoring minority students interested in higher education.
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Jeff Kirby
Mathematics Teacher
Wilberforce Crew Leader
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jkirby@codmanacademy.org
Jeff is a graduate of MIT (S.B. in Mechanical Engineering and a concentration in Education). He is excited for his first year teaching, especially in being able to help understand and appreciate math. Outside of his work and academic life, Jeff has been a part of an extensive mentoring program for middle school students through the MIT STEM Program for the past 2 years. When not teaching, Jeff enjoys running and playing basketball.
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Penny Lawrence
Special Education/Reading Teacher
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plawrence@codmanacademy.org
Penny has a BA from Radcliffe College, a Masters in classical civilization from the University of Minnesota, a Masters in Public Administration from San Diego State, and a Masters in Education from Wheelock College. Penny taught in the Multiple Intelligence Program in Gloucester Public Schools and is now retired. She loves to sing and lives in Wenham, Massachusetts.
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Dawn Leaness
Director of Development
ext. 152
dleaness@codmanacademy.org
Dawn graduated from Princeton University with a BA in International Politics and certificates in Gender Studies and Latin American studies. Prior to joining Codman Academy's development team, Dawn worked in foundation grant-making for The MENTOR Network and the Barbara Lee Family Foundation, focusing on youth and women in politics program areas. Dawn serves on the Board of Princeton University's Class of 1969 Community Service Fund and volunteers with the Big Sister Association and the West End House Boys & Girls Club. In her free time, Dawn enjoys running (and coaching track and cross country) and teaching Pilates.
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David Liebowitz
12th Grade Humanities Teacher
Morehouse Crew Leader
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dliebowitz@codmanacademy.org
Dave graduated from Earlham College with a BA in American Studies in 2006 and received his M.A.T. from Tufts University in 2009 while interning at Codman. Dave is the Senior Humanities Teacher as well as the Crew Leader for Morehouse. In 2006-2007, he ran the after school program at Codman. The next two years he taught English at a charter school in New Orleans before returning to Codman. While not at school, Dave enjoys sports, the outdoors, and cheese.
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Brian McCarthyHumanities Higher Learning Institute
ext.
bmccarthy@codmanacademy.org
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Haley Malm
French Teacher & English as a Second Language
Shaw Crew Leader
ext. 150
hmalm@codmanacademy.org
Haley teaches 11th and 12th grade French at Codman. She is also Codman's the English Language Learning Coordinator. She has Bachelor’s degree in French from Vassar College, and has lived in southwestern France, Corsica, and Tunisia. Before joining Codman, she spent time traveling and teaching English abroad, then returned to the US to pursue a Master's in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) at Boston University. She did her student teaching at The English High School in Jamaica Plain, then taught English as a Second Language and Social Studies at Fuller Middle School in Framingham for two years. Besides a passion for languages, she loves writing, cooking, and writing about cooking!
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Hardy Mondesir
Girls' Volleyball Coach
hardy.mondesir@gmail.com
Hardy Mondesir was born in Port au Prince, Haiti. After spending the first ten years of my life in his native country, he migrated to the United States and settled in Cambridge, MA, with his father and siblings. Currently he lives in Boston with his wife and five-year-old son Christopher. He attended Grahman Parks School and Cambridge Rindge and Latin, where he distinguished myself as a three-sport varsity athlete in soccer, wrestling, and volleyball. Although he spent ten years in the accounting field, what he enjoys most is coaching and playing volleyball. He is the head coach of the girls' varsity team at English High School and the boys' coach at Boston College High School. One of his goals is to create a volleyball club in the city of Boston, where players will learn the sport and compete successfully against other suburban club teams in Massachusetts.
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Brendan O'Connell
Humanities Teacher
Hampton Crew Leader
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boconnell@codmanacademy.org
Brendan earned a B.A. in History from Fordham University and an M.A. in Educational Leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University. He taught and coached at Littleton High School in central Massachusetts for six years. Brendan learned an appreciation for the principles of Expeditionary Learning as a teacher at Validus Preparatory Academy in the South Bronx. His interests also include baseball, marriage, standards-based grading, and forcing it. He is happy to be the crew leader for the Hampton University Crew and is looking forward to this year's Senior Talks by Hampton seniors Damion Miller and Lance Murray, who started their Codman careers with Brendan in 2008.
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Mbakwe Okafor
Wellness Director
Dillard University Crew Leader
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mokafor@codmanacademy.org
Mbakwe is a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross with a Bachelor of Arts in English and a concentration in African American Studies. He also has a Master in Sports Leadership from Northeastern University and the Executive Treasurer of the Massachusetts Charter School Athletic Organization. Mbakwe's professional experience has focused on developing leadership skills through Athletics and Nutrition Education in urban communities, while mentoring youths to seek successful avenues in Education and Athletics.
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Porsha Olayiwola
Inclusion Associate
Tougaloo Crew Leader
ext
polayiwola@codmanacademy.org
Porsha is an Inclusion Associate at Codman Academy. A native of Chicago, Porsha moved to Boston in 2010 a go to serve as an AmeriCorps*VISTA for the National Coalition for the Homeless. She spends most of her time reflecting, smiling, and practicing the art of slam poetry.
