At New Dawn Charter Schools we value, above all, our relationships with students, parents, and guardians. In addition to our core academic, internship, and college programs, we are proud to focus on our students social and emotional needs by providing every one with a Mentor in the building. Each of our faculty and staff members are mentors to our students. If you are looking to reach a teacher, administrator, or mentor, please feel free to contact them from this list or through our learning management system Jupiter Ed.
CEO and Founder
Principal
Dean of School
Parent Coordinator
College and Career Readiness Manager
Community Outreach
Parent Coordinator
School Counselor
School Counselor
School Counselor
School Counselor
ELA Teacher
ELA Teacher
ENL Teacher
ELA Teacher
Special Education Teacher
Special Education Teacher
Special Education Teacher
College and Career Readiness Manager
School Counselor
Culinary Arts Teacher
Internship Writing Teacher
College and Career Readiness Coordinator
College and Career Readiness Coordinator
Math Teacher
Math Teacher
Science Teacher
Science Teacher
Global History Teacher
US History and Civics
Global Studies
Global Studies & Economics
PE and Health Teacher
Art and Hindi Teacher
Ms. Chantae Edwards: cedwards@ndchsqueens.org
Ms. Renu Gosala: rgosala@ndchsqueens.org
Ms. Marsha Johnson-Henry: mjohnson-henry@ndchsqueens.org
Ms. Stephanie Seminatore: sseminatore@ndchsqueens.org
Ms. Onike Bradshaw, Special Education Teacher: obradshaw@ndchsqueens.org
Ms. Shaoru Liang, ENL Teacher: sliang@ndchsqueens.org
Ms. Gloria Montpeirous, ENL Teacher: gmontpeirous@ndchsqueens.org
Ms. Daneil Chambers, Internship Writing Teacher: dchambers@ndchsbrooklyn.org
Ms. Clintonia Coleman, College and Career Readiness Coordinator: ccoleman@ndchsbrooklyn.org
Ms. Emara Grainger, College and Career Readiness Coordinator: egrainger@ndchsqueens.org
Guidance Counselor: TBD
Ms. Ayesha Ahmed, aahmed@ndchsqueens.org
Mr. Martin Hightower, mhightower@ndchsqueens.org
Mr. Fabrice Allais: fallais@ndchsqueens.org
Ms. Althea Dinnall: adinnall@ndchsqueens.org
Mr. Patrick Devlin, US History and Civics: pdevlin@ndchsqueens.org
Mr. Hans Francois, Global Studies: hfrancois@ndchsqueens.org
Ms. Andrea Shinghirtis, Global Studies and Economics: ashinghirtis@ndchsqueens.org
Mr. Anthony McClean, PE and Health Teacher: amcclean@ndchsqueens.org
Ms. Anjali Shenai, Art and Hindi Teacher: ashenai@ndchsqueens.org
Mr. Anthony Dunbar, Outreach Worker: adunbar@ndchsbrooklyn.org
Ms. Anabel Franco, Parent Coordinator: afranco@ndchsqueens.org
E-mail: sasmussen@ndchsbrooklyn.org
Dr. Sara Asmussen, Executive Director of New Dawn Charter Schools, is from the state of Idaho and is an avid cat-lover. She is passionate about education and equity for all students. She has dedicated her career to being a champion for students, parents and families, faculty, and staff. She is responsible for all school operations and she is accountable to our Board of Trustees. Dr. Asmussen guides the policy of the school and follows through with Board decisions on a day to day basis.
In addition, Dr. A has been awarded numerous grant and funding opportunities. She has led the charge during financing, purchase, and full renovation of our founding location at 242 Hoyt Street in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn.
E-mail: jcrawley@ndchsbrooklyn.org
Ms. Janisha Crawley, M.S. Ed., M.A.S., SBL, SDL, proudly serves as Principal of NDCHS. She began her career in education in 2016 as an academic counselor, where she developed a deep commitment to supporting students’ academic, social, and emotional growth. She holds a New York State permanent School Counselor license, and her counseling background continues to shape her compassionate, student-centered approach to leadership.
