Brad Choyt (Interim Head of School) comes to New York from Bali, Indonesia where he served as the Founding Director of Green School, a pre-K through Grade 8 international school based on the principles of sustainability. Over the last two years, Brad helped to build Green School on a 20-acre site in the middle of a jungle with 20 faculty who now serve over 110 students.
Brad has devoted his professional life to working with students and teachers to expand and refine their relationship to learning and has a deep commitment to experiential and holistic education. He began his teaching career over 15 years ago at Miss Porter's School in Farmington, CT. From 2000-2005, he taught both art and humanities at St. Paul's School in Concord, NH. And from 2005-2007, he was the Director of Education at the Rubin Museum in New York. In each of these positions, Brad concentrated his efforts on bridging disciplines and nurturing the special gifts of each child. Whether working with young children or those at the secondary level, Brad loves creating a joyful environment where students and teachers can learn together.
Brad's prior experience with building educational programs began in the 1990's, as he developed and supervised many study abroad programs. In 2001 Brad co-founded Global Learning Across Borders (Global LAB), a nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring new generations of people to become responsible and committed global citizens. .
Blakely Braniff (Business Manager) has worked with the Blue Man organization for 12 years in several different capacities. Most recently, she was a production manager for Blue Man Productions, working on new sit-down shows, outside gigs and in-house TV/film shoots. Outside of Blue Man, she does custom bookbinding and volunteers at fundraisers benefiting children's causes. She has a BA from Boston University.
Courtney Allison (Director of Admissions) has been working as a consultant with the Blue Man Creativity Center since winter 2007. Courtney has a BA in Education and Child Study from Smith College and a Masters in Elementary Education from the University of Pennsylvania. Courtney was a classroom teacher in Seattle, New York and Philadelphia before she became a school administrator and started a 6-12th grade public school on the Lower East Side in Manhattan in 2004.
Kimberly Bush, M.F.A., ATR-BC (Child Development Specialist / Art Therapist) has been working creatively with children, teachers, and parents for over 20 years. She is a visual artist, a NYS licensed Creative Arts Therapist, and Certified Child Life Specialist. In addition, she has just completed her third year as psychoanalytic candidate at the Westchester Institute for Training in Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis. In her role as Developmental Specialist, she will combine many aspects of her training to offer families support and guidance to assist their child's development and early educational experiences. Her education includes a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College and an M.F.A. from Parsons School of Design. She is currently an Adjunct Assistant Professor in Pratt Institute's Creative Arts Therapy Department.
Karen Sylvester (Parent and Admissions Coordinator) has been very involved with the BMCC since its inception. Last year Karen was the parent liaison for the 3/4’s classroom doing many things from organizing parent demonstrations, running the summer playgroups, to planning the Healthy Halloween Party. Karen has a BFA in Fine Arts from the University of Wisconsin- Madison. She was owner and director of East Village art gallery, Cash/Newhouse, during the 80's. Karen continued to show her own work at 303 Gallery in NY and abroad. Her twins are currently enrolled in kindergarten at the Blue Man Creativity Center.
Valerie Anderson Killen (2's Lead Teacher, 3's Teacher, Music Specialist) has been an early childhood teacher and administrator for over ten years. The first fulltime employee of the BMCC, Val helped the Founders implement the initial structure of the school in its first year, and was the Associate Director and Head Teacher of the 2's/3's from May 2006-June 2007. From June 2007-June 2008, she was the Associate Director of Admissions, 2's Teacher, and Music Specialist. A singer and songwriter, she writes and records songs for Blue Man Group, and is also the lead vocalist in the Blue School All-Star Band. Val relishes the opportunity to employ her love and knowledge of life and music in the classroom. She was a Head Teacher at the Diller-Quaile School of Music for seven years, where she was also the Adult Programs Coordinator. At Citibabes in Soho, she was the Director of Children's Programming. She also taught in the Summer Players Program at the Poly Prep Lower School in Brooklyn for two summers. Val obtained her bachelor's degree from Harvard University, and is currently a student at Bank Street College of Education, working towards a combined masters degree in general and special education. She has also completed education and music classes at Diller-Quaile and the Mannes College of Music. In the summer of 2007, Val attended the Reggio Emilia Collaborative at the Advent School in Boston, and in the Fall of 2007 the Reggio Emilia Workshop at the 92nd Street Y. Originally from Boston, she has lived in NYC for over 14 years, and currently lives in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, with her fantabulous husband Stefan.
