Barbara Freeman is currently the Executive Superintendent of Brooklyn South where she collaboratively works with central personnel, borough support offices, and district superintendents to ensure the instructional, operational, student and parental needs are met in the community school district. Before working as an executive superintendent, Barbara worked as the superintendent of community school district 13 in Brooklyn for seven years. She began her career in education as an early childhood teacher and has been an assistant principal and principal before assuming the role of superintendent.
Barbara holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from Hunter College, CUNY, and a master's degree from Columbia University.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Beverly understands the importance of having an adult to be your champion. That is the philosophy she takes on as the executive director for Brooklyn South Borough Office. Beverly understands the importance of making sure students have their basic needs met for them to be successful in academics. Her experience includes but is not limited to teaching grades 4-8, serving as a staff developer for teachers, and leading and guiding adults and children as an assistant principal. She recently transitioned from PS 156K in Brownsville, Brooklyn where she serviced the school community as principal for 10 years. Within her career Beverly has provided supports for adults and children in the area of student services such as providing for students in temporary housing, strategies in developing to increase attendance, providing a school climate that is respectful to all and sharing best practices that will provide a safe and nurturing environment for children to grow.
John began his career with the Department of Education (DOE) in 2003 after a successful career as a management consultant. He led teams for a national practice implementing systems and evaluating processes for Fortune 500 companies. He began with the DOE as a budget lead during the implementation of the Regional Operations Centers, supporting Brooklyn schools. He has served as a school business manager supporting a K-12 gifted and talented school, where he ensured the new school administration could support the needs of the students and community. As a result, he became a financial officer and team leader within the initial Integrated Service Center, helping pilot the program for city-wide roll-out. He has been a network business manager and a director of operations working with schools to support and implement their instructional vision. Most recently, he was a deputy for business operations managing 13 networks and approximately 400 schools within the PSO structure. He is a graduate of one of our wonderful NYC high schools and volunteers extensively in his community.
Patrick Fagan received his BA from Hofstra University and was awarded the prestigious New York City Urban Fellowship which jump-started his career in government and non-profit sectors at the Department of Health and Mayor’s Office of Operations where he spent the last 18 years of his career in the areas of strategic planning, operations, project management, human resources and finance, reinforcing his strong commitment to public service. He has worked at the DOE for the last 13 years servicing students and schools in a myriad of positions including budget team lead in the regional operations center, network leader and deputy cluster leader to most recently senior manager of finance and human resources. Patrick is a proud product of the NYC public school system attending Brooklyn South schools – P.S. 208, Meyer Levin J.H.S. 285 and William E Grady VTHS. He received his MBA from Baruch's Zicklin school of Business in finance/management.
Nadia has been with the NYC Department of Education for the last 7 years. She has taught 5th grade and Computer Science for elementary and is now the Computer Science Education Manager for Brooklyn South. As a product of the Brooklyn public school system, she strives to bring equity in technology and CS through her work, to our Brooklyn students. Nadia is excited to continue working to ensure that all NYC public school students receive CS education by 2025.
Tara brings a very eclectic background with 19 years (6 in child welfare and 13 in Special Education) of experience servicing the children of NYC. She has served as a child protective specialist, so she understands the importance of meeting the social/emotional needs of all children as a priority. She has taught several populations (D75 High School ED, Autism, and Learning Disabled) of students, as well as, integrated co-teaching. Tara served as an assistant principal in a school for children with autism, for 2 ½ years before transitioning to become a borough manager for ASD Programs. She is a firm believer in setting high expectations for ALL students and providing the necessary scaffolding to make sure they surpass those expectations. Her superpower is special education, and she is committed to making sure our most vulnerable children get the learning experience that they deserve. “Abilities outweigh disabilities…”
Deirdre began her career as a foreign exchange trader working in New York and Paris. Having no great passion for the position, she began working on a degree in TESOL. She transitioned into her new career as an ESL teacher at PS 94 in District 15. Deirdre moved into various roles in the Department of Education (DOE) including literacy coach in District 14, assistant principal back at her first school PS 94, principal of PS/IS 206 in District 22, and Director of Teaching and Learning at Queens North BCO.
Dr. Lucia Perez-Medina began her career in the NYC Department of Education (DOE) almost eighteen years ago as a bilingual teacher. She currently serves as the Director for Multilingual and English Language Learners. Before joining the Brooklyn South BCO leadership, she served our Brooklyn South Borough Office as the ELL Services Administrator for District 20. Her extensive experience as an educator include: ENL and bilingual teacher, staff developer, bilingual coordinator, senior literacy instructional specialist, school quality director and elementary school principal serving a large ELL population. Her expertise and successful background in ENL methodologies, balanced literacy, data driven instruction and leadership provides our schools exemplary support in integrating language and literacy instruction.
