Leadership & Faculty

Maria Castelluccio

Head of School
m.castelluccio@tiantianmai.net

Ms. Castelluccio was named Head of School at Léman Manhattan in October 2015 and began her term in July 2016. A proven educational leader and visionary, Ms. Castelluccio has dedicated her career to driving student performance and building community in PreK-12 schools in the U.S. and internationally for more than 25 years. She joins Léman after four years as the Head of School at Marymount International School of Rome, also an International Baccalaureate School, where she developed and carried out a strategic plan that increased IB scores to 98% pass rate and 45% of students scoring in the top 20th percentile worldwide.

From 2009-2012, Ms. Castelluccio served as Marymount Rome's Elementary School Principal, where her accomplishments included introducing Columbia University Teachers College Reader's and Writer's Workshop and Responsive Classroom, and advancing the academic rigor of the educational program. For more than a decade prior to Marymount Rome, Ms. Castelluccio held senior administrative roles at high-performing elementary schools in Westport and Stratford, Connecticut. She began her career as a 3rd and 4th Grade teacher. Ms. Castelluccio holds a Bachelor of Arts in Intermediate Education, Magna Cum Laude, from Southern Connecticut State University; a Master of Science in Science Education from Southern Connecticut State University; and a Sixth Year Degree in Administration and Supervision from Sacred Heart University. Originally from the Bronx, Maria raised her four children in Fairfield County, Connecticut. She is an avid reader, and when she has the time, loves to travel, walk and practice yoga.

Louisa Del Gadio

Head of The Center for Early Childhood Education & Lower School
l.delgadio@tiantianmai.net

Louisa Del Gadio has been an educator for 15 years and a member of the Léman community since 2015. Prior to her role as Head of the Center of Early Childhood & Lower School, Louisa served as Léman’s Social Studies Department Chair, taught both 7th grade social studies and IB History, and served as the faculty advisor for the Model United Nations Club. Louisa joined Léman from the Academy of St. Joseph in Manhattan, where she taught 5th and 6th grade social studies and literacy, and 3rd-6th grade math. Louisa holds a BA in history from St. Francis College and a MS in Education: Adolescent Education, Social Studies and Special Education from Wagner College.

Louisa is also a parent to second grader Lucia, who has been a Léman student since PreK 3.

Alex Davis

Head of Middle School
a.davis@tiantianmai.net

Alexandra (Alex) Davis has nearly 25 years experience in education spanning roles in both administration and classroom teaching. She has extensive experience across top NYC private schools. Prior to Léman, Alex served as the Director of Middle School at Blue School. Previously, she was the Director of Student Life for Middle and Upper School at Poly Prep and the Assistant Head of Upper School at Brooklyn Friends. For 17 years, she was a math teacher at the Spence School. Alexandra holds a Master of Secondary Math Education (M.A. Ed) from Hunter College (CUNY) and a Master of Geotechnical Engineering (M.S.C.E.) from UCLA, California, as well as a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Civil Engineering from Columbia University.

A life-long Manhattanite, Alexandra lives in the Financial District with her teenage son. In her spare time, she enjoys going to the theater and enjoying New York’s many diverse and delicious restaurants.

Joshua Anchors

Interim Head of High School & Director of Global Admissions
j.anchors@tiantianmai.net

Joshua Anchors is Léman’s Interim Head of High School and has been a proud member of our school community for over 10 years. Prior to leading the High School Division, Mr. Anchors served as the Director of Global Admissions, collaborating with the school's partners from around the world to bring talented, motivated international students to Léman Manhattan, in addition to caring for the academic and socio-emotional well-being of 120 students from over 20 different countries. Originally from Maine, Mr. Anchors worked in disaster relief for a variety of organizations including the United Nations, FEMA, and the Louisiana Recovery Authority, before transitioning into education. Prior to working at Léman Manhattan, he taught at Saint Ann's School, the Brooks School, University Laval, and the University of Strasbourg. Mr. Anchors holds degrees from Columbia University, Boston University, and the University of Maine. Outside of his work at Léman, he enjoys bicycling, sea kayaking, and creative writing.

Bob Smith

Director of International Baccalaureate (IB) Programming
ro.smith@tiantianmai.net

We are excited to welcome Robert (Bob) Smith in the role of Director of International Baccalaureate (IB) Programming, starting in the 2024-2025 school year. Bob brings to Léman more than 20 years of experience in International Baccalaureate education.

