Meet Our Team
The Say Yes Buffalo team includes Family Support Specialists, Community School Navigators, and Administrators.
Scholarships Team
Betsy Behrend
Senior Director of Scholarship Administration
Yolanda Gatewood
Scholarship Supervisor – College Access
Stacy Rankin
Scholarship Supervisor – High School Outreach
Elandra Bryant
Scholarship Assistant
Early Childhood Team
Gellenia Smallwood
Senior Director of Early Childhood Services
Ruqayyah Simmons
Manager of Curriculum, Instruction, and Development
Jennifer McLean
Curriculum & Instructional Specialist
Eivory Eison
Manager of Curriculum, Instruction, and Development
Andrea Guzman
Family & Community Partner Coordinator
Sarah Hanley
Family & Community Partner Coordinator
Kimberly Costner
Early Childhood Program Data Clerk
Madeline Little
Communications Specialist
Matia Lenk
Teacher Assistant
Anginez Santiago
Substitute Teacher
Kareemia Lott
Lead Teacher
Kemel Carthon
Teacher Assistant
Demia Dean
Substitute Teacher
Sage Brown
Teacher Assistant
Gabriela Perez
Substitute Teacher
Marta Pabellon
Substitute Teacher
Kianna Brown
Substitute Teacher
Ralia Sherif
Substitute Teacher
Courtney Wilday
Lead Teacher
Ilana Madding
Lead Teacher
Isis Fraser
Lead Teacher
May Khine
Co-Teacher
Kellye Merriweather
Substitute Teacher
Gildalia Lopez
Substitute Teacher
Shunyeuh Hawkins
Substitute Teacher
Rashida Cates
Teacher Assistant
Ayanna Whitfield
Substitute Teacher
Khaliel Johnson
Teacher Assistant
Miriam Santiago
Lead Teacher
Tyshika Poole
Teacher Assistant
Tyera Smith
Substitute Teacher
Aleigha Floyd
AmeriCorps Instructional Support Aide
Naiobi Lamour
Teacher Assistant
Alisa Tucker
Substitute Teacher
Janee Lawson
Substitute Teacher
Martinique Booker
Lead Teacher
RaQuel Hall
Teacher Assistant
Valina Reyes
Teacher Assistant
Synthia Cocerez
Substitute Teacher
Towhea Tasmi
Substitute Teacher
School-based Services Team
Sylvia Lane
Director of School-based Services
Elizabeth Minns
Family Support Specialist Supervisor
Eric Maldonado
Family Support Specialist Supervisor
Amanda Paul
Family Support Specialist-Health & Mental Health Services Manager
LeRondra Byrd
Family Support Specialist Supervisor
Alex Brady
Family Support Specialist
Jessica Misiejuk
Family Support Specialist – Health Manager
Jonathan Krol
Family Support Specialist Supervisor
Courtney Bradley
Family Support Specialist
Eshea Spears
Family Support Specialist-Health
Alicia Slisz
Family Support Specialist
Lindsay Constantino
Career Coach
Raul Toro
Family Support Specialist-Health
Courtney Jackson
Family Support Specialist
Lauren Gertner
Family Support Specialist
Nikia Jackson
Family Support Specialist
Jennifer Puga Hernandez
Family Support Specialist
Danielle Peoples
Family Support Specialist
Michael Brown
Family Support Specialist-Health
Jamelia Burton
Family Support Specialist
Gregory Lo Verde
Family Support Specialist
Leyanis Perez
Family Support Specialist-Health
Stephon Ford
Family Support Specialist-Health
Maya Miller
Family Support Specialist-Health
Latisha Randle
Fair Futures Coach
Ola Breggins
Family Support Specialist-Health
Jonat Johnson
Fair Futures Coach
Dalisha Bass
Family Support Specialist
Charles Mays
Fair Futures Coach
Tashika Morris
Family Support Specialist
Tricia Switzer
Family Support Specialist-Health
Aixin Chen
Family Support Specialist
Michael Katilus
Family Support Specialist-Health
Lauren Strawatz
Family Support Specialist
Abdi-Kani Aden
Family Support Specialist
Denise Rodriguez
Family Support Specialist-Health
Safa Alyasiri
Family Support Specialist-Health
Michael Palazza
Family Support Specialist
Sheri Czajkowski
Family Support Specialist-Health
