The Faculty of
New Hope Academy Elementary School:

"Get to know the teachers"

Mrs. Beverly Berndt teaches core subjects for sixth grade. Her Bachelor's (high honors) and Master's study was at Northeastern University in Boston. She also completed an intensive 1-yr course in Montessori early elementary education in California.       Since 1996 she and her husband have developed programs in The Gambia, West Africa: educational forums, Christian-Muslim dialogue, service-based character education, and scholarship programs; some New Hope families have sponsored Gambia students who otherwise would not have been able to continue their education past elementary school.       She advises New Hope's Student Government and it's Service For Peace Club which mentors younger students weekly at a NE DC Boys & Girls Club. She has been a faculty representative on the school board since 1999.       She loves New Hope Academy and has tried to have as many of their 4 children as possible in the school in the years she has taught here (since 1990). "To me this is the greatest testimony to our school," she said, "that all the teachers want to have their own children here, because we know the quality of education they receive."

Mr. Mitchell Weintraub teaches core subjects for fifth grade. He grew up in a multi-cultural apartment complex in New York City. Raised to be self-reliant, self-sufficient, and to care for others, he worked in a variety of jobs before finding his true calling: working with children. He began his educational career as a paraprofessional in South Ozone Park, Queens, where for eight years he worked with students of all ages in large and small groups.       Mr. Weintraub's degree is from SUNY New Paltz, in education. For his first regular classroom teaching job, he decided to work in an inner-city setting, and taught third and fifth grade in the South Bronx. It was a very challenging and demanding yet rewarding experience.       His philosophy is: "If you give a man a fish he eats for a day, but teach a man to fish and he'll eat for a lifetime."

Mrs. Susan Townsend-Gray teaches core subjects for our fourth grade students. She earned her Degree from Keene State College in New Hampshire in 1985. When not busy teaching fourth grade, she serves as Sunday School superintendent for her church, helps her husband with performances at the Holton-Arms School, and taxis her three children to various events. During the summer she was in charge of 200 campers aged 3-7 in her capacity as assistant director of "Creative Summer."       Mrs. Townsend-Gray attributes her oldest son's admission to the selective Landon School in Bethesda in large part to the excellent education he received here at New Hope Academy.

Ms. Tamara Reynolds teaches core subjects for our third grade students. She received her Bachelors of Arts Degree in English/Journalism from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA. She also has a Masters in Educational Management from Strayer University. She has previously taught grades 5-9, having taught in Washington, DC; Norfolk, VA; and Suitland, MD.       When not teaching, Ms. Reynolds enjoys spending time with friends and family. She loves rollerblading, ice skating, traveling, tutoring, dancing, reading, writing, and discovering new ways to make a difference in the lives of students today.       Her philosophy of teaching is that "all students can learn if given a chance."

Ms. Karen Chaney teaches core subjects for our second grade students. She received her Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Salisbury University. Karen has spent the last four summers working with first and second graders at a camp in Silver Spring, Maryland. She enjoys reading, running, swing dancing, and playing board games in her spare time.       Ms. Chaney's philosophy of teaching is: "All children have the ability to learn and succeed. It is the teachers job to help them discover this ability."

Ms. Kelly Green teaches core subjects for first grade. She has a BA from the University of Pittsburgh in Psychology, and Certification in Early Childhood Education. She plans to pursue a Masters in Early Childhood Education in the near future.       Ms. Green has worked with young children in various settings, including daycare, summer camps, child development centers (at the University of Pittsburgh), and teaching at The Children's School of Carnegie Mellon and Propel Charter School in Homestead, PA. She's worked with children and their families of all races, religions, and socio-economic backgrounds.       She tries to be a compassionate teacher who provides children with a nurturing environment in which meaningful learning experiences will keep them engaged and eager to learn. The African sentiment popularized as the proverb 'it takes a village to raise a child' is one with which she strongly agrees. "We are all responsible for what children learn at this age, because children learn from everything they see and hear, whether it's in the school environment or at home."