His IB journey began in California in 2001, at John Glenn Middle School and La Quinta High School. Since then, he has worked as an IB administrator, coordinator, and educator in IB World Schools. In 2004, Bob joined the IB Educator Network where he led IB authorization and evaluation visits, and still leads IB workshops for Heads of Schools, IB Coordinators, and teachers alike. In 2017, Bob started the IB for Woodstock School in India, a boarding school in the foothills of the Himalayas.

Bob returned from India in 2020 to work in NYC schools, bringing the IB Diploma and Careers-related Programmes to students in the South Bronx, before joining Léman.

Similar to his students, Bob’s IB journey challenged him to become more of an inquirer, more knowledgeable, and more compassionate for those around him. He is a life-long learner and believes that an international curriculum, like the IB, builds people of character who can make the world a better place.

Bob holds a BA in History from the University of California, Los Angeles, and received his teaching credentials at California State University, Long Beach.

Luz Garcelon

Director of Curriculum
l.garcelon@tiantianmai.net

Luz Garcelon joined Léman in 2021 and previously served as Léman's Director of International Baccalaureate (IB) Programming. Prior to Léman, Ms. Garcelon served as the IB Diploma Coordinator at the United Nations International School (UNIS), a role she began in 2015. At UNIS, Ms. Garcelon supervised the IB program to promote academic success, oversaw the organization of IB exams and evaluations, coordinated teacher professional development, and partnered closely with parents and administration to support student achievement. During this time, she also served as a Spanish teacher for grades 6-12. From 2011 to 2015, she held other leadership roles at UNIS, including Student Engagement Team Leader and UNIS-UN Faculty Advisor.

Ms. Garcelon also led the IB program as the IB Diploma Coordinator at Santiago College School in Santiago, Chile, an IB World School serving students in preschool through Grade 12. She began her education career at Santiago College School as an English teacher, where she instructed higher-level English classes to prepare students for IB external and internal assessments. Ms. Garcelon received a B.A. in Literature from Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez and completed her Masters at Columbia University. Apart from her commitments to innovation and education, and her passion for the IB program, she also enjoys cooking, practicing yoga, and traveling.

Lisa Nowicki

Director of Fine Arts
l.nowicki@tiantianmai.net

Ms. Nowicki oversees all curricular and extra-curricular programs in Visual Arts, Music, Theatre, and Film for Léman Manhattan. Prior to coming to Léman in 2011, Ms. Nowicki served as the Performing Arts Department Chair at the Sanford School in Hockessin, DE, where she worked for 19 years and produced award-winning music ensembles and a nationally recognized Theatre program. In Theatre, Ms. Nowicki has worked as a musical director, producer, and conductor. She is the co-founder of Delaware All-State Theatre®, the nation's only All-State Theatre organization for students, and serves on their Board of Trustees. In addition, she is a former chairperson of the DAIS Music Educators group, which involves 23 schools in DE, PA, MD, and NJ. Outside of education, Ms. Nowicki has worked in corporate arts administration and has served as an Associate Producer for “Lisa Howard: Songs of Innocence & Experience, The Songs of William Finn” (Ghostlight/Sh-K-Boom Records). Ms. Nowicki received a B.S. in Music Education from West Chester University and a Masters in Educational Psychology from Widener University. She has graduate credits in music history from the University of Salzburg in Salzburg, Austria. Apart from her interests in music, theatre, and film, she enjoys reading, baking, and travel.

Keith Sequeira

Director of Athletics
k.sequeira@tiantianmai.net

Keith Sequeira leads athletic opportunities for students school-wide at Léman, including team sports in grade five, to elite level varsity sports at the high school level. During his time at Léman, Mr. Sequeira has grown the athletic program significantly, from 8 teams in 2009, when he joined the school, to 36 teams today. In his leadership of the athletic program at Léman, Mr. Sequeira builds a culture of community, sportsmanship and physical well-being across the school community. Mr. Sequeira brings a wealth of knowledge of New York City school athletic programs, from his Adjunct Professor position at St. Francis College in Brooklyn, as well as his positions as Athletic Director, Physical Education Chair, Admissions Director, Summer Camp and After School Director at schools in New York and New Jersey. Mr. Sequeira earned a B.A. in Physical Education from Hofstra University and a Masters in supervision from Adelphi University. Outside of his duties at Léman, Mr. Sequeira is on the board of the Old Bridge Girls Soccer League, where his daughters participate in the soccer program. He enjoys quality time with his wife and two daughters, as well as the most recent addition to their family, "Bubba" the mini pincher.

