About District 25

Empowering learners. Embracing differences. Providing equitable access and opportunity for all.

Mission and Vision Statement

Our core values across District 25 drive our vision of “Strong roots, Strong schools”. We believe as a district we must learn, grow and reflect individually and collectively to promote ongoing sustainable improvement. Through high quality instruction, curriculum and personal/professional learning, we build strong foundations that embrace differences and support learning and innovation through high levels of student engagement, critical thinking, problem solving, creativity, student ownership and agency. We believe that in order to cultivate citizens of the world, we must leverage student strengths and interests with a focus on social/emotional support, as well as culturally relevant practices and civic responsibilities. We must also ensure that we know our students and communities well and foster our beliefs in equity by surfacing patterns and practices that contribute to inequity through the purposeful analysis, use and application of multiple data sources to meet the diverse needs of our learners and to provide access through support, resources and high expectations across our schools.

District Team Contacts

Meet the District 25 Team! (Team Awesome)

Dr. Michael Dantona
Community Superintendent
Dr. Dantona has served as the Deputy Superintendent of District 25 since 2015 before becoming our Community Superintendent in 2024. He oversees and supports 34 K-8 schools, and their communities, to promote student access. He puts the AWESOME in TEAM AWESOME!

Contact@d25.nyc

Umit Serin
Deputy Superintendent

Mr. Serin has served in the capacity of District 25 as a principal for 6 years before becoming our Deputy Superintendent in 2024. He will work collaboratively with our instructional team to enhance core instruction and organize professional learning opportunities to build capacity within our district.
USerin@schools.nyc.gov

Beverly Mitchell
Executive Director of School Supports & Operations
Beverly serves as the supervisor of student services, operations and facilities and community affairs. She also supervises the development of a district-wide leadership pipeline.
BMitche2@schools.nyc.gov

Louis Lotito
District Manager of Operations & Special Projects
Louis supports the district team during day-to-day operations and connects with schools to ensure they get the supports they need. He provides hands-on support to transform ideas into reality and monitors progress towards meeting goals.

LLotito@schools.nyc.gov

Jennie Cheng
Family Support Coordinator

Jennie supports schools across the district with family related concerns including 311 reports and other family & community related matters. She also organizes and facilitates monthly meetings to help support our parent coordinators.

JCheng2@schools.nyc.gov

Janet Ayala-Capo
Administrative Assistant
Janet supports the administrative work for the district office, including managing files, office supplies, the district phone line, and scheduling meetings and appointments. She also greets families and community members who visit the district office.

JAyala2@schools.nyc.gov

Marisa Mari
Community Coordinator
Marisa serves as the main point of contact for outreach & communication with local community members. She also supports with the planning and implementation of district-wide meetings, sustaining digital communications & social media platforms, and building an aspiring leaders pipeline.

MMari42@schools.nyc.gov

Anna Arrigo
Instructional Lead
Anna serves as the main point of contact for Literacy. She works closely with Principals and APs in setting up systems & structures to ensure students are receiving various opportunities to engage with text to become proficient readers. She also supports teachers in professional learning on HMH curriculum, NYC Reads and ensuring full implementation of the citywide instructional literacy shifts.

AArrigo@schools.nyc.gov

Melinda Willens
Instructional Lead
Melinda supports literacy and disciplinary literacy in ELA and Social Studies at the middle school level. She also supports all things Civics for All across the entire district. Additionally, she is a thought partner in the development and implementation of the CEP.

