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Dustin
Mitchell
Executive Director , Co-founder
Dustin Mitchell is the Executive Director of KIPP
Tech Valley. He attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Dustin has over a decade of experience in Capital Region schools, with
more than half of that being in the charter school arena. He is a
member of both the International Society for Technology
in Education (ISTE) and the New York State Association
for Computers and Technology in Education (NYSCATE).
Don Applyrs
Principal
Prior to being named our first Assistant Principal in 2008, Mr. Applyrs taught Library Media Studies and Culture, in addition to overseeing the design and development of our library media center and computer lab. Many of you know Mr. Applyrs as a community leader outside of KIPP, so it should be no surprise that his character, work ethic and commitment to our children make him an ideal choice for Principal.
Mr. Applyrs, is a native of Queens, NY and a graduate of the University at Albany. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Information Science and Policy and a minor in Africana Studies in 2003. His passion to be an educator and work with information technology led to him earning a Master’s Degree in Information Science concentrating in School Library Media also from the University at Albany in 2006. With a second Master’s Degree in Curriculum Development and Instructional Technology completed, Mr. Applyrs also earned a Master’s of Education in Leadership and Administrative Credential from National Louis University in August 2009. Most importantly, Mr. “A” has been a member of the KIPP Tech Valley team and family since 2006.
Kate Morales
Academic Dean
Ms. Morales is the 5th grade History teacher at KIPP: TECH VALLEY. She is an Albany native with a Bachelors degree in Sociology from the University at Buffalo and a Masters of Science in Education from the College of Saint Rose. She has a passion for History, which she imparts to her students. Furthermore, it is her goal to have each of her students become effective, empathetic, and productive citizens of our community and the world. She is currently training to become KIPP TECH VALLEY'S next Assistant Principal.
Leah
Perkins
Parent & Community Liaison
Leah
Perkins has been an elementary school teacher for almost a decade. She began her teaching
career
as a volunteer for
Junior Achievement in the Bronx, NY. A graduate from St.
Rose College with a B.S. in Elementary Education, she is also
currently a Masters Degree candidate in art education
with a focus on technology from Phoenix University. Leah
has developed several web
quests,
which were aligned and embedded to the curriculum
and led to increased levels of student achievement.
The Bronx, NY native believes academic excellence can be
obtained by any student and that a teacher should expect
more from a student than a student
can believe is possible.
Matthew Ely
Instructional Leader
Matthew Ely began his budding education career as an America Reads literacy tutor in Western New York. He facilitated tutoring in all subjects to a team of 6th graders, concentrating on literacy skills. While attending the State University of New York at Brockport Matt served as a Resident Assistant and was inducted into Sigma Tau Delta, the International English Society. More recently Matt traveled to South Korea to teach English as a Second Language. In addition to his scheduled classes, he offered private tutoring and assisted several business clients with technical translation. When asked about his views on education he deferred to the words of Frederick Douglass, “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.”
Jeff Miller
Instructional Leader
Jeff Miller is a 5th grade Reading Teacher at KIPP: Tech Valley. He attended the University at Albany as a Presidential Scholar, and spent a year studying English and Irish Literature at Oxford University, U.K. After returning, Jeff received a B.A. in English Literature and his M.S. in English Education from Albany. Jeff is committed to sharing his enthusiasm for reading with his students and believes that effort, curiosity, imagination, support and dedication are the 5 keys to academic success. Jasmine
VanBrunt
Instructional Leader
Jasmine has had the privilege of teaching at Kipp Tech Valley for over 4 years as a 6 th grade ELA teacher. She graduated Phi Theta Kappa and with honors from Hudson Valley Community College. After graduation, she moved west to California, where she graduated with a Bachelors Degree in both English and Ethnic Studies from the University of California at Berkeley. Shortly after, Jasmine began her teaching career as a Teach for America Corps member in the Bronx, where she taught 7th and 8th grade Language Arts and attended PACE University for a Masters of Education in Literacy. Jasmine then returned to the Capital District, where she designed and taught a GED Preparation program for Albany Housing Authority. Jasmine is a firm believer that family plays a major role in an individual's achievements and successes and attributes many of her successes to her own family.
