Thomas Kelly, Ph.D., is Head of School at Horace Mann School.  He is a member of the Upper Division and Middle Division faculty where he has taught Ethics in School and Society, and Advanced Placement Psychology, and an 8th grade science elective, The Biology of Psychology. In addition, he is programmatically and pedagogically involved with the good work being carried out by the Center for Community Values & Action across all grade levels.

Beyond the walls of Horace Mann School, Dr. Kelly's commitment to the community at large includes serving as a board member for De La Salle Academy, Early Steps, Riverdale Senior Services, Inc., and the Van Cortlandt Park Conservancy. In addition, Dr. Kelly's service also includes sitting on the Children's Council of the New York Society for the Prevention of the Cruelty to Children. The Children's Council is comprised of the organization's most notable champions.

Prior to accepting his post at Horace Mann School, Dr. Kelly served in the public school arena as a Superintendent of Schools, High School Principal, and Director of Special Education. While a graduate student at Teachers College, Columbia University, he served as the Director of Education & Senior Behavior Analyst at a private - highly specialized - day school practicing the Comprehensive Application of Behavior Analysis to Schooling or CABAS. In addition to his N-12 duties, Dr. Kelly has held adjunct teaching positions at several graduate programs, including Teachers College, Columbia University. 

Kimberly Joyce-Bernard, Ph.D., is an innovate program leader and practitioner-scholar with over fifteen years of experience providing educational technical guidance and out-of-school time programming to urban schools. Dr. Joyce-Bernard writes and presents about parent, family, and community engagement, service-learning, ethics, and family and intergenerational literacy programming.

At Horace Mann School, Dr. Joyce-Bernard serves as the Director of the Center for Community Values and Action. She is known for administering creative programming, cultivating work processes, and fostering a collaborative, highly effective learning environment that promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Prior to her arrival at Horace Mann School, Dr. Joyce-Bernard worked in various capacities as a family and community engagement director, program manager, and literacy teacher trainer, in urban schools in New York, Central America, and Massachusetts.

Dr. Joyce-Bernard is a proud alumna of AmeriCorps and Peace Corps. In addition, she is thrilled by her commitments in her expanded community as an Executive Trustee Member of the Caedmon School, DEI Task Force Member of the Eastchester Union Free School District, Mentor for BIPOC Lesley Ph.D. students, and an active Committee Member of the local library in her village in Westchester, NY. Dr. Joyce-Bernard has been featured in the Community Works Institute Journal (CLICK HERE). 

email:  kimberly_joyce-bernard@horacemann.org

Mr. Fabio Puello serves as the Associate Director for the Center for Community Values and Action at Horace Mann School. Mr. Puello earned his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Rochester and his Master of Science in Education from CUNY Hunter College. A skilled leader with over ten years of experience in various educational settings, Mr. Puello has served as an English literature and special education teacher, as well as department chair in urban schools in New York and Florida.

Mr. Puello’s passion for service work has led him to develop student training for international volunteer work in places like South Africa, as well as authentic civic engagement programs in Harlem, and his native Bronx, NY.

Conasia Watts (HM 13') recently graduated from the Marist Class of 2024's Master's in Education Program. Entering her sixth year in the CCVA, she holds Service-Learning Education dear to her heart. Conasia stands at the intersection of culture, Education, and empowerment. Her teaching philosophy is rooted in the principles of culturally responsive teaching, emphasizing asset-based thinking and growth mindsets. Shes believes education should be a transformative experience that equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary to empower them to become agents of change in their communities. 

Conasia's commitment to community engagement extends beyond the classroom. She coaches Middle Division Field Hockey and advises the Middle Division Fashion & Design Club. Prior to rejoining the HM community, she served as a New York City Councilmanic Aide, partnering with Summer Youth Interns on various Civic Engagement projects. This experience has further enriched her understanding of the importance of community involvement in education. 

Outside of Horace Mann, Conasia hosts Intergenerational Double Dutch Workshops throughout NYC and Westchester. She most recently partnered with a Harlem Girl Scout Troop.