MWillen@schools.nyc.gov

Beth Eaton
Instructional Lead
Beth serves as the main point of contact for Mathematics Instruction. She works closely with administrators and teachers across the district to help them understand best practices, implement systems & structures, and facilitate math to support equitable instruction for all students.
EEaton@schools.nyc.gov

Michelle Lee
MLL Services Administrator
Michelle provides support to school leaders and ELL coordinators on understanding & implementing mandates, including student programming, instructional & staffing requirements. She also designs & delivers professional learning opportunities for teachers of Multilingual Learners (MLLs) and English Language Learners (ELLs) across our district.
MLee21@schools.nyc.gov

Stephanie Kohnken
Instructional Lead
Stephanie will be focusing on Special Education Instruction, working closely with Nathan and will be involved in Middle School Instruction, collaborating with Melinda. Stephanie comes to us with a wealth of experience, having most recently served as Assistant Principal at JHS 194. Her dedication and expertise in education make her a valuable asset to our district.
SKohnken@schools.nyc.gov

Arefa Khan
Academic Intervention Service Coordinator
Arefa works with district administrators as well as school building leaders to support student growth and success within phonemic awareness & phonics. She also provides tiered professional learning opportunities for leaders & teachers to support the implementation with integrity of Heggerty & FUNdations.
AKhan8@schools.nyc.gov

Danielle Bergmann
Academic Intervention Service Coordinator
Danielle serves as a point person for K-2 Foundational Literacy Skills. She works closely with school building leaders & teachers in understanding and implementing Heggerty & FUNdations. Her supports include analyzing literacy data, setting goals to strengthen core instruction and designing tiers of support for all students. Danielle also facilitates PL opportunities for leaders & teachers across the district.
DBergmann@schools.nyc.gov

Diana Stein
Instructional Lead
Diana supports school building leaders and educators in providing high quality opportunities for learning, movement, physical activity and wellness to students and families. She also offers teacher development programs & professional learning opportunities for school wellness champions.

DStein6@schools.nyc.gov

Blair Brager
Elementary School ELA Implementation Specialist
Blair works with school leaders and teachers in providing guidance within the HMH Literacy curriculum. She also supports & coaches schools with curriculum planning and the delivery of instruction, including working with teacher teams in analyzing literacy assessments and end of module assessments to support & measure student impact.
BBrager@schools.nyc.gov

Debbie Winkler
Teacher Development & Evaluation Coach
Debbie supports school leaders with Advance implementation to ensure a common language that measures teacher practice and student learning aligned to the Danielson Framework. She also provides school leaders with quality feedback in order to enhance teacher development and works collaboratively to develop & implement professional learning.

DWinkler2@schools.nyc.gov

Tracie Vaughan
Academic Policy, Performance & Assessment
Tracie supports schools in understanding city/state academic policies as well as deepening their understanding of assessment data to ensure all schools are equipped to meet their students' needs. She also supports schools in working to meet compliance requirements.
TVaughan@schools.nyc.gov

Nathan Yakubov
Administrator of Special Education
Nathan supports schools and families with all special education related questions & issues. His experience includes providing special education & speech services to students in Pre-K, Middle School, and as a Special Education Administrator at the Committee on Special Education (CSE).

NYakubov@schools.nyc.gov

Richard Braun
ELL Compliance & Performance Specialist
Richard supports the district with all ENL policy related issues. He ensures that students are programmed accordingly and receiving their mandated minutes of ENL instruction. He also facilitates training on topics such as "Nuts and Bolts of ELL Related Items" and "NYSELAT" training.

RBraun2@schools.nyc.gov

Gregg Yancovitch
Student Services Manager
Gregg supports attendance, crisis and de-escalation, culture & climate, and guidance across our district. He also works with all school staff to establish a collaborative and competent school community who feel compelled to care for each other and lift one another up.
GYancovitch@schools.nyc.gov

Austin Stout Jr
District Attendance Coordinator
Austin supports school attendance teams in the development of strategies to improve student attendance. He also supports schools in understanding & applying relevant attendance policies, and assists in monitoring compliance by tracking attendance data.

AStoutJ@schools.nyc.gov

Wing Yee Chung
School Social Worker
Wing provides capacity-building support to school practitioners in a range of social-emotional learning, mental health, and wellness support. She also supports the development and implementation of crisis prevention and intervention strategies for our high-need and at-risk students and families.

WChung6@schools.nyc.gov

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