Mrs. Karen Wilkening is our kindergarten teacher, assisted by Mrs. Roushan Singh. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1982 in Education. While completing her Master's degree, she participated in a unique seminar on the world's religions with 120 international students: a worldwide tour examining the role of religion and culture.       She taught 5th grade at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School in Takoma Park and has taught at New Hope Academy since 1992.       She was involved in the founding of New Hope Academy before teaching here, and has been on the School Board since 1995. Both her children received an excellent education here, and as teenagers now consistently score in the top 3% on national standardized tests.       "I want each child to discover self-confidence, and an enthusiasm for learning." Games and participatory activities make their first academic year exciting and fun. "We read." The children end up consistently reading on at least a first grade level. "We are a loving and supportive classroom family."

Ms. Eun Jung Kim teaches Korean language at all levels and for all grades. She's from Seoul, South Korea, where she studied Japanese language and education as an undergraduate, and she holds a master's degree in Bilingual Special Education from the George Washington University. She has travelled all over the world and is fluent in Korean, English, and Japanese.       During her studies, she always asked herself how to help students enjoy studying and how to aid them in overcoming their obstacles in learning a new language. She found that bridging curriculum with real-life experiences boosts students' desire to learn. Various activities such as making their own books, role-playing, cooking, singing, and cultural events motivate students to learn a new language and culture.       "I strongly believe that the teacher's role is not only to deliver particular knowledge, but also to help students to find learning strategies for themselves. Once they are acquainted with various learning methods, they will exercise their own reason and become independent learners."

Mrs. Luz Hughes teaches Spanish language at all levels and for all grades. Her native language is Spanish; she was born and raised in the Dominican Republic, on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola (where Christopher Columbus landed in 1492). She has lived in the U.S. since 1983, and graduated from the University of the District of Columbia.       Mrs. Hughes always knew that one day she would become a teacher. Even playing as a child, she was always the teacher of the group. She's married with two children, both of whom dance - they're taking ballet, jazz, tap, and hip-hop. She likes to travel and dance too.       She has touched a lot of lives over the years, taking responsibility to mentor especially children that have been rejected. She loves to see them graduate and continue to college. She also enjoys it when her "children" become bilingual.

Mrs. Noriko Wright, our Computer / Information Technology teacher, is a native of Japan. After moving to the U.S. in 1983, she was one of relatively few people at that time skilled in both accounting and computing, and while an academic Bursar converted the financial and work-study offices from manual to computerized accounting. In 1997 she created the information technology program at New Hope Academy, designing the program and writing most of her own curriculum materials (which she hopes to publish). Her being largely self-taught has served her well in an ever-changing field, and she is in the process of adding exciting areas to the curriculum such as video editing and robotics.       "Computer skills are already expected as a prerequisite for most good jobs, and this will be more and more true in the future. Also, figuring out how to get the result you want on a computer is a great way to exercise the mind. My students learn by doing." Visit her on the web at www.NorikoWright.com.

Mrs. Angela Eisenbart teaches Art at all grade levels. Originally from Italy, where she studied commercial and graphic art at the Art College in Genoa, Italy, graduating with honors. She is a career artist and graphic designer with an impressive list of professional credentials from her decades of work in Milano, New York, and now Washington, D.C. But she always had a longing to express itself in the fine arts, and has now turned that passion to teaching. She exhibits a remarkable ability to draw out the talents of her students.       Her basic approach to teaching is that artistic ability is not just an innate talent but can be learned or improved just like other activities. She quotes Lily Yeh: "A seed, though small, is potent. It contains all the growth patterns and qualities of a plant, be it a small bush or a huge tree. I see that a seed is like an inspired idea. It has authenticity because it contains life in its small but potent form. Inspiration...is like our inner light; it guides us.... An artist's work is to realize those ideas so that they blossom, come to fruition."