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Meghan Patrolia
Humanities Intern, Tufts MAT Program
ext 107
mpatrolia@codmanacademy.org
Meghan graduated from Brown University with a B.A. in Education Studies and Linguistics. She is currently enrolled in Tufts University Master's in Education program and completing her internship at Codman Academy. Previously, she worked at Codman as an Inclusion Associate where she applied her previous experiences in SAT prep and high school tutoring in a broader classroom setting. In her spare time Meghan enjoys reading, drinking tea, and being oudoors.
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Christina Pecce
Music Instructor
christinapecce@gmail.com
Christina is a graduate of Hofstra University (BS in Music Education) and currently studying at Boston Conservatory (MM in Opera Performance). She gained a tremendous amount of experience teaching a cappella music in New York working as President and Musical Director Sigma'Cappella. As an arranger, performer, and educator, she is overjoyed to be given the opportunity to inspire emotion and learning through music. Christina is very excited to join the Saturday team at Codman Academy.
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Allison Poirot
Humanities Teacher
Benedict Crew Leader
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apoirot@codmanacademy.org
Allison Poirot is a graduate of Bennington College, with a BA in Community Studies and a MA in Teaching. She has taught history, psychology, and other humanities courses at several schools in the Greater Boston area. Her adventures include cooking baked macaroni and cheese for 300 people at Seeds of Peace International Camp in Otisfield, Maine; teaching Chinese teachers of English the Paul Bunyan story in Fuzhou, China; paying her rent by making puppets in Portland, Oregon; and traveling with friends and students. She is passionate about localism, global diplomacy, and mochi ice cream. She has been looking for a school with a strong sense of community for a while and is happy to finally find it in Codman.
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Michelle Rue, M.M., L.P.N.
Adjunct Faculty
mrue@codman.org
Michelle is a graduate of the Department of Health & Hospitals School of Nursing and has been a nurse for 31 years. She received her Master in Management and Organizational Development from Cambridge College. As and experienced health care manager and the present DotWell Director of Health Education and Outreach Services, she works to bring awareness of culturally focused health care issues to the Dorchester community. For the last nine years she has also been the program official for “Izandla Ziyahlambana”, (Hands Wash Each Other) a project between the A.W. Barnes Primary School, in East London, South Africa, and students of Codman Academy Charter School in the United States. This project educates both students and the community on life skills necessary to combat HIV/AIDS.
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Maggie Sachs
Inclusion Associate/Mathematics
ext
msachs@codmanacademy.org
Maggie graduated from Stanford University with a BA in Anthropology and an MA in Religious Studies (Islamic Studies). For her degrees, Maggie undertook ethnographic research in the Sea Islands of South Carolina as well as the Western Desert of Australia, subsequently traveling to India to complete her thesis on a Sufi community in Delhi. She is very excited for her first year at Codman, where she will act as both a first year teacher and an Inclusion Associate, putting her previous experiences as a tutor and a coach into action in a classroom setting. As a former member of the Stanford women’s lacrosse team, Maggie enjoys all types of athletics, and particularly loves coaching lacrosse and soccer.
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Emily Speck
Science Teacher
ext 135
especk@codmanacademy.org
Emily Speck teaches Chemistry and Biology. She received her bachelor's degree in Biology and Environmental Studies from Williams College, and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Tufts University. In addition, she has completed the rigorous National Board Certification portfolio process, and is a Nationally Board Certified Teacher in Science for Adolescents and Young Adults. She brings a wealth of experience to Codman having taught science in a variety of settings including West Africa, the Boston Museum of Science, Fenway High School, and the Willauer School on Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center here in Boston. She taught at Codman from 2005 - 2009, and was on parental leave for the 2009-2010 school year. She is excited to return to Codman and to use Expeditionary Learning as a means to develop students' passion and skills in all areas of science.
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Edward Washington
Basketball Coach
elwash@aol.com
Edward Washington is the basketball coach at Codman. He has staffed basketball camps and clinics across New England, managed staff for eight years at a summer basketball league in Lawrence, Massachusetts; and taught basketball skills to middle-school and high-school athletes. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Hampton University. He grew up in Londonderry, New Hampshire, and now resides in Melrose, Massachusetts.
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Ed Yoo
Science Teacher
ext
eyoo@codmanacademy.org
Ed is excited to serve Codman Academy as the 10th grade Physics and HLI Science teacher. He is also proud to be Crew Buddy for Fisk University Crew. He earned a B.A. in Biology from Harvard College, an M.A. in Biology from Harvard University (where he studied how pygmy goats climb steep surfaces), and a M.Ed. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education in the Teacher Education Program. Ed is an avid nature/travel photographer, a 3rd degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, and a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu blue belt. He enjoys taking care of his two cats, Bruce and Logan, and his 5-year-old pitbull rescue, Truffle.
