Who We Are - Staff
Eddie Fergus - Co-Principal Investigator
Charlotte Gray - Project Director
Charlotte is highly adept with visionary educational expertise and has over ten years experience in education. She has demonstrated those skills as an alternative middle school teacher, an assistant principal, an after-school enrichment program manager, a staff developer, and an educational research analyst. Charlotte has a strong background in at-risk educational strategies, experience in inclusion pilot programs, and a working knowledge of NCLB and IDEA legislation. Charlotte holds a MBA from Long Island University and a Master's in Education from Fordham University.
Keisha Oxford - Project Manager
Keisha analyzes school achievement data and conducts research in school districts. Keisha developed a special interest in the education of disadvantaged youths while traveling for an urban television program and radio show. She holds a B.A. in media studies and a M.A. in media, culture and communications both from New York University. Her research interests are media education and the impact of racial and cultural representations among youth through transnational borders.
Alan Ripp - Senior Project Associate
Alan earned his Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Texas Tech University and his MEd in Special Education at Texas Woman's University. He has taught elementary school in Bedford, Texas and Newton, Massachusetts. For the last decade, he has also worked as a facilitator and consultant for Inclusive Education and Non-violent Crisis Intervention. Alan has also taught graduate courses for Boston University and Fitchburg State College as well as lead differentiation workshops for Lesley University. Alan's areas of interest are in meeting the needs of students in diverse classrooms through differentiated instruction, classroom management and positive behavior supports.
Chemay Morales-James - Project Associate
Chemay has a B.S. in Special Education and received an Ed.M. in Supervision of Special Education Programs from Teachers College, Columbia University. She has over ten years of classroom experience including being a special education teacher working directly with at risk youth and students with special needs. Chemay's interest in working with TACD was inspired by her desire to take part in creating systemic change in the way all children are appropriately educated, especially those who have slipped through the cracks of the educational system.
Roey Ahram - Project Associate
Roey is a doctoral student at NYU's Steinhardt School in the department of teaching and learning. He earned his Bachelor's degree in Philosophy and his Master of Arts in Teaching at Clark University in Worcester, MA. He has taught high school mathematics in Worcester as well as served as the Chairman of the Worcester Public Schools Mathematics Curriculum Revision Committee (7th-12th grade) before coming to NYU. Roey's research interests focus on equity issues in education, school reform, and urban education.
Renée Williams - Project Associate
Renée is trained in policy analysis, organizational leadership and change theory. She is a licensed special education teacher, art teacher, and school administrator. Prior to joining the Metropolitan Center for Urban Education, Williams was a high school special education teacher with the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE). Williams earned her Ed.M. in Education Leadership and School Administrator/Supervisor (SAS) certificate from Teachers College, Columbia University. She earned a teaching certificate in Middle Childhood/Special Education from Pace University and received a B.F.A. from Tyler School of Art, Temple University.
Fredrick Alexander Mann -Project Associate
Fredrick earned his B.A. in American Studies from Grinnell College, MA in Curriculum Instruction from University of Mississippi, Ed.M. in Counseling Psychology at Teachers College, Columbia University, a TESOL Certificate from School for International Training, and Fulbright Memorial Fund Teacher (Nagano, Japan). For over sixteen years Fredrick has been highly engaged in the field of education and has taught and led in various capacities. He has worked as an alternative education support teacher (Racine, Wisconsin), high school history teacher (Amory, MS), middle school humanities teacher (Cambridge, MA), elementary school Assistant Principal (Baltimore, MD), English and Liberal Arts studies lecturer (Tokyo, Japan). Fredrick's research interests are in best practices of teaching and learning, adolescent boy development, leadership development and organizational development.
Beverly Murphy - Administrative Coordinator
Beverly has been a dedicated team member of the Metro Center for over six years. Prior to working at the Center, she worked for The John. A. Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing department at the University. She holds an AAS degree in Accounting from Elizabeth Seton College. Beverly assists in all facets of coordinating project workshops to ensure that our staff is well prepared to deliver professional development and technical assistance to school administrators throughout New York State. Her interest is to one day work with parents and teachers to bridge the gap to help children to reach their full potential.