6TH GRADE ELA

She first started teaching at The Learning Community in 2009 as a student teacher and spent 6 years as a 4th grade teacher before joining the Middle Grades Team. Emily received her Master's in Teaching from Brown University after graduating from The College of William in Mary in Virginia, where she grew up. She was a recipient of the Brown Urban Education Fellowship in 2008. She has worked as a mentor teacher with Brown University and as a consultant with The Teaching Studio. Emily is passionate about providing the very best education to all students and believes in education as the tool to break down barriers and help our society tackle issues of equity. She believes in empowering students to use their voice to make positive change in the world. Emily lives in Providence with her partner, her two young children, and her crazy dog.

6TH GRADE SCIENCE

Domenique graduated from the University of Rhode Island in 2015 with a BA in Elementary Education and a BA in Psychology. She has worked at The Learning Community Charter School since 2015, first instructing fifth and sixth graders in science and now only instructs sixth grade. She is first generation American, the daughter of Italian and Cape Verdean immigrants. She spends her free time with family, practicing her photography skills and being with her two dogs, Rigel and Freddie. She is also going back to school to receive her Middle School Science Certification.

6TH GRADE MATH

Manny graduated from Northeastern University with his Bachelors in Psychology. He has spent over 10 years working in education. He spent the last 4 years working as a full-time Middle School Math Teacher in Providence Public Schools. He has a close relationship and a deep connection with the youth in this community. “Being raised in similar environments to the population we serve allows me to utilize a relational approach as a role model to help children make good decisions for their futures.”

6TH & 7TH GRADE SOCIAL STUDIES

Grace moved to Providence in 2013 to pursue a double major in History and American Studies and a minor in Black Studies from Providence College. She then attained her Master of Science in History from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, United Kingdom in 2021 where she researched how RI schools teach the states history in the slave trade. In 2023, she graduated from Brown University with her Master of Arts in Teaching Social Studies. She has worked in the service industry and non-profit sectors, and has loved building community in Rhode Island for the last 10 years. Her dad was a 6th Grade Social Studies teacher for almost 20 years! Although she grew up in New Hampshire, she proudly calls herself a Rhode Islander and cares deeply for this state and the diverse communities it attracts. She loves learning about local history, eating all the delicious food across the state, playing board games, and traveling to new countries!

7TH GRADE ELA

Kassidy graduated from New York University in 2018 with BS in English Education. At NYU, she also studied global/urban education and American Sign Language. She has traveled abroad to London, England and Accra, Ghana where she was able to learn about education systems outside of the US. In 2019, Kassidy completed a year of volunteer service as an AmeriCorps Education Fellow at The Learning Community, where she fell in love with the students and staff. At the end of that year, she was thrilled to be hired as a reading teacher! Kassidy is always eager to learn new things and loves learning Spanish from her students at LCCS! Outside of work, Kassidy loves ballroom dancing, hiking, and swimming with her dog, Angel, and working backstage in theatrical productions.

7TH GRADE SCIENCE

Luz Elena earned her B.A in Chemistry from Emmanuel College in 2022. During her time there, she collaborated on a research project for the Department of Chemistry and Physics’ forensic science concentration. This experience sparked her interest in science communication, and she is now committed to encouraging young Latinas who want to pursue careers in science. She believes that a well-rounded education is key to achieving this goal. Luz grew up in Central Falls and Pawtucket, Rhode Island and is the daughter of immigrants from Barranquilla, Colombia. She is a Learning Community alum from the class of 2014. In her free time, Luz enjoys reading, painting, and spending time with her family.

7TH GRADE MATH

Steve has a bachelor's degree from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota in Elementary Education with a focus on Middle Grades Math. This is Steve’s 12th year working at the school. He has taught many different grade levels and subject areas as a day-to-day guest teacher and a long-term substitute at the school. He loves being an educator because of the relationships he builds with the students he works with each day. He’s married with 2 children. He loves spending time with his family and also playing, watching, and talking about sports.

7TH & 8TH GRADE SOCIAL STUDIES

Originally from Maine, Izzy holds a B.A. in American Studies and Cinema & Media Studies from Wellesley College, and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Brown University. For her Master's Degree she completed a residency in Secondary Social Studies at Blackstone Academy Charter School in Pawtucket, where she also tutored English and taught Summer School Humanities. Inside and outside of the classroom, she is a passionate advocate on behalf of young people, especially girls and women, and hopes her work as a social studies teacher will empower her students to take up social justice initiatives. Outside of school, Izzy enjoys watching classic films, collaging, vintage shopping, and listening to podcasts. She lives in Providence with her two black cats, Fritz, and Fellini.

8TH GRADE ELA

Leon has wanted to teach English ever since he was a child. He was born in Baltimore, Maryland and moved to Rhode Island to grow up with his cousins. He is a graduate of Salve Regina University with a BA’ in English Communications and is graduating with his master's degree in Urban Education from Providence College this fall. In addition to bartending and waiting tables, he has been a substitute teacher in the Warwick Public Schools District for the last four years and is excited to be a part of the LC team. He is also a sports nut and is an extremely passionate Baltimore Ravens and Orioles fan. He loves to talk, and his door will always be open, so please feel free to come introduce yourself!

8TH GRADE SCIENCE

Sharon graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1981 with her B.S. in geology and environmental studies, and then graduated with her Ph.D. in geochemistry from the University of Michigan in 1998. She previously worked as an environmental geologist cleaning up Superfund sites with the U.S. EPA and has taught science and math to 4th-10th grade students in public and private schools across the Boston area. She enjoys reading, playing music, knitting, hiking, and camping, especially when it includes her 4 kids and husband. 

8TH GRADE MATH

Jerome was born and raised in Providence, RI. He is a proud alum of Hope High School (Providence, RI.) and attended Rhode Island College, where he majored in English and Political Science. While at RIC, Jerome played rugby for a club team and led three student clubs. Jerome treasured his time in college and viewed it as an impetus for social equity. Given this realization, Jerome decided to dedicate his professional life to communities of color. When not working as a teacher, Jerome hangs out with son, Ali, planning a wedding with his fiancé, and beginning his first year at the Learning Community. A busy year to say the least but it’s a challenge he welcomes.

SPECIAL EDUCATION, 6

Erin is a certified reading specialist and general educator. Erin has almost two decades of teaching experience, with over 10 years here at the Learning Community. She lives in Attleboro with her husband, two sons and dogs.

SPECIAL EDUCATION, 7

Emilie graduated from Providence College in 2012 with a Bachelor's degree in Elementary and Special Education and again in 2016 with a Master's degree is Special Education. Emilie strongly believes that all students can learn and be successful in school, especially when they have the right supports! She lives in East Providence with her husband, Mark and her daughter, Averie. Emilie is a huge fan of Disney World and enjoys spending time with her family by the water!

SPECIAL EDUCATION, 8

Prior to teaching at The LC Lauren spent two years teaching in the Dominican Republic. It was there that she became fluent in Spanish, and she met her husband. She now lives in Warwick with her husband and two sons. She enjoys traveling and spending time with her family. Lauren works with children because “I know they all have the ability to learn and achieve as long as someone believes in them. I love being the one to believe in all of my students and watch them as they learn and grow.”