Faculty & Staff
School Leadership
Daneen Keaton began her career as an educator as a high school student when she tutored at her elementary school. She received a degree in Secondary Mathematics education at The University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill where she taught on Saturdays and during the summers. After working as a consultant with Partners in School Innovation based in San Francisco, CA, Daneen taught math and was an Assistant Principal in San Francisco and Oakland schools. She completed a year as a Resident Principal through New Leaders for New School before becoming the Principal of The Capitol Hill campus of Cesar Chavez Public Charter School. Daneen is inspired by the challenge of figuring out how to ensure that every scholar who walks through the doors of Capitol Hill receives an appropriate and rigorous education that will prepare for them for success in college and life.
William Spears is Vice-principal of Scholars Affairs of the Capitol Hill Campus, where he previously served as the school’s Dean of Students. He works to ensure that the school achieves an optimum learning environment inside and outside of the classroom, and that students receive the supports and services they need to succeed. He has a BS in criminal justice from Grambling State University and is pursuing a master’s degree in juvenile psychology at Bowie State University.
Faculty & Staff
Maimuna Ahmad graduated from Mount Holyoke College, in South Hadley, Massachusetts, with a B.A. in International Relations and Politics. She was born in Washington D.C. and grew up in Maryland and Virginia. She loves to travel and has lived in Bangladesh and the United Kingdom. She is a Teach for America corps member and is in her second year teaching Algebra I at Chavez.
Norman Allen is in his fifth year at Cesar Chavez, where he is Instructional Lead Teacher for English. In addition to his work in the classroom, he is a professional writer who has won the Helen Hayes Award for playwriting and two regional Emmy Awards for his work with PBS. He provides regular commentary for WAMU-FM, and has written for the Washington Post, Smithsonian Magazine, and other major publications. He is a proud graduate of St. John’s College in Annapolis.
Steve Angelini teaches English III and AP English Literature. Going into his second year at Chavez, Mr. Angelini has lived and taught in DC for five years. He went to college at Cornell University and graduate school at American University. In his free time, he enjoys cooking, reading, and riding his bike.
David Chachere is a native of Silver Spring, Maryland. He attended Amherst College in Massachusetts where he studied Mathematics and Black Studies. While in college, he discovered his passion for teaching while tutoring students at local high schools. This is his second year teaching at Cesar Chavez, but prior to teaching here he worked at other high schools in the DC Metro area. In addition to teaching, his other passions include DJing, drawing, and playing dominoes.
Keith Craig is an accomplished teacher and artist who possesses an instrument of great power, fullness, and beautiful color with ringing top notes. Mr. Craig has performed numerous operas, recitals, and oratorio soloist roles throughout the United States, Europe and Africa. He has taught at Cesar Chavez Public Charter School for Public Policy Capitol Hill Campus for two years.
Will Eden spent most of his early years in Annapolis, Maryland before deciding to venture out of state for college, attending the University of Virginia. At the University of Virginia Mr. Eden studied history, traveled abroad, and was heavily involved in extra-curricular activities, such as student government and track & field. Following his time at Virginia, Mr. Eden came to the District to pursue a career as an English teacher and was fortunate enough to become a member of the Chavez team.
Iris Ferrufino is a Special Education teacher at the Capitol Hill Campus. She earned her M.Ed. in Special Education and Certificate in Students with Disabilities who Access the General Curriculum from George Mason University. She earned her B.A in Sociology and Certificate in Latin American Studies from the University of Maryland, College Park. Ms. Ferrufino is an alumna of Teach for America and has been teaching at the Capitol Hill Campus for three years. She offers special education services in 9th grade English, Earth Science, and 10th grade Biology.
Alexandra Fuentes was born in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico and graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a BS in biological science and an honors B.S. in economics. She went on to earn her teaching certificate from Harvard University. She has coordinated education workshops for high school refugee students and worked with preschool children in the AmeriCorps Jumpstart program. These experiences further confirmed her resolve to pursue teaching. In her science classes, students not only learn the content, they learn to think like scientists.
Jessica George was born in North Andover, Massachusetts. She attended Georgetown University and for the past two years has taught US history and world geography to 7th, 9th, and 10th graders in Hartford, Connecticut. Ms. George will be teaching 9th and 10th grade World History this year at Capitol Hill. In her free time, Ms. George likes to cook, read, play with her cat Darcy, and explore the city.
Stephen Gramsch teaches the AP chemistry class at the Capitol Hill Campus, having started at the Florida Avenue campus in 2000, and served as the science department chair from 20010-2006. He received his bachelor’s degree from Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois, and holds a MS from the University of Washington and a PhD from the University of Chicago. In addition to teaching the AP chemistry course, Dr. Gramsch’s pursues his own research program in high pressure chemistry and mineralogy at the Geophysical Laboratory, a department of the Carnegie Institution of Washington.
Ben Hartwell teaches special education English and math. He hails from Portland, Maine. He earned his Bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University with a double major in Economics and Philosophy. Mr. Hartwell is an avid outdoorsman: he enjoys hiking and camping and holds a certification in emergency wilderness medicine. In his spare time, he is a voracious reader and particularly enjoys 20th century American literature. He is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Special Education at George Mason University.
