Our team
Message from the school director
Greetings BVMS family and community!
As we embark on a school year unlike any we have yet experienced, all of us at Brownsville Ascend Middle School are deeply committed to ensuring that this year is stronger than ever before. We are working to ensure that every scholar is connected to their teachers and community, that every scholar is challenged academically, and that every scholar is supported socially and emotionally.
BVMS, and the Ascend Network as a whole, has been working tirelessly this summer to design a remote and hybrid learning program that empowers, equips, and pushes all of our scholars. A few key components of our remote program are:
• Remote start: We are starting the school year in remote learning mode for all students. Full days (8:00am to 3:00pm) Monday-Thursday and half day (8:00am to 1pm) on Friday. All students will learn at home through at least November 24.
• One-to-one technology: All students in need of a laptop will be issued their own BVMS laptop. For families without reliable access to the internet, we will support you with accessing free services from local providers or hotspots.
• Exceptional, live instruction: Your child’s teachers will deliver live and online high-quality lessons. Your child will participate in these lessons alongside their peers, just as they would in a physical classroom.
• Consistent daily schedule: Students will follow a consistent daily schedule of classes and breaks, allowing you to plan ahead and establish routines.
BVMS is a community that is dedicated to excellence and equity. We know that the only way of ensuring we strive – each and every day – towards these twin mandates is through partnership with you, our families. This year, more than ever, family-and-school partnerships will be one of the defining factors of students’ success. We stand in gratitude for the work you have put in to make remote learning possible for your children, and we look forward to continuing to partner with you into this next school year and beyond.
In partnership,
Lauren Kinrich
Our leadership team
School Director
Lauren Kinrich
lauren.kinrich@ascendlearning.org
Assistant Principal of Operations
Amanda Cunniff
amanda.cunniff@ascendlearning.org
Assistant Principal, Humanities and Culture
Caitlin Davidson
caitlin.davidson@ascendlearning.org
Assistant Principal, Science, Math and Culture
Cora Neville
cora.neville@ascendlearning.org
Our culture & clinicians team
Culture Associate, Grades 5 and 6
Kwame Douglin
kwame.douglin@ascendlearning.org
Clinician, Grade 5 and 6
Calli Kaplan
calli.kaplan@ascendlearning.org
Culture Associate, Grades 7 and 8
Dashun Duran
dashun.duran@ascendlearning.org
Clinician, Grade 7 and 8
Nell Ross
Student Services Coordinator
Renee Adetimirin
Our operations team
Operations Associate
Chandanie Orgias
chandanie.orgias@ascendlearning.org
Operations Manager
Christine Padilla
christine.padilla@ascendlearning.org
Culture at Ascend
Our teaching staff
Grade 5
Ashley Grant - English
ashley.grant@ascendlearning.org
Carys Meyer - English
carys.meyer@ascendlearning.org
Prince Worrell - Math
prince.worrell@ascendlearning.org
Savannah Rowe - Math
santeria.rowe@ascendlearning.org
Kay Gardner - Science
kayhesha.philizaire@ascendlearning.org
Danya Shneyer - Science and Math
danya.shneyer@ascendlearning.org
Langston Jones - Social Studies
langston.jones@ascendlearning.org
Sean Strausbaugh - Social Studies and ELA
sean.strausbaugh@ascendlearning.org
Matts Michel - Special Education
Grade 6
Ania-Lisa Etienne - English
anialisa.etienne@ascendlearning.org
Portia Stanley - English
portia.stanley@ascendlearning.org
Natasha Richardson - Math
natasha.richardson@ascendlearning.org
Stephon Harris - Math
stephon.harris@ascendlearning.org
Rachael Sheridan - Science
rachael.sheridan@ascendlearning.org
Eric Abrecht - Science and Math
eric.abrecht@ascendlearning.org
Alicia Neville - Social Studies
alicia.neville@ascendlearning.org
Arturo Rojas - Social Studies and ELA
arturo.rojas@ascendlearning.org
Grade 7
Simone Gale - English
simone.gale@ascendlearning.org
Alicja Bronowicki - English
alicja.bronowicki@ascendlearning.org
Minnyonne Davis - Math
minnyone.davis@ascendlearning.org
Melissa Pierce - Math
melisa.pierce@ascendlearning.org
Santeria Rome - Science
santeria.rome@ascendlearning.org
Tameka Wilson - Science and Math
tameka.wilson@ascendlearning.org
Ranae Overstreet - Social Studies
ranae.overstreet@ascendlearning.org
John Miller - Social Studies and English
Grade 8
Michele McNelis - English
michele.mcnelis@ascendlearning.org
Nicole Turner - Math
nicole.turner@ascendlearning.org
Saman Marji - Math
saman.marji@ascendlearning.org
James Kelly - Science
james.kelly@ascendlearning.org
Zhou Biao Cai - Science and Math
zhuobiao.cai@ascendlearning.org
Ian Ulmer - Social Studies
Emily Benn - Social Studies and English
Specials team
Genciano Clotter - PE
genciano.clotter@ascendlearning.org
LaShauna Flowers - Dance
lashauna.flowers@ascendlearning.org
Irene Manoussos - Yoga/Mindfulness
irene.manoussos@ascendlearning.org
Ashlin Randolph - Art