Christina Pierre

Dean of Students
c.pierre@tiantianmai.net

Christina Pierre has been a member of the Léman Manhattan community since 2011. As the Dean of Students, Christina is focused on fostering a safe and nurturing environment for Léman’s Upper Schoolers, so that they may grow and be successful in a rigorous learning environment. Through building positive relationships with students, it is her aim to provide the guidance needed to help them achieve academic success.

Prior to her role as Dean, Christina served as the Associate Dean of Students. Throughout her 12 years at Léman, she has also served as a Physical Education and Health teacher, a coach for both our Girls and Boys Varsity Volleyball Teams, the interim DEIJ coordinator, and a Grade Level Leader. Christina holds a BBA in Operation Management from CUNY, Baruch College.

Lakiya Burrell

Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice (DEIJ)
l.burrell@tiantianmai.net

Lakiya Burrell, the founding Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (DEIJ) at Léman, strongly values a culture of belonging. Lakiya has been a part of the Léman Manhattan community since 2015. Using her passions for student advocacy and family partnership, Lakiya supports, develops, and leads comprehensive DEIJ initiatives and programming that drive forward Léman’s mission in becoming a community that is inclusive, equitable, and accessible for all

Lakiya has been in education for over 14 years. She came to Léman from Lion Charter School where she held the position of Elementary & Middle School English Language Learner (ELL) Specialist and K-12 ELL Liaison. At Léman, Lakiya has taught English language learners at the elementary and middle school levels, and was the founding DEIJ Coordinator. She holds a BA in French from Spelman College, her Post-Bac Certificate in TESOL from Columbia University, and her MS.ED in TESOL from Long Island University.

Lakiya grew up in Harlem and Washington Heights, and has family roots in the South. She lives in New York City with her family.

Steve Levin

Director of After-School and Summer Programs
s.levin@tiantianmai.net

With over 20 years of experience developing children's programming in New York City, Steve Levin leads Léman's after school and summer programs. With a broad array of offerings ranging from chess to math club to tennis, our after school programming complements the Léman academic program to harness the interest of every child. In addition, Camp Léman, for both Léman students and children in the community, is one of Lower Manhattan's premier programs for children, enrolling over 270 children each summer. Prior to joining Léman in 2008, Mr. Levin served as the Director of Camp Programs at the 92nd Street Y, and as camp director in the Poconos. Mr. Levin spent four years on the adjunct faculty of Fordham University's Graduate school of Social Service and has been a speaker and co-chair for various regional and national camping conferences. Mr. Levin has a B.A. in Psychology from Northwestern University and a Masters in Social Work from Hunter College. Outside of his work at Léman, Mr. Levin enjoys travel, running, exploring New York City, and the New York Times crossword puzzle. He currently lives in Brooklyn with his wife and two daughters.

Paige Murphy

Head of Communications & Enrollment Management
p.murphy@tiantianmai.net

Mrs. Murphy oversees the admissions and communications functions at Léman. She partners with faculty, students, and parents to build a dynamic and engaged community of Léman families and share student accomplishments and school developments within Léman and beyond. Since joining Léman in 2014, Mrs. Murphy has led Léman’s strategic enrollment growth and raised Léman’s visibility to attract a talented and diverse applicant pool and ultimately enrolled students who thrive in Léman’s IB program.

Mrs. Murphy joined Léman after more than 15 years in K-12 and higher education senior communications roles. Prior to Léman, Mrs. Murphy was Executive Director of Marketing for Kaplan, the global educational services provider. Previously, she was an Assistant Director of Communications at Columbia University.

Mrs. Murphy holds a B.A. in Political Science and French from Colgate University. She lives in the Financial District with her husband and two sons, who are students in Léman’s Lower and Middle School divisions. Outside of school, Mrs. Murphy enjoys tennis, travel, and architecture.

Dr. Jennifer Minskoff

Chief of Staff
j.minskoff@tiantianmai.net

As Chief of Staff, Dr. Minskoff supports the Head of School’s Office, working collaboratively with the leadership team, managing projects, developing school-wide processes, and anticipating the needs of the Head of School. She has nearly ten years of experience working in New York City independent schools, both as an administrator and as an educator. Prior to her current role, Jen served as the Executive Administrator to the Head of School at Poly Prep. An educator and historian by trade, Jen has also previously served as the Executive Assistant to Head of School Maria Castelluccio, and developed and taught The History of New York City course at Léman. She holds a Ph.D. in History & Education from Teachers College, Columbia, where she was also an Adjunct Associate Professor.

Jen resides in the Financial District with her husband and daughter. As a family, they enjoy the intellectual, culinary, and cultural life that New York has to offer.