Eric
Cocco
Business Manager
Eric Cocco has been a physical education teacher
for over five years. He began his teaching career in the Troy
City school district, and more recently taught students within
the city of Albany. During this time, he has gained experience
as a coach of several sports including middle school football,
volleyball, soccer and track. His undergraduate work was completed
at the State University of New York at Cortland where he obtained
a bachelors of science in Physical Education. He is also a
recent graduate from the College of Saint Rose with a Masters
of Education in Educational Administration.
Melinda Cruz
Office Manager
Melinda was born and raised in the Capital District, graduating from Linton High School in Schenectady. Ms. Cruz later attended Bryant and Stratton in Albany, New Yorkfor two years where she received her certificate in Office Administration . She has almost a decade of experience working in and managing administrative offices in the Capital District. She is also the proud parent of a current KIPP: TECH VALLEY student.
Caitlin Aldridge
Instructional Leader
Caitlin Aldridge is the 5th grade mathematics teacher at KIPP: TECH VALLEY. For her undergraduate degree, Caitlin attended Western New England College in Springfield MA, where she majored in English-Literature. During her time in Springfield, Caitlin worked as an America Reads Tutor where she tutored 4 th grade students in reading and writing. Recently, Caitlin finished her Master’s degree from Sage College receiving a M.S. in Childhood Education. As a Saratoga Springs native, Caitlin continues to be active in the community where she volunteers with B.E.S.T. an organization that helps the Backstretch Workers at the Saratoga Racecourse. One of the great life lessons Caitlin has learned can be summarized by the words of Aldous Huxley, “Experience is not what happens to you. It is what you do with what happens to you.”
Peter Mackenzie
Instructional Leader
Mr. Mackenzie is a 6th and 7th Grade ELA Teacher at KIPP: Tech Valley. He earned his B.A. in English from Siena College, where he was a member of the English Honors Program, and a Master’s in Education from the College of Saint Rose. He loves the challenge of teaching ELA because he believes that equipping students with the ability to read fluently and produce organized and cohesive writing is integral to their empowerment and success. He also believes that strong character and a spirit of excellence are paramount to his students’ success.
When not teaching at KIPP, you can see him during Siena College basketball games at the Times Union Center, where he handles the on-court promotions and throws t-shirts into the crowd. He has been a Big Brother for over eight years, and he and his wife are the proud parents of two year-old Jackson and 3 month-old Ryder, both future KIPPsters.
Kristine Reed
Academic Intervention Specialist
Kristine Reed is dual certified in special and elementary education. She graduated from The College of Saint Rose with her Bachelors in Science, and her Masters in Educational Psychology. She is currently perusing an administrative certificate in Educational Leadership. She is in her fifth year teaching in the capital region. She is returning to KIPP for a third year to serve as a resource and to support the KIPP Tech Valley community. She believes in the potential of all students she will accept nothing but excellence from her students. Mark Anderson says it well, “Excellence is the result of caring more than others think is wise, risking more than others think is safe, dreaming more than others think is practical and expecting more than others think is possible."
Patrick Burke
Instructional Leader
Mr. Burke is the 6th grade mathematics teacher at KIPP Tech Valley Charter School. He is originally from the Lake George area of Upstate New York. Mr. Burke received his Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology from the State University of New York at Plattsburgh in 2007. After graduating from SUNY Plattsburgh, Mr. Burke attended the College of St Joseph where he received his Master’s Degree in Elementary Education in the spring of 2009. This is Mr. Burke’s first year teaching at KIPP Tech Valley, as well as his first full time teaching job and is very excited about teaching at KIPP. Mr. Burke believes that every student can excel in mathematics with hard work, dedication, and the desire to be the best student they can be.
