OUR SUPERPOWER

Denise Daniels

Co-Founder and Director of Admissions

Denise is Co-Founder at Workshop Middle School. She has more than 22 years of experience in education as a teacher, staff developer, curriculum designer, instructional coach, and school leader. She received a BA from The City College of New York and a Masters of Science in Teaching from Fordham University.

Denise is an award-winning educator, speaker, and international trainer that is continuously inspired by the wonder of learning. Denise is an avid reader, an aspiring martial artist and a huge game night fan. She could live on an island with just pizza, chai tea, a good playlist, and a pop-up dance party.

Joe Dugan

Assistant Head of School

Joe is an educator and mentor with over 17 years of experience at leading Brooklyn schools, including Cristo Rey Brooklyn where he served as Principal and President. Joe has also previously worked as classroom teacher, Admissions Director, and Vice Principal of Student Life. He believes that learning is driven by consistent observation, personal support, and mutual accountability.

Joe is a graduate of Edward R. Murrow High School and earned his BA and MA from NYU. He is also a self-taught small business owner, creative writer, and avid reader. Before teaching, Joe worked as a carpenter and a Site Superintendent on commercial construction projects, including the 9-11 recovery project at the World Financial Center. He enjoys spending time outdoors, hiking, biking, and watching baseball with his family.

Gabriella Alonso

Director of Finance and Operations

Gabriella is a passionate advocate for education, and she is especially dedicated to bridging the gap between families and school communities. With a heart for serving students and schools, Gabriella has a wealth of knowledge and genuine passion for our work. Gabriella believes that each adult – inside (and outside!) of the classroom – has the power to guide and mentor our young people in unimaginable ways.

When she is not orchestrating operations, you’ll find her hanging out with her faithful maltese-shiztu sidekick, Reina. Together, they explore the city, its parks, and the foodie havens that inspire all of her culinary adventures.

Emma Schechter

Student Services Coordinator

Emma graduated from Oberlin College with a BA in anthropology and archaeology. She previously worked as a special education teacher in Brooklyn for 5 years, but she was drawn to the way that Workshop students drive their own learning through real world exploration. Last year, Emma helped launch our formal special services program including personalized learning plans for all students. She believes that every child should be given the challenge and support they need in order to access content and find joy in learning.

Emma is also a certified yoga instructor who teaches in studios across Brooklyn. She loves to bring mindfulness exercises from her yoga teaching into the classroom with students. In her spare time, Emma enjoys running and exercising, and reading Jane Austen with her cats, Cosmo and Frodo.

Melisa Lewis

Social Worker

Melisa is a licensed Master Social Worker. She earned her BA and MSW from Stony Brook University. For more than 10 years, she has worked with diverse children and families as a counselor, therapist, and medical social worker. While at Workshop, Melisa works both 1 on 1 and in small groups with students to build SEL skills within our students, in partnership with families and teachers. She also developed and leads Workshop’s whole-school advisory program.

When she’s not working with our students , you can find her teaching dance, practicing yoga, cooking up delicious creations, or actively working within her community. Melisa believes that life is a journey of compassion and growth. Caution: her passion for helping others is contagious!

Blair Johnson

6th Grade STEM

Blair Johnson is an educator with over a decade of experience in progressive education, working with students from 1st to 8th grade. As a former teacher at an innovative partner school in Silicon Valley, Blair values diversity, open-ended learning, and fostering strong communities. His recent focus has been on integrating hands-on, project-based learning and social-emotional learning into common core curriculum.

After relocating to Brooklyn from San Francisco this past year, Blair enjoys exploring NYC neighborhoods by bike or spending time in Prospect Park with his partner Hanna and their dog, Scout. Outside of work, Blair also loves sailing and making progress on his ever-growing book recommendation list. He believes in the power of connection and empathy to create a world filled with understanding and growth.