Ryan Barker

Dean of Residential Life
r.barke@tiantianmai.net

Ryan Barker has been a part of the Léman community for eight years. In his role as Dean of Residential Life, Ryan aims to provide support and a strong sense of community to students in our Boarding Program. Through fairly addressing student conduct and behavior, he hopes that he and his team will inspire students to find their true potential, ultimately making a positive impact on their lives.

Ryan came to Léman from North Broward Prep and has over 14 years of residential boarding experience. Before that, he taught High School English and World Literature, and English Grammar for Grades 6-8 at American Heritage in Delray Beach, Florida. Ryan holds a BA in English from Lynn University, and has studied Biology at St. Thomas Aquinas College and Education at Florida Atlantic University.

Brian Scheffler

Director of Residential Life
b.scheffler@tiantianmai.net

Brian Scheffler is the Director of Residential Life at Léman and has been a part of the community since 2014. In his role, Brian aims to create a residential life experience that provides students with a strong sense of community and belonging so that they may grow into confident, independent, responsible, and engaged individuals. Brian came to Léman from the Village School in Houston, Texas, where he served as a Residential Dorm Parent. Prior to that, he was the Interim Middle & High School Choir Director at Silver Creek Central School. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education from SUNY at Fredonia.

In his spare time, Brian enjoys attending performances at Lincoln Center by the New York Philharmonic and the Metropolitan Opera. He also enjoys playing the piano, which he has been playing since age 10.

Scott Thompson

Chief Operating Officer
s.thompson@tiantianmai.net

Scott Thompson leads the business office, facilities and technology teams to help support our school's continued innovation and growth. An experienced finance and strategy executive in the education industry, Mr. Thompson has held various executive leadership and chief financial officer roles both domestically and internationally and has also served on numerous boards of directors. He holds a BA in Accounting from University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and a Global Executive MBA from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University. Mr. Thompson lives in Lower Manhattan with his wife Laurie and son Sloane, who is a Léman high school student.

Ahsan Karim

Director of Technology
a.karim@tiantianmai.net

Mr. Karim oversees all aspects of educational technology at Léman and drives the school's strategic vision for leveraging technology to enhance student learning. He has oversight for all technology systems that support student information, enrollment management, scheduling and grading, faculty collaboration, parent communication, and the cultivation of technology skills that prepare Léman students for an interconnected, digital world.

An IT professional with over two decades of experience in educational technology and technology support, Mr. Karim brings many years of teaching and administrative experience to our school. Prior to joining Léman, Mr. Karim spent 25 years at The Buckley School on the Upper East Side, where he managed all hardware, software, systems, and infrastructure initiatives, including the implementation of makerspaces. He also has extensive experience in developing and leading technology professional development workshops for faculty and staff. Throughout his career, he has taught coding, robotics, and circuit building in grades 1-9.

Mr. Karim holds a bachelor's degree in Computer Science from The College of Staten Island. He is a Google Certified Educator and also a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer. He lives with his wife and daughter in Forest Hills, Queens, and during his free time, Mr. Karim enjoys cooking, reading and traveling with his family.

Geo Castillo

Director of Facilities & Security
g.castillo@tiantianmai.net

Geo Castillo is Léman’s Director of Facilities & Security and has 31 years of experience in Facilities Management Operations and Strategic Planning. He has been a part of the Léman community since 2012.

Geo came to Léman from Abigail Kirsch Culinary Services, where he served in several different roles before becoming their Director of Facilities & Security, a role in which he managed different properties in Westchester and New York City. Prior to that, Geo served in the Honduran Army for five years, during which he became a Lieutenant.

Geo holds an Associates Degree in Accounting and a BA in Business Administration from Monroe College. He currently lives in Sayreville with his wife and children. In his spare time, Geo enjoys taking long walks, watching soccer games, and collecting Honduran art.

Debbie Aragon

Head of Human Resources
d.aragon@tiantianmai.net

Debbie Aragón leads the Human Resources Department at Léman by leading benefits analysis and administration, compensation, staff training & development, workers’ compensation, safety training, employee relations, performance management, organizational development, and HRIS. Ms. Aragón has over 15 years in human resource management and prior to Léman was Head of Human Resources at TAO Group, VP of HR at Dean & Deluca, Director of HR at Max Brenner, and the US HR Administration Manager at Le Pain Quotidien. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Hofstra University, a Human Resources accreditation from Pace University and is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). A Queens native, she currently lives on Long Island with her three children and two Persian cats and enjoys crafts, yoga, and spending time on the beach with her family in the summer.