Ms. Hae Young Lee teaches Music at all grade levels, and some Korean. Her B.A. (Cello, Piano) and M.A. (Music Education) are from George Mason, and she is working on her doctorate. She's taught in the U.S. and in her native S. Korea: music, Korean language, and all subjects (public school, 3rd & 4th grade).       In 1998 Ms. Lee co-founded and became principal of the Seoul Korean School in Fairfax, VA, held on Sundays and having grown to 105 students. In 2001, she was one of two selected from the D.C. area for the Overseas Korean Language Teachers Training Program sponsored by the Korean government and the Korean Language Society.       Ms. Lee is also director of children's ministry at Segeroh Presbyterian Church in Rockville. On a 2006 mission trip to Guatemala, she taught over 200 children daily in songs, crafts, and rhythmic movement. She works summers as a volunteer for the Fairfax County Aging Department answering calls for the Korean Senior Information Phone Line.       "Teaching is my favorite thing to do in life. I believe every child is God's unique creation growing to full potential through the abundant experiences and learning resources available from school, home, and other surroundings."

Mr. Shaun A. Houston teaches Physical Education. He earned a degree in Criminal Justice from Xavier University. He has been teaching for 14 years, including 12 years in the classroom. He has also coached basketball, soccer, tennis, and baseball for a number of years.       Mr. Houston's favorite pastimes are golf and swimming. He has two loving children who keep him busy!

Mrs. Carol D.W. Crenshaw, RN, CM/DN teaches 6th grade math and high school health class, and is the school nurse. Her Nursing degree is from Howard University, and she is a member of two professional nursing organizations. She worked previously in Medical Surgical Nursing at George Washington University Hospital, and in Cardiac Nursing at Washington Hospital Center. She is also certified in Case Management/Nursing Delegation in Maryland, and is a licensed registered nurse in D.C. and Maryland.       Mrs. Crenshaw is energetic, enthusiatic, insightful, positive, encouraging, and strict. She takes education and healthcare very seriously, hoping to impart important and relevant information which will shape future generations and increase health literacy in our communities.       She's from Capitol Heights, and sees teaching in PG County as a way of giving back.

Mrs. Marilyn Cohen teaches one math course per year, but her main roles at the school are as education director and as school counsellor. Her Master's degree is in School Counselling (University of Maryland, 1971), and she has had many years experience counselling children of all ages, including internationally - 3 years in west Africa (Liberia), and 6 years in Moscow.       Mrs. Cohen published "Roots of sibling rivalry" and "Instilling respect in children" in Jones, F. & Jones, B. (1997) Raising Children of Peace, a book on parenting and families.       She says she likes to make her math class fun, hands-on, aiming for mastery of concepts. A significant moment is when students teach other students, or explain something in their own words; "that's when they really start to get it."       As school counsellor, she coordinates the student guidance teams, helping parents to deal with their children's issues as needed. Her personal strength is her ability to listen.

Mrs. S. Joy Morrow is the school's principal. (See the Principal's message). Her academic background in psychology and in social work informed her practical experience with group homes for delinquent teenagers as well as her extensive work with pre-schools. In 1990 she co-founded New Hope Academy with a group of like-minded parents and has served as principal since.       "When I'm working with a class of students I try to make sure no one falls through the cracks. My goal is to work with each child." Her personal approach finds especially satisfying those times when she can really connect with a student in a moment of discovery.       She wants to help to create "a school community transcending religious, cultural, and racial barriers, where families with shared common values can support each other to raise good children. This involves big challenges but also big opportunities."       Her straightforward style, especially with teenagers, helps them stay on track or get back on track. She's good at helping people see a vision of what's possible, and helping children see what they're capable of, moving in the direction of their dreams.

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The order of entries on this page is first by grade level and thereafter by subject taught, following (except the special case of math) the curriculum, the sequence of which corresponds roughly to diploma requirements.    --note from webmaster

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See the elementary school curricula outlines.
Go to the main New Hope Academy page.
Go to the main New Hope High School page.
Meet other faculty members: middle school teachers, high school teachers, pre-school teachers.

7009 Varnum Street Landover Hills, MD 20784 Phone: (301) 459-7311 Fax: (301) 459-2813 Click here to contact us by web form e-mail.