Dr. Medina brings a passion and wealth of instructional and organizational knowledge and is dedicated to advocating for equity for all learners, capacity building, strengthening pedagogy and supporting families to accelerate student learning. She holds a doctorate in educational leadership with a concentration on language and literacy development and dual master’s in TESOL and special education.
Joelle McKen has been a dedicated member of the NYC Department of Education (DOE) for 28+ years. She began her career as an elementary school teacher in Brownsville Brooklyn. Since then, she has served as the principal of a K-8 school, an Achievement Manager at the Network level; the Director of School Renewal for D.17, the Senior Director of Continuous Improvement for the Office of the First Deputy Chancellor, and most recently as the new Director of School Improvement for BK South. Among her many skills, Joelle planned and facilitated professional learning experiences for directors of continuous and school improvement across the city; she successfully led her Renewal school to Rise status, helped to prepare numerous schools in District 17 for the rigorous quality review process; she facilitated the implementation of the Data Wise Improvement Process across District 17; and she has helped many school leaders to put sustainable progress monitoring, and other systems and structures in place, intended to strategically drive their school improvement efforts.
Guillermo has worked for the NYC Department of Education (DOE) for over 9 years. His work over the years has focused on supporting school-based personnel and central teams in the transition to digital assessments and incorporating technology in the classroom. He has worked with schools, technology vendors, NYSED and other key stakeholders in this effort. He recently transitioned to the role of Instructional Technology Director at Brooklyn South.
Katrina began her DOE career as a collaborative team teacher in District 32 in 2001. Seven years later she submitted a proposal with several colleagues to open a new high school in Queens, eventually becoming the assistant principal. For the past five years she has worked for the Office of State/Federal Education Policy and School Improvement Programs.
Robert has over four years of experience at the DOE from his roles as a data manager for Affinity Schools BCO and as a data analyst with the office of Organizational Development & Effectiveness (ODE). His projects focused on the research and evaluation behind employee engagement, professional development and school/student performance. In his former roles he was responsible for managing and analyzing large data sets, and for conceptualizing, building, and implementing policy, tools and resources to support staff, schools and the BCO.
Kim R. Lawrence is the executive assistant to the executive superintendent for Brooklyn South. Kim has worked in the administrative field for over 20 years, including non-profit and charter organizations. Kim created the administrative professional learning series (APLS) for the administrative assistants throughout the DOE. Kim attended LaGuardia Community College, enjoys helping others, traveling, cooking, and loves baking.
Margaret J. Tull is a principal administrative associate currently working as the executive assistant for the executive director of the Brooklyn South Borough Office. Margaret is a former operations analyst and office manager of the Office of the Deputy Chancellor for Equity and Access. Margaret began employment in the NYC public school system in 1987. Since that time she served in various capacities; working closely with parents, community superintendents, deputy chancellors and business partners all of which contributed to the many successes of student achievement. Margaret, who migrated from the Caribbean in September 1978, continued her academic studies at Kingsborough Community College, Berkeley Business School and CUNY Queens College.
As a devoted mother of two children and grandmother of three, she is known for wearing many hats. This accounts for her dedicated participation in several organizations such NYC Urban Ambassadors Program, Organo, Toastmasters International and Momentum Education. One of her most recent pro bono projects was the MoMs on A Mission Launch to empower 100 MoMs into entrepreneurship.
As a former Boy Scout of America Cub Scoutmaster of Troop/Pack 810 in Brooklyn, Margaret raised her son, who is a Morehouse Man, in the organization. She is the editor and co-author of a student handbook for cooperative education students. As a former model, Margaret appeared in Essence Magazine; several local newspapers; and on the walls of prominent hair salons. She served as a pageant wardrobe assistant and the executive secretary for the executive director and chairman of the Miss Empire City Talent and Scholarship Program in 1988. This program provided opportunities and showcased exposure for talented young women who lived, attended school, or worked in New York City.
Lastly, Margaret is a recipient of several recognition certificates and awards from professional and community-based organizations. While being driven by curiosity, challenges and a strong desire to help others, she holds a passion for empowering young people. She is a firm believer of Zig Ziglar’s philosophy “if you help enough people get what they want then you will get what you want”.