Cheryl Balestra (2's Assistant) is currently working on her Master’s degree in Art Therapy/Counseling at the College of New Rochelle and received her B.A. in Studio Art at American University. Past roles include: Daycare Teaching Assistant at the Child Development Center in Washington, DC, Teacher’s Assistant at the Ceramic Department of American University in Washington, DC Art Director, Manlius Pebble Hill School, Manlius, NY, Preschool Teacher at Jowonio in Syracuse NY, Art Therapist Intern at the Rita Project in New York, and an Art Therapist Intern and Substitute at Heartsong in Concordia, NY.
Shira Newmark (3's Co-Teacher) has a Bachelors degree in education and a Master of Arts in education with a specialization in special education. She currently still volunteers with the Child Development Supervision Group. She has also recently worked as a Special Education Itinerant Teacher at such places as The Marie Pauline Center, the Stepping Stone Day School, Beginnings Nursery School, Los Ninos Services, the Rockland Child Development Services, the Herbert G. Birch School, and Easter Seals.
Mara Pauker (4's Co-Teacher) recently graduated from the University of Vermont where she studied Early Childhood Education, Human Development and Family Studies, earning a bachelor's degree. Mara has worked at University of Vermont Campus Children's Center with 3s and 4s, with kindergartners at Georgia Elementary School in St. Albans, and the Edmunds Elementary School in Burlington, Vermont. She has worked at Temple Sinai as a camp counselor to three- and four-year-old children and at the Dalton School Summer Camp with four- and five-year- olds.
Apryl Grasty (4's Co-Teacher) is a dancer, educator, and creative arts therapist from Washington, DC. Apryl received her BFA degree with distinction from the University of the Arts in Dance Education and is a currently a member of the University's Alumni Board. She received her MA in Dance Education from Teachers College, Columbia University where she was the minority scholar and recently completed her course work for an MA in Dance Movement Therapy and Counseling from Columbia College Chicago. As a therapist, Apryl has worked with populations ranging from special needs and autism to traumatic brain injury with age groups that span from 2 to 85 years old. For 5 years, Apryl served as a Teacher, Performing Arts Specialist, and Admissions Coordinator at The Weekday School in New York City. She developed and implemented performing arts and general education curriculum, facilitated the annual school fundraiser, and provided administrative support to the Director of Admissions and Head of School. Still an active performer, Apryl is currently working on a dance documentary.
Nancy Simko (Kindergarten Lead Teacher) most recently worked as a head teacher at the Plymouth Church School for Kindergarten and Pre-K for six years. Before that she was the head teacher for preschool at the International Preschool for three years. Nancy has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Speech Communications. Nancy received her Master of Science in Early Childhood Education from Bank Street College of Education.
Kamilah M. Hatcher (Assistant Kindergarten Teacher) is originally from Indianapolis, IN. She received her B.S. in Elementary Education from Ball State University, whose elementary education program was recognized by the Association of Teachers and Educators for its Distinguished Program in Teacher Education. Kamilah is proud to be working with an organization that is committed to providing children with creative learning opportunities and has worked with elementary aged children for the last 13 years. In her spare time Kamilah enjoys cooking, reading, & acting. Kamilah is extremely excited about teaching at BMCC!
Dina Hamaoui (Studio Art Teacher) holds two baccalaureate degrees in the disciplines of English Literature and Film Studies from the University of California, Irvine, and a master's degree in Art Therapy and Creative Development from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY. Dina has worked with children in both educational and residential settings, including a therapeutic pre-school with 2- to 5-year olds, a residential facility for pre-adolescents with emotional and psychiatric disorders, and with K-5th graders in the New York public school system. She also works with children ages 5-21 with developmental disabilities ranging from autism to cerebral palsy. Dina grew up in California and has lived in New York City for five years.
Katie Traynor (Art Studio Intern) is currently working on her Master’s Degree in Creative Arts Therapy at Pratt Institute. Before that, she earned her B.S. in Studio Art at Skidmore College. Previous roles include: Student Intern at Ekologic Hat Company in Troy, NY, Showroom Manager at Privi New York Showroom in New York, Communications Specialist at Berkshire Development in Springfield, MA, Art Therapy Practicum Intern at the Brooklyn Bureau of Community Service’s “Project Moving On” in Brooklyn, NY.