Ashley Bissonette
Instructional Leader
Ms. Bissonette is the 7th grade mathematics teacher at KIPP: Tech Valley. She graduated Summa Cum Laude with her Bachelor’s degree in Special Education from The College of Saint Rose. Ms. Bissonette continued at Saint Rose, graduating with honors to receive her Master’s degree in Special Education and Middle School Mathematics. Over the past several years, Ms. Bissonette has worked in schools throughout the Capital Region with the goal of supporting all students to help them reach their highest potentials. This is her first year teaching at KIPP and Ms. Bissonette is excited to share her passion for the simple complexity of math with KIPP’s Junior class.
Lindsey Cade
Instructional Leader
Mrs. Cade began her teaching career as an outdoor educator in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. She guided rafting, hiking and mountaineering trips for the past seven years. She completed her undergraduate education at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington. She double majored in Mathematics and Comparative Religious Studies. During her time at Whitman, she studied math in Budapest, Hungary. She is a Masters Degree Candidate in Secondary Education at the University at Albany. This will be her first year teaching at KIPP: TECH VALLEY and her third year living in Albany. Mrs. Cade is passionate about mathematics and sharing the beauty of it with her students.
Phuong Trinh
Instructional Leader
Ms. Phuong Trinh is a graduate of the University of Dallas where she earned her B.A. in History and was also inducted into Phi Alpha Theta. At UD, Phuong founded the school’s chapter of Alpha Phi Omega, the national co-ed service fraternity, in which she served as President and also started a youth mentoring program during her time there. Phuong was also the 2005 female recipient of the Helen Corbitt Award for Excellence at the University of Dallas, which recognizes a senior man and a senior woman who have produced an outstanding body of work during their time at the University of Dallas. After graduating from UD, she joined Teach For America and worked as a high school social studies teacher in Camden, NJ. Dedicated to closing the achievement gap in the United States and to bringing history to life for her students, Phuong is enjoying challenging, serving, and teaching her KIPPsters as the 7th and 8th grade Social Studies teacher.
Jessica Nelson
Instructional Leader
Jessica Nelson is a graduate of Berry College in Rome, Georgia. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in 2000 as well as a Master’s in Middle Grades Education in 2001. Jessica’s teaching experiences include five years as an English Language Arts teacher at a multi-age middle school in Barrington, New Hampshire. In addition to her public school teaching experience, it has been an honor for Jessica to be chosen to teach with three separate international teaching delegations. Jessica has shared her passion for teaching and learning across cultures in the countries of Russia, Belize and China.
The origin of Jessica’s aspirations to become a teacher evolved at YMCA Storer Camps in Jackson, Michigan. It was during the summers of her youth here that she learned to apply the core values of enthusiasm, responsibility, humility, leadership and service to the communities she interacts with. She continues to live out these values in her role as an educator.
Brandie Ramsey
Instructional Leader
Brandie is a 7 th grade ELA teacher leader at KIPP: Tech Valley. She received her undergraduate degree in Secondary Education at The College of Saint Rose in 2000. Brandie spent one year teaching 7 th grade AIS English here in New York. After that time, she ventured to the state of South Carolina and there she taught high school English for two years. During this time, she also self-published her poetry book titled Green Velvet Traveler. After gaining many multicultural experiences, Brandie returned to her home state of New York to further her professional education. She graduated with honors from The College of Saint Rose in 2007 with a Master’s in Professional Teacher Education, and a 5-6 extension.
Greg Korchnak
Instructional Leader
Greg is a 7th and 8th grade science teacher at KIPP: Tech Valley. He attended Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, MI and graduated in 2007. He earned an honors degree in secondary education and biology with a minor in group sciences. While at WMU Greg worked as a teachers assistant and taught two college lab classes in botany and introductory biology. He also worked as a research assistant studying the relationship between members of the Solanaceae plant family (tomato, potato and pepper family) using modern DNA analysis. For his honors thesis Greg studied plant succession and the impact on non-native species of a local bog environment. In his spare time Greg enjoys anything that has to do with science and learning, hiking, biking and anything outdoors.
