Page 9 - BGUT CHANGING Spring 2023

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Twitter: @bronxgearup
Website: https://www thebronxinstitute org
The Bronx Institute at Lehman College
Bronx GEAR UP THRIVES AMYLETH VARGAS Presently assigned to to Creston Academy and IS 254
Born and raised in Brooklyn Amyleth comes from a a a a a a a a a a a a a family of Panamanian immigrants She credits her her fifth-grade teacher as the first adult to really encourage her her to invest in in her her education education and pursue a a a a a a a a a a college education education Currently she is a a a a a a a a a a student at at at at the CUNY Graduate Center pursuing a a a a a a a a a a a a Master degree in in Liberal Studies: Urban Education She She loves to to read books and watch historical documentaries She She says that connecting with with her her GEAR UP students and working with with them on on on a a a a a a weekly basis inspires her her to advocate for for policy reform in in in in education ARIANNA MENDOZA Presently assigned to to Creston Academy Arianna Mendoza graduated from Binghamton University with a a a a a a a a a a a a Bachelor degree degree in in in sociology and a a a a a a a a a a a a Master’s degree degree in in in social work She likes going going to to the gym and going going on on adventures with with her dog Working with with many English as a a a a a a a a Second Language (ESL) students she is is able to to serve as as as a a a a a a a a a resource to to them them as as as they begin their academic journey Her goal is is is to to help pave the the the the the way of opportunity assist them them with English language skills and empower them to be courageous as they prepare for high school YVETTE ALLEN Presently assigned to MS/HS 368 and BLGJ
Yvette Allen was born in in in Albany New New York York and moved to the New New York York City area as as an an an adult She received a a a a a a a a a a Bachelor degree in in in business administration from from from Pace University and has has a a a a a a a a a a a a a Master degree degree in in computer science from from from Iona College
She also has has a a a a a a a a a a a a a graduate degree degree from from from Fordham University in in in in in School Administration As a a a a a a former teacher and high school principal who retired in in in in in 2015 Yvette likes working with students to prepare them them for high school and and college “It is so so wonderful when you see them them achieving their goals and and dreams ” she says “I “I also like being able to connect parents and and and guardians with the the programs services and and and experiences that will make their child more competitive and and and well rounded ” SAMANTHA SOUVATZIS Presently assigned to MS 390
Samantha Souvatzis holds a a a a a a a a a a a a Bachelor degree degree in in in Legal Studies from John Jay College
of Criminal Justice a a a a a a a a a a a a Master degree degree in in in Secondary EducationHistoryfromLehmanCollege SheiscompletingherDoctorateofEducationinEducationalLeadershipandOrganizationalInnovation from Marymount University in in the the the summer of 2023 Eventually she left the the the classroom and joined the the the Harlem Children’s Zone as as a a a a a a a College
Coordinator then joined The Bronx Institute to to prepare students for high school and post-secondary success ANDRES RODRIGUEZ Presently assigned to MS MS 244 and MS MS 228
Born to to two parents from Puerto Rico Andres Rodriguez has spent his entire life “living in in in and loving” The Bronx He attended Fordham University for his his Bachelor degree and and eventually found his his way to to Bronx GEAR UP THRIVES His family is is is is full of educators and and working with young people brings him great joy “I seek to tackle culture and employ creativity in in in a a a a a a a a a a a a way that stimulates a a a a a a a a a a a a drive for learning encourages a a a a a a a a a a a a young person’s innermost potential and raises them up
to achieve more than they can imagine ” he he he says ERIC RWEYEMAMU Presently assigned to to Creston Academy and MS 280 (7th grade)
Eric Rweyemamu was born in in Geneva Switzerland and and grew up
in in Mount Vernon NY He attended New York University where he he completed his his Bachelor degree degree He He later attended the University of London and completed a a a a a a a a a Master degree degree in History He’s passionate about history politics and and musicology—the study of music music In his his free time he he likes to to read autobiographies ride his his bike DJ and and experiment with cooking healthy foods “I “I really connect with immigrant students because I I I am one myself ” ” he he he he says “It brings me great joy to help them succeed ” ” DEVIN DELVALLE Presently assigned to to Creston Academy and MS 280 (8th grade)
Devin Delvalle attended New York Institute of Technology where he he he he studied Psychology As a a a a GEAR UP Coach he he he he is focused on helping younger students prepare for for their their future and forging a a a a a a a a a a successful path to to to their their dreams “I felt it was a a a a a a a a a a calling of mine to to to be an an inspiration to to to the the the young teenagers and adults of this world as they will help shape our future ” he he he says “I hope to to continue on on my path to to be a a a a a a a a a difference maker in in their lives and for them to be difference makers in in mine as well ” The Bronx Bronx Institute Bronx Bronx GEAR UP THRIVES