The Faculty of
New Hope Academy Middle School:

"Get to know the teachers"

Mr. Barry D. Cohen teaches core subjects for 7th grade, as well as Algebra 1. He earned a B.A. in English (Maryland, 1969) and an M.Ed. in mathematics (Shippensburg, 1986). Since 1969, he's taught grades 6-12 (including 4 years at Sandy Spring Friends School in Montgomery County), university (including Trinity University and Potomac College in D.C.), as well as continuing education for adults. Mr. Cohen taught overseas for 8 years in Liberia and 6 years in the former Soviet Union. For the past 13 summers he's been the instructor for a Johns Hopkins University gifted and talented middle school course entitled "Inductive and Deductive Reasoning."       Professional math journals have published 23 of Mr. Cohen's mathematical investigations with students.       "I see teaching as a calling. It's not just a job to me. It's something I've been given as a gift." His ability to explain things clearly, in simple terms, and in a logical fashion, is a special talent.

Mrs. Melaine Rude teaches Geography and Pre-algebra in addition to high school History. Mrs. Rude earned her bachelor's degree in history from Westmar College and her Master of Arts in Teaching (high school social studies) from Trinity University. She has been teaching since 1987.       "I like to make learning fun. Lecturing is kind of boring for students, even though I could talk about history all day long. I like to do more 'hands-on' work and involve the students more because that way they learn better. I like teaching government and history because I want to help prepare my students to lead our country in the future."       She travels, visits historical sites, participates in reenactments, and keeps learning. Her strength is that she loves her subject. "Unless you like what you're doing, students won't be interested. Social studies is something I'm truly passionate about, and I hope my enthusiasm and interest is transferred to my students."

Mr. Kevin Lichty teaches Literature to middle and high school students, as well as pre-algebra. His degree in English is from George Mason University, where his concentrations were in Creative Writing, African-American Studies, Philosophy, Film and Modern Literature.       "I think I generally tend to lean towards a more Socratic method for teaching. The more dialogue created, the more free expression of ideas within the classroom, the better. I am also a writer first (at least I like to pretend to be in my spare time) and so I try to impart the same kind of love for language that I have into my students."       When asked about the particular strengths he brings to teaching, he replies: "I would say that my biggest strength would be my intellectual curiosity. My mind is not narrowly focused. And this broad brush of interest, this absorption of ideas, concepts, histories and sciences really helps me to connect what it is that the students are reading with the world that they live in."

Mrs. Dolores Muhammad teaches Active Physics in addition to high school science subjects (Environmental Science, Biology, and Chemistry). Her past work experience includes handling tarantulas, scorpions, and snakes! (She worked as an intern at the H.B. Owens Science Center, as well as at NIH as a research assistant and with a nematologist at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center). After receiving her degree from Towson State University in 1987, she continued in her career in medical technology for 8 years, and has been teaching high school since 1995.       Mrs. Muhammad feels a sense of purpose in helping students grow and be better. "The children have what they need inside; it's my responsibility to bring it out, instead of trying to push information into them."       She connects well with students, who are then able to trust that she's sincere and understanding.

Mrs. Beverly Berndt teaches a middle school math course each year. Her Bachelor's (high honors) and Master's study was at Northeastern University in Boston.       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."

Mrs. Aisha L. Barnes teaches Math 8/7. She's been tutoring math since she was 13 years old, ranging from 1st grade math to calculus, including at Huntington Learning Center and C2 Learning Center. She received her bachelors in Mathematics from Carnegie Mellon University, and is currently working on her masters in Secondary Education from the University of Phoenix. She's from New York, is married, and just had her first child.       "I believe education is the key to life. As an educator, my goal is to share the knowledge I've acquired with my students in order for them to be successful. Although they may learn differently, all students are able to learn, and it's my duty to help them understand math to the best of my ability. It's also important for me to help them to want to gain more knowledge."       She has a particular ability to adapt her teaching style to the needs of the students, and loves to make learning fun.

Ms. Aisha Faison teaches a Math 8/7 class, Golf class, and assists with the 7th and 8th grades. Before finishing high school, this San Francisco native began coursework in math at UC Berkeley. After studying electrical engineering at Tuskegee and Howard Universities, she worked as a construction project engineer for 6 years. She managed construction of the Turkish Embassy and the US Justice Data Center, as well as renovations to the Australian Embassy (among others).       At age 5 her grandfather introduced her to golf, and she's been playing ever since. Recently she's taken up the study of photography and art. She says: "I believe that math strengthens the left side of the brain, golf strengthens the left and right, and art and photography strengthen the right. I tell my students that in order for us to be successful in our desires and harmonious in our lives, we must strengthen our whole brain everyday with our thoughts and actions. Remembering that, we must always visualize personal growth as if it is infinite."

Mrs. Marilyn Cohen teaches middle school math courses, 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.

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. She has a B.A. (Cello, Piano) and an M.A. (Music Education) from George Mason, and is working on her doctorate. She's taught in the U.S. and in her native S. Korea.       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 (but not in the middle school), 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. 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 middle school curricula outlines.
Go to the main New Hope Academy page.
Go to the main New Hope High School page.
Meet other faculty members: high school teachers, elementary school teachers, pre-school teachers.

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