Ayo Heinegg teaches senior thesis, U.S. Government and D.C. History to seniors. The 2010-11 school year will be her 5th year of teaching and her 4th year at Chavez. Teaching is her second career; prior to teaching she worked in a peasant cooperative in rural Mexico for 2 years, as an evaluator of Mexican cooperatives for 2 years, and as an international development researcher for about 10 years. Ayo is passionate about public policy issues. She enjoys designing relevant, interactive projects; connecting students with community resources and organizations; and providing students with real-world opportunities to impact their communities. She speaks fluent Spanish and has an infant son.
Bobby Koeth III will be entering his fourth year at the Capitol Hill campus As the Public Health and Filmmaking teacher, will be entering his fourth year at the Capitol Hill campus. Originally from New York, Mr. Koeth attended Skidmore College. Before coming to Chavez, he spent three years working at the Close Up Foundation, which specializes in civic and experiential education. Mr. Koeth has worked on various political campaigns on the local and state level. In 2006, Bobby started FBN Films, a film company that specializes in short films. The last feature length project he worked was a film called Ballou, which chronicles a year within Ballou high school’s award winning marching band. He can be reached at robert.koeth@chavezschools.org.
Katherine Kuzner-Romero is passionate about learning and teaching language. While earning a Master’s degree in Spanish Literature and Culture at Georgetown University, she taught several Spanish Language and Literature courses and developed a love for teaching Spanish. She was also fortunate to study both Modern Standard Arabic and Italian was completing her graduate studies. Her primary interests in the literary field are Contemporary Latin American and Early Modern. When Ms. Kuzner Romero is not found sharing her love of Spanish at César Chavez, she shares her love of hatha yoga around dc.
Jose Miguel Lopez is currently one of the school social workers at Chavez Capitol Hill. He received a BA in Psychology from Puerto Rico State University in 2002. Upon graduation he received the highest honor in his class. He started to work as an assistant social worker in the juvenile detention centers around the Puerto Rico. It was a great experience because he really liked to work with teenagers and learned a lot from the kids. He earned a Masters Degree in Social Work at Catholic University in Puerto Rico in 2007.
Andrea May-Bagwell is currently the Special Education Director at Cesar Chavez Capitol Hill Campus. She was displaced to the Washington DC Metropolitan Area from New Orleans, Louisiana in August 2005 due to Hurricane Katrina. She attended Southern University at New Orleans and has attained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History (2002) and another in Psychology (2001). In 2003, she attended Southern University where she received a Master of Public Administration with an emphasis in Public Policy in 2005. Since then she has attained a Master of Science in Psychology from Walden University. Her most recent accomplishment includes completing course work for a Doctorate in Psychology. Her philosophy on education and life is “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Giving back is the key to reception.
Gillian Moise has been personally and professionally active in youth, education and community advocacy since her arrival in Washington, DC from her hometown of Brooklyn, NY. Prior to becoming the Public Policy Coordinator at Caesar Chavez, Ms. Moise was the Dean of Student Programs at a DC Public Charter School, where she forged a connection between students and community through after school enrichment and tutoring programs staffed by volunteers and local residents. Being avid swimmer, her commitment to working with young people started with her experience as a lifeguard and swim coach in New York City. Gillian graduated from St. Johns University in 2005 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. She is currently completing her Master’s Degree in Public Policy at George Washington University.
Robyn Nolan grew up in South Florida and received an undergraduate degree from the University of Florida and a law degree from Nova Southeastern University. Ms. Nolan has spent the majority of her professional career dedicated to social justice issues. She is committed to educating our students so that they can change the world!
Caitlin Reilly enters her third year of teaching at Chavez. She is from Vienna, Virginia and studied Accounting and Spanish at the University of Virginia. She also holds her Masters in Teaching from American University. This year, she will be teaching Spanish II and Advanced Spanish Literature. One of Ms. Reilly’s favorite things about teaching at Chavez is also getting to coach the Debate Team.
Cary Sabados teaches Math at the Capitol Hill Campus. Before coming to Chavez, he taught mathematics at John Philip Sousa Middle School in Washington, DC. Mr. Sabados holds a BA in Literature and Mathematics from Claremont McKenna College and an MAT from American University. Infinity is one of his many professional interests."
Jennifer Sonkin is the director of the Visual Art Department at the Capitol Hill Campus. Ms. Sonkin has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from The Art Institute of Chicago with a focus in photography and fiber. Ms. Sonkin has worked in art education for the last ten years. Prior to joining Chavez, she was an artist in residence at The School for Arts in Learning overseeing all aspects of the art education program. She has experience teaching art with Washington Very Special Arts in the Articulate job-training program for high school teenagers with special needs. In addition, Ms. Sonkin has spent several summers working with physically challenged children during an annual one-week summer program in Mississippi. While in Mississippi, Ms. Sonkin was the director of the Children’s program for Stewpot, a non-profit organization for kids who are underserved in Jackson. Jennifer has also taught costume and set design with the Mississippi Ballet and The Mississippi museum of Art. Most recently, Ms. Sonkin has earned her Master’s of Art in Art Education from The Maryland Institute College of Art.