Ms. Crawley also holds her New York State School Building Leader (SBL) license, earned in 2024, and has obtained master’s degrees in School Counseling and Educational Leadership. As Principal, she is dedicated to cultivating a positive, inclusive school culture grounded in high expectations, equity, and a strong sense of belonging for every student.
She is passionate about empowering educators, building authentic partnerships with families, and creating opportunities that inspire students to reach their full potential. Ms. Crawley believes that strong relationships are at the heart of student success and is committed to ensuring that every member of the school community feels seen, supported, and set up to thrive—both in school and beyond.
E-mail: mbilal@ndchsqueens.org
Muhammad Bilal is a veteran urban educator and school leader with over 20 years of experience improving student outcomes across Camden, Chicago, New York (New York City and Westchester County), Bridgeport, and Johannesburg. He has served as a Dean of Students, instructional coach, education consultant, assistant principal, and principal, with a strong focus on advancing educational equity for historically underserved and justice-involved youth. He holds a Master of Education, a Master of Science in School Leadership, and a Master of Fine Arts in Filmmaking.
At both the school and district levels, Mr. Bilal has led instructional improvement through data-driven practices, aligned curriculum, and targeted professional development—resulting in tremendous increases in student achievement. He has coached teachers and school leaders to strengthen instruction and build sustainable systems that drive measurable gains in outcomes. His implementation of restorative practices has significantly improved school culture, reducing suspensions by 66% while ensuring students receive the academic, social, and emotional support they need to succeed.
As Principal of New Dawn Charter High School II, Mr. Bilal is committed to high expectations, strong relationships, and academic excellence. His educational philosophy is rooted in rigorous, differentiated, student-centered instruction—paired with meaningful relationships and purposeful engagement—to ensure all students thrive at the highest levels.
Email: aahmed@ndchsqueens.org
Ayesha S. Ahmed is a dedicated mathematics educator with a strong track record of supporting diverse learners through engaging instruction, strategic differentiation, and data-driven practices. She currently serves as a Math Teacher at New Dawn Charter High School, where she drives student achievement in Algebra I Regents preparation, implements continuous assessment strategies, and fosters a structured, positive classroom environment. Known for her collaborative mindset, she works closely with colleagues to align instruction and strengthen student outcomes across the school community.
Her career spans both the United States and internationally, including roles with Norwich Public Schools and Three Rivers Community College, as well as teaching 11th and 12th grade students in Bangladesh. Ayesha holds a Master’s degree in Economics from the University of Chittagong (U.S. equivalent: Bachelor’s degree) and has completed additional coursework in mathematics and early childhood education. Fluent in English and Bengali, she is committed to creating inclusive, high-expectation classrooms that empower students to re-engage, succeed academically, and build lasting confidence.
Email: mhightower@ndchsqueens.org
My name is Mr. Hightower. I have taught mathematics at both the Middle School and High School level for 20 + years.
Email: lromero@ndchsqueens.org
My name is Lucia Romero, and I hold a Master of Science in School Counseling from the New York Institute of Technology, where I graduated with a 4.0 GPA, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Queens College. In addition to my counseling experience, I have served within the NYC Department of Education, where I supported a wide range of students through behavioral de-escalation, relationship-centered practices, and inclusive learning strategies. I held various leadership positions throughout my collegiate and career trajectories in an attempt to increase future outcomes. My professional philosophy centers on fostering a supportive, inclusive, and safe school environment where students can grow academically, socio-emotionally, and work towards increasing college and career development. Through my collaborative approach and experience working across counseling, special education, and behavioral supports, my goal is to aid the students at the New Dawn Charter School Community in becoming the best versions of themselves through my work as a Behavioral Specialist Counselor.
