The Pride
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Staff Profiles

Faruq Asaad, 7th Grade Math
Taylor Business Institute, St. Francis College, Adelphi University, University of Phoenix
Mr. Asaad earned an Associate’s Degree in Occupational Studies, A Bachelor of Science in Accounting, a Master of Science in Accounting and a Master of Arts in Education.   Mr. Asaad has more than five years experience in the education profession.  Four years of experience as a 6th and 7th grade math teacher.  When not at work, Mr. Asaad is studying towards a doctorate degree in leadership. Beyond this, I love to read, play chess, watch cartoons (good for relaxing), play board games, and listen to most genres of music. I hold a 3rd degree black belt in karate and most of my free time is spent practicing or teaching karate.     

Lauren Grayson Bloom, 5th Grade Reading & Writing
Pennsylvania State University
Mrs. Grayson Bloom is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University with a degree in Political Science. Interested in urban education from her early college years, Mrs. Bloom joined Teach for America. She was placed in Newark, New Jersey, where she taught third grade for two years. After her Teach For America corps experience, she joined the founding staff of TEAM Academy Charter School: A KIPP School, in Newark, New Jersey. She helped to establish TEAM Academy, teaching fifth grade reading and writing for five years, establishing the school's remediation program, and serving as fifth grade level chair for three years. In 2007, she married and moved to the Charlotte area. A native of the area, she settled in Indian Trail, NC and taught fourth grade at Marshville Elementary School in Marshville, NC. This will be Mrs. Blooms 2nd year with KIPP Charlotte.

Malcolm Brooks, 5th Grade Math
North Carolina A&T State University
Mr. Brooks is a native of Pittsburgh, PA and a graduate of North Carolina A&T State University, with a degree in Public Relations. In 2003, Malcolm joined Teach for America in the Atlanta Region and has taught fifth grade for the past six years. While earning his teaching certification at Agnes Scott College, Mr. Brooks served in many roles at his previous school including grade level chair, local school council member, and intramural sports founder. In his spare time, Mr. Brooks enjoys spending time with friends and family, especially his daughter - Moriah.

Durrell Brown, 6th & 7th Grade Science
Johnson C. Smith University
Mr. Brown is a graduate from Johnson C. Smith University with a degree in Communications Art with a minor in Political Science.  In 2009 Mr. Brown joined Teach For America and taught Pre-Algebra and Math in Chicago, IL and made his way to KIPP Charlotte eager and excited to teach 7th grade Science.  Mr. Brown has always been devoted to educations through volunteering and giving back to the community.  Mr. Brown spends his spare time playing and watching football, baseball and tennis.  Mr. Brown is very excited to be part of KIPP Charlotte where the students want to learn and declare they are going to learn.

Keith Burnam, Founder and School Leader
Morehouse College
Mr. Burnam is a graduate from Morehouse College, with a degree in Psychology. In 2002, Keith joined Teach for America in the Eastern North Carolina. Keith taught Math at KIPP Gaston College Prep. While gaining experience as the Math Department Chair and Dean of Students. Keith always knew that he was destined to start his own school. During the 2006-2007 school year, Mr. Burnam was part of the KIPP Fisher Fellows Program and began laying the foundation for KIPP Charlotte.

Audrey Cox, Chorus
Spelman College
Ms. Cox is a graduate of Spelman College with a degree in Vocal Performance.  In 2006, Ms. Cox  joined Teach For America and began teaching Chorus at Warren County Middle School in Warrenton, NC.  Under her direction, the Warren County Middle School Chorus has grown from a chorus class into a strong music program; recognized at state-wide education conferences and numerous County celebrations.  In 2008, Ms. Cox became Miss Black North Carolina USA and implemented her platform, T.E.M.P.O.-Together Education and Music Produce Opportunity, in public schools across the state.  Ms. Cox looks forward to spreading the gift of song with the KIPP Charlotte Pride Chorus this upcoming school year.

Lauren Evans, Interventionist
University of Maryland
Ms. Evans graduated from University of Maryland, College Park with a degree in English.  In 2005, Lauren joined Teach for America in the Washington DC region.  Ms. Evans received her Masters in Special Education from American University. She served as the 5th grade special education teacher and special education coordinator at KIPP DC: KEY Academy. 

Tiffany Flowers Washington, Co-Founder
Spelman College
Mrs. Flowers Washington is a graduate of Spelman College with a degree in Psychology. Upon graduation, Mrs. Flowers Washington began teaching 6th and 7th grade Science at KIPP Gaston College Prep. Mrs. Flowers Washington then moved to Houston and taught 8th grade Social Studies and was the Social Studies Department Chair at KIPP 3D Academy. Always committed to educating the underserved, Mrs. Flowers Washington moved to Charlotte to begin KIPP Charlotte.