Max Trow-Shaw

7th Grade Humanities

Max Trow-Shaw is the 7th Grade Humanities teacher at Workshop. He taught high school English for 3 years in Rural Louisiana and won teacher of the year in his second year. He moved to Philadelphia and switched to 6th grade, guiding other teachers on technology use during the pandemic. He later came to New York and became an 8th grade ELA teacher, finding innovative ways to make classes engaging and fun. Max has traveled to 15 countries, competed on a salsa dance team, performed in improv shows (one of which with Keagoe), and kept a journal every day for 10 years. He looks forward to bringing the adventurousness, energy, fun, and reflection to the WMS team.

Chantilly Berrios

7th Grade STEM

Our 7th grade STEM teacher is Chantilly. She is a native New Yorker born and raised in the Bronx. She began her teaching journey in 2012 as a middle school math teacher in a 6-12 school. Since then, she has taught everything from 7th grade math to AP Calculus. Her goal has always been to make math fun, hands on, and applicable to the real-world. Chantilly is a wife and a mother to two young children. She loves traveling with her family, classical music, reading, and visiting her local coffee shop in upstate New York. She looks forward to working with your students and engaging in a year full of fun, engaging and meaningful learning!

Joe Dugan

8th Grade Humanities

See Joe’s full bio under the Leadership Team section of our website!

Emma Crean

8th Grade STEM

Emma is our 8th Grade STEM teacher. She has been a Math educator since 2013, including roles as classroom teacher, Department Chair, Dean, and Assistant Principal.  She believes that all students can love math and science! Her goal is to meet all students where they are because when students learn in a supportive, exciting, and challenging environment, they develop the confidence and strength they need to decide their own future.  

Emma earned her BS at Syracuse University in Secondary Education and Mathematics and her MS at Fordham University in School Leadership. She holds an NYS Professional Teacher Certification and NYS School Building Leader Initial Certificate.  Most importantly, she finds joy in spending time with her family, watching football on Sundays and enjoying the outdoors in all seasons. She is originally from Buffalo so the snow brings her nostalgia and happiness.

Gabby Rossi

Humanities Learning Specialist

Gabby is our HUM Learning Specialist. She graduated from New York University in 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in Secondary English Education and minored in Childhood and Adolescent Mental Health Studies. Gabby was inspired by her high school English teacher to pursue a career in education and worked as a student teacher at Workshop Middle School last year. She believes in taking a strengths-based approach to education and hopes to instill confidence in students and their ability to learn.

In her free time, Gabby loves cheering on her favorite hockey team (let’s go Rangers!), listening to Taylor Swift music, and discovering new bookstores and cafes in the city. Gabby has also recently taken up journaling and crafting, and hopes to spend more time focusing on her creative side.

Benny Guzman

Learning Specialist

Benny is our Learning Specialist. He is a Marine Corps veteran with a dedicated background in education. He brings a unique blend of military discipline, adaptability, and a nurturing spirit to support students. Outside of work, Benny’s love for anime and family values fuels his creative side, adding a vibrant and imaginative touch to his approach in both professional and personal pursuits.

Keagoe Stith

Studio

Keagoe is our dynamic Studio manager.  Keagoe graduated from Cooper Union for the Advancement for Science and Art, and he has worked in Art Education for more than 10 years.  He’s developed experience in diverse fields including animation, film, illustration, music production, photography, print making, and sculpture.  His work has been featured in “The Chi” and “The Anacostia Museum”. 

When you see Keagoe, you can be sure he’ll be smiling or laughing.  He focuses on positivity because Keagoe believes we can have a powerful impact on everyone around us.  As Uncle Ben said, “With great power comes great responsibility.”

Hayley Guy

Genius

A transplant from the Sunshine State, she has taught English as a volunteer for the Peace Corps and Social Studies to 6th graders in Bushwick. Hayley has an MA in Urban and Regional Planning and has jumped into the role of Genius Teacher. Her expertise in project management will help Workshop students fine-tune executive function skills to help them unlock their talents and explore their passions.