Email: sthapa@ndchsqueens.org
Sanman Thapa joined New Dawn in 2016 at the Brooklyn campus and later became a founding staff member of the Queens campus, where he has served as Lead Counselor since 2019. As a bilingual, National Certified School Counselor, he is deeply committed to supporting the diverse needs of his students and their families. His work is grounded in building trust, fostering resilience, and helping students navigate both academic and personal challenges.
Email: sseminatore@ndchsqueens.org
Hello, my name is Stephanie Seminatore. I am an English teacher with a deep passion for helping others succeed. I am dedicated to creating meaningful learning experiences where students truly understand and grow. Nothing inspires me more than witnessing that “light bulb” moment when everything clicks and confidence begins to shine.
Beyond the classroom, I am actively involved within the community, working to support individuals on their journey to sobriety and helping them stay on that path for a better life. My work is rooted in compassion, purpose, and service.
I consider myself a deeply spiritual person, and my relationship with God is the foundation of everything I do. I believe that without Him, none of this would be possible. Through faith, education, and community, one day at a time, I strive to make a lasting impact on the lives of others.
Email: sliang@ndchsqueens.org
Dr. Shirley Liang is a dedicated high school ESL teacher with a strong passion for supporting multilingual learners and fostering inclusive classroom communities. As an educator in both ESL and bilingual education, she creates engaging, student-centered learning environments where all students feel valued and empowered to succeed. Her teaching emphasizes the development of academic language and critical thinking through culturally responsive instruction, incorporating interactive activities, collaboration, and real-world connections. Committed to continuous professional growth and reflective practice, her work is grounded in research on language acquisition and educational equity. She is particularly interested in how classroom practices can expand opportunities for all learners. Outside the classroom, she enjoys designing creative lessons, exploring diverse cultures, and making learning accessible and meaningful.
Email: gmontpeirous@ndchsqueens.org
Gloria Montpeirous is an ELL Teacher for the ELL/ELA Lab with over 10 years of experience in education, focused on supporting over-age, under-credited, and high-need student populations. At New Dawn Charter Schools, Montpeirous leads instruction and targeted academic support for English Language Learners, driving student success in credit accumulation, Regents achievement, and postsecondary readiness.
Her work centers on combining academic rigor with strong social-emotional supports, with expertise in ELL curriculum design, Regents exam preparation, differentiated instruction, and student intervention strategies. She has worked with diverse student populations across multiple settings, including Job Corps programs in Upstate New York and the Bronx, higher education at NYIT, and evening academic programs. Earlier in her career, she also taught technology to elementary and middle school students, bringing a well-rounded and adaptable approach to instruction.
Montpeirous holds a Master’s degree in Education with a specialization in English Language Learners (ELL). She is deeply committed to helping students re-engage in their education, build confidence in their academic abilities, and graduate with clear, sustainable pathways for success beyond high school. At New Dawn Charter Schools, she is dedicated to ensuring that every student—regardless of past academic challenges—has access to high-quality instruction, meaningful support systems, and a clear path to long-term achievement.
Email: awells@ndchsqueens.org
Dr. Arlean Wells is an experienced educator and leader in education and community development, with a strong commitment to supporting students both academically and personally. She has extensive experience designing and leading youth and family programs across the United States and internationally, working in partnership with schools, community organizations, and public agencies to expand access to meaningful learning opportunities.
Dr. Wells brings expertise in curriculum development, social-emotional learning, and program planning. She has supported schools and organizations in strengthening instructional practices, improving program quality, and creating environments where all students can thrive. Her international work in Jamaica and South Africa has further informed her approach to culturally responsive teaching and community-centered education.
In addition to her work in education, Dr. Wells is a multidisciplinary artist, director, actor, and producer—who integrates creative expression into her teaching. She is passionate about helping students, especially those who are placed at risk— regain their voices, rewrite their future, and become the authors of their lived experiences despite life circumstances.
Email: ccoleman@ndchsbrooklyn.org
Details coming soon!
Email: egrainger@ndchsqueens.org
Details coming soon!
Email: ashinghirtis@ndchsqueens.org
Details coming soon!