Karen Young, Dean of Students and Title 1 Coordinator
Boston College, City College
Ms. Young graduated from Boston College with a degree in Elementary and Special Education, and a minor in Spanish. Ms. Young began her teaching career in the New York City Public School System. While teaching in New York City, Ms. Young earned her Master’s degree in Administration and Supervision from City College. Ms. Young is a veteran teacher and has taught grades K-8. In addition to being a general education classroom teacher, Ms. Young has experience in Title I Reading, Gifted and Talented Program, and AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination). In addition to teaching, Ms Young is an active teacher and performer of African dance.

Emily Kronemeyer, Director of High School Placement
University of Michigan
Emily graduated from the University of Michigan in 2002 with a degree in psychology and Spanish. She then joined Teach For America as a corps member teaching 5th grade in Phoenix, Arizona. There she earned her Master’s in Curriculum Design from Arizona State University. She spent 5 years teaching in Phoenix where she served as the Writing Chair, head basketball coach, and she created a drama program. She also created a college curriculum for the entire school which included multiple visits to local college campuses. In June 2007, Emily and her husband moved to Charlotte, NC and she joined the regional TFA staff as a Program Director.

Torie Leslie, 7th Grade Technology
University of North Carolina at Asheville
Ms. Leslie is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Asheville, class of 2001 where she earned a BS in Computer Science - Information Systems. Ms. Leslie earned her 6-12 Business Education licensure will serving as a Computer Applications and Keyboading teacher for Asheville Middle School (AMS). Ms. Leslie also taught the AVID elective, for Asheville City Schools and is coming from being the Instructional Technology Facilitator at AMS.  Besides the opportunity to join the KIPP Charlotte team, Ms. Leslie feels especially blessed to be in Charlotte closer to her family.

Director of Operations

Kathleen Lynch, 6th Grade Writing
Miami University
Mrs. Lynch was born and raised in Stow, OH. She graduated summa cum laude from Miami University (OH) with a BA in mass communications and public administration. After graduation, she joined the 2006 Teach For America-Charlotte corps where she taught 7th grade social studies at Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School for two years. In addition to teaching, she coached volleyball and track, led their student counsel and founded a student court to educate students on the judicial process while alleviating some of the disciplinary burden on school administrators.  This past year, Mrs. Lynch worked on Teach For America’s full-time staff as the operations coordinator for the regional office.  In this role, she had the opportunity to manage the budget, ensure AmeriCorps grant compliance, streamline communication and administrative systems and work with the 2009 Charlotte corps to ensure that they were prepared to teach prior to their arrival. She is incredibly excited to return to the classroom to teach 6th grade writing at KIPP Charlotte next year. She is drawn towards KIPP's commitment to excellence and the strong partnership among staff, students and their family members.

Crystal Myers, 7th Grade Spanish
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Ms. Myers is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with degrees in Sociology and Spanish.  With her passion for social change in the public education system, she joined Teach For America in 2006.  She taught middle school Spanish for 3 years in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. In her third year, she served as World Language Department Chair and worked with CMS to create end-of-year assessments for the district's World Language departments.  She is very excited to bring Spanish to KIPP this year and develop a of love of language and culture in her students!

Rachel Oyola, 5th Grade Reading
Metropolitan College of New York
Ms. Oyola is a graduate of Metropolitan College of New York with a degree in Business Administration and Marketing. Upon graduating, she joined Teach For America and made the move to the Tar Heel state. She has taught in CMS for the past two years and is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Education at UNCC. She is looking forward to creating amazing memories at KIPP: Charlotte.

Diana Pellegrino, 7th Grade Humanities
Syracuse University
Ms. Pellegrino is a graduate of Syracuse University.  She graduated with a double major in English & Textual Studies and Psychology.  Upon graduation, she joined Teach For America and was placed as a fourth grade teacher in Charlotte, North Carolina.  She taught at her placement school for five years and is now excited to join the staff of KIPP: Charlotte as the 7th grade English and Humanities teacher. She decided to join the KIPP:Charlotte family because she believes it is a place where anything is possible!  She is currently pursuing her Masters in the Art of Teaching at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte. 