"The result of the educative process is capacity for further education." -John Dewey
Melissa Lee
School Counselor
Ms. Lee is a certified School Counselor. She graduated from the University at Albany in December 2004, receiving her Bachelor’s of Art in Psychology and a minor in Economics. During her senior year at the University at Albany, Melissa studied abroad at Nottingham University in England. While studying in England she organized a 3week educational trip to Tunisia, Africa. Upon returning to the United Stated, she continued her education and went on to earn her Master’s of Science in Education from The College of Saint Rose in the fall of 2006. For over 4 years Melissa was employed at St. Anne’s Institute as a child care recreational specialist. While employed at St. Anne’s she provided supervision and guidance for 12-18 year old girls with severe emotional and behavioral problems and in the process gained invaluable clinical experience. Melissa also has over two years of experience working as a substitute teacher and as a teaching assistant in a special education self-contained classroom. Melissa’s main goal is to advocate for her student’s at KIPP: TECH VALLEY Charter School and to empower them to find their strengths and master their skills that will ultimately lead them to college. Melissa believes it her responsibility to assist her students to reach their full academic, social and personal potential and to ultimately discover in themselves what they already are.
Jessalyn Hotaling
Instructional Leader
Jessalyn Brodie-Hotaling is the 7 th and 8 th grade Health Education teacher leader at KIPP: Tech Valley. Jessalyn is a graduate of The Sage Colleges, where she graduated with honors in 2007 with her Bachelors of Science in Physical Education. After completion of her undergraduate degree, Jessalyn pursued her Masters in Community Health Education, which she completed in 2009. During the past four years, Jessalyn has been employed at Hudson Valley Community College with coaching positions in both volleyball and softball in Troy, New York. Jessalyn has a high regard for team and individual learning in the gymnasium and the classroom.
Maya Tucci
Instructional Leader
Maya Tucci is a graduate of the College of Saint Rose, where she received her Bachelor’s of Science in Childhood Education with a concentration in Spanish in 2007. After graduating, Maya spent time studying abroad in Madrid, Spain. She came to KIPP: TECH VALLEY with experience teaching Spanish to students in Pre-K through 8th grade. Maya is NYS certified in both Childhood Education (1-6) and Spanish (7-9). She currently attends SUNY Albany, where she is working on her Master’s degree in Inclusion.
Michelle Wiley
Instructional Leader
Michelle grew up and graduated high school in a suburb of Denver, Colorado then graduated from Concordia University in Nebraska with a Bachelors of Science and minor in Chemistry. She also excelled at track and field while attending Concordia. Ms. Wiley substituted all around the capital district before receiving the opportunity of teaching at KIPP. She is the 6th grade science and problem solving teacher at KIPP and especially enjoys finding creative and engaging activities so students can build their knowledge in ways that correlate with their individual learning styles.
Christine Gibbins
Instructional Leader
Ms. Gibbins is the 5 th through 8 th grade Studio Art teacher leader. In 2007, she graduated from Springfield College in Massachusetts with a Bachelors degree in Art Therapy and Psychology. In 2009, she received a Masters degree in Art Education also from Springfield College. During her graduate work, she became a member of the AmeriCorps Program and served the city of Springfield as an educator . Ms. Gibbins specifically worked in the areas of art education, youth development, health care, and other human needs. She provided students in grades K-12 with in-class and out-of-class academic coaching and mentoring in an effort to increase school performance. By serving directly, Ms. Gibbins had the opportunity to help communities solve problems in the areas of education, public safety, the environment, health and housing.
Ms. Gibbins was also a dual sport athlete on the Springfield College Women’s Field Hockey and Basketball Teams. She received honors in 2006 as Athlete of the Year and Strength Conditioning All-American in 2007. In addition, she is ecstatic to share her knowledge of the game of basketball and coach the Girls Basketball team this season.
Her ultimate goal is to encourage creative growth, aesthetic understanding and self development. She wants to create a community of learners that will create works of art that consists of collaboration, discovery, and expression for individual growth as well as for the benefit of others.
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