David Papia
Family Support Specialist
Community Schools Team
Tanya Staples
Community School Director
Nikki Cocerez
Zone Leader
Christine Waikiki
Zone Leader
Deoniss Jackson
Community Schools Navigator
Rhonda Saunders
Community Schools Navigator
Misty Duncan
Community Schools Navigator
Giniyah Mike
Community Schools Navigator
Sondasi Luundo
Community Schools Navigator
Carrie Cosco
Community Schools Navigator
Niaema Fox
Community Schools Navigator
Sara Kane
Community Schools Navigator
Dakota Chun
Community Schools Navigator
Sydney Flanagan
Community School Specialist
Daun Nicholas
Community School Navigator
Keira Grant
Community Schools Navigator
Ashley Weaver
Community Schools Navigator
Daytuan Antonetti
Community Schools Navigator
Joyce Stilson
Community Schools Navigator
Ana Leon-Rodriguez
Community School Navigator
Tara Petty
Community Schools Navigator
Stephon Wright
School Community Navigator
Cory McCants
Community Schools Navigator
Marcus Roberson
Community Schools Navigator
Aracely Rodriguez
Community School Navigator
Wilton Pennyamon
Community School Navigator
Workforce Development Team
Stephanie Peete
Senior Director of Workforce Development
Shara Armprester
Career Coach Supervisor
Emily Melendez
Business Development Supervisor
Icheiry Rivera
Mentoring Supervisor
Johanna Caplan
Education Manager
Tiffany Swink
Business Partnerships Manager
Amy Cappelli
Workforce Development Communications Specialist
Senior Leadership Team
David Rust
Chief Executive Officer
Daphne Ross
Chief Impact Officer
Laura DeLuca
Chief Financial Officer
Sylvia Lane
Director of School-based Services
Tanya Staples
Community School Director
Betsy Behrend
Senior Director of Scholarship Administration
Stephanie Peete
Senior Director of Workforce Development
Gellenia Smallwood
Senior Director of Early Childhood Services
Aaron Lowinger
Director of Communications
Collin Gehl
Human Resources Director
Eric Maldonado
Family Support Specialist Supervisor
Amanda Paul
Family Support Specialist-Health & Mental Health Services Manager
Christopher Lee
Data Director
Dan Cross-Viola
Director of Quality Improvement
Daniel Robertson
Director of Boys and Men of Color Initiative
Rebecca Bass
Director of Strategic Program Development and Grants
Extended Learning (Summer Camps) Team
Summer Takens Cerbone
Extended Learning Time Specialist
Leah Rush
Extended Learning Time Manager
Paige Williams
Extended Learning Time Specialist
Ericka Heary
Extended Learning Time Specialist
Boys & Men of Color (Breaking Barriers) Team
Jalin Clark
Social Justice Trainer
Charles McKnight
Social Justice Trainer
Xavier Lamar
Social Justice Trainer
Daniel Robertson
Director of Boys and Men of Color Initiative
Jamien Eutsey
Boys & Men of Color/Youth Sport Management Program Supervisor
Administrative Team
David Rust
Chief Executive Officer
Daphne Ross
Chief Impact Officer
Laura DeLuca
Chief Financial Officer
Betsy Behrend
Senior Director of Scholarship Administration
Aaron Lowinger
Director of Communications
Collin Gehl
Human Resources Director
Alexis Webster
Grants and Development Supervisor
Madeline Little
Communications Specialist
La Tanya Walton
Talent Acquisition & Human Resources Supervisor
Laurie Martelli
Accounting Manager
Dasani Simmons
Data Analyst
Amber Quinney
Executive Specialist
Abdorrahim Fadel
Human Resources Assistant
Holly Schaefer
Junior Accountant
Christopher Lee
Data Director
Dan Cross-Viola
Director of Quality Improvement
Levi Galbreath
Office & Training Manager
Rebecca Bass
Director of Strategic Program Development and Grants
Jamil Crews
Digital Communications Manager
Braden Goldberg
Human Resources Intern