Joey Plum, 7th Grade Algebra
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mr. Joe Plum Jr. was born and raised in Gaston, a small town in the northeastern part of North Carolina. Mr. Plum graduated in 1999 from the North Carolina School of Science & Mathematics. Afterward, Mr. Plum attended MIT, graduating with a BS in Chemical Engineering in June 2003.  Mr. Plum volunteered in an AmeriCorps program called City Year in Philadelphia, PA, where he helped run a service-learning program and youth service corps for middle school students called Young Heroes.  Mr. Plum has worked at KIPP Gaston College Preparatory for 4 years – 1 year as the 6th/7th-grade Science teacher and 3 as the 6th-grade Math teacher.  In his first year as the 6th grade Math teacher 93% of his student passed the End of Grade Test and he has continued this level of excellence since. KIPP Charlotte is excited to have Mr. Plum joining the Pride!

Aaron Pomis, Founding Science Teacher
University of Illinois at Urbana
Mr. Pomis earned a BS in Chemistry from the University of Illinois at Urbana in 1996 and then worked as an award-winning research chemist and an elected member of a local school council. Mr. Pomis joined Teach For America in 2002, where he taught 7th and 8th grade science in Durham, NC. Afterwards, Mr. Pomis became a program director for Teach For America - Charlotte, helping nearly 200 teachers find success teaching in high poverty communities in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.  Mr. Pomis was the founding science teacher at KIPP Charlotte, and the past two years his science students at KIPP Charlotte have performed in the top 10% of all 5th grade science students across North Carolina.

Faith Triggs, Director of Development

Northwestern University

Ms. Triggs, a native of Cleveland, Ohio graduated from Northwestern University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications. She relocated from California in 2008 where she worked in senior management positions with The First Tee of San Diego (Pro Kids Golf) and the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista. Ms. Triggs is passionate about fundraising for worthy causes and served the United Way of Central Carolinas during their past two annual campaigns. Her current goal is to ensure that KIPP students, teachers and staff have access to all the resources that will maximize academic success. Ms. Triggs enjoys spending time with her family and friends, volunteering with Habitat for Humanity and traveling. She hopes that her next global adventure will take her to China and Tibet.

Alfonso Reyes, Office Manager
Pan-American School of Hotelery, Mexico City
Mr. Reyes was born and raised in Mexico City.  He moved to the United States 1992 and has been calling it home ever since. He graduated in 1989 from Pan-American School of Hotelery with a BA in Business Management. He has worked for international corporations such as Ericsson, Nokia, Ingersoll Rand and H&K Dallas. Mr. Reyes had been a committed volunteer for KIPP Charlotte since 2008.  Mr. Reyes is excited to bring KIPP Charlotte his bilingual skills, IT knowledge, project management and his wealth of corporate experience.

Jordy Sparks, 6th Grade Math Teacher
The Ohio State University
Mr. Sparks, an Ohio native, graduated from The Ohio State University in 2005 with a bachelors in Integrated Social Studies and a minor in Urban and Regional Geography. Mr. Sparks joined Teach For America after graduating and taught for the three years in CMS as a 5th grade teacher. Currently Mr. Sparks is working on his Masters of Arts in Teaching from the University of North Carolina Charlotte and has served in several leadership capacities including, grade chair, learning team leader for elementary students, and served on the school leadership team at his previous school. He spends his spare time playing basketball, football, and enjoying family. Mr. Sparks is excited to be a part of KIPP Charlotte in its third year and looks forward to developing strong, lasting relationships with the students.

AJ Stich, 7th Grade Writing
Asbury College
In 2006, Mr. Stich graduated from Asbury College where he studied Media Communications.  Upon graduation, A.J. spent seven months overseas teaching ESL in northern Taiwan.  When he returned stateside, he joined Teach For America in Memphis, Tennessee.  Currently, Mr. Stich is working on his Masters in Teaching degree with the hopes of furthering his career in urban educational environments.  “I pursued a position at KIPP because I believe KIPP is an innovator in urban education.  One day I would like to be an urban school administrator, and I believe working at KIPP Charlotte will equip with me with skills to do so effectively”.  

Angela Woike, 6th Grade Humanities
University of Missouri
Ms. Woike graduated from the University of Missouri – St. Louis is a B.A. in Anthropology. She joined Teach for America – Charlotte in 2007, and began teaching kindergarten at Nathaniel Alexander Elementary School. There, she started the extracurricular program Girls on the Run. Ms. Woike looks forward to spending her days discussing good reading skills, ancient civilizations, and helping students become their best at KIPP: Charlotte.

Derrick Gates, Associate Director High School Placement
University of Akron, OH
Mr. Gates attended the University of Akron, Akron Ohio,  and earned his B.A. degree in English Literature. He attended Pfeiffer University and earned a Masters in Organizational Change and Leadership.  Mr. Gates wanted to come to Kipp because his passion in life is to serve others and pass on the wealth of knowledge and experiences that others have instilled in him.

Board of Directors

Teach at KIPP Charlotte