Our Staff
Leadership & Operations
Meghann Fallon
Principal
JOINED 2022-2023: Meghann has been both a teacher and leader in New York City education for the past 19 years. Originally from Iowa, Meghann earned a BA in Philosophy from the University of Iowa and moved to New York City in 2006 to serve as a Teach for America corps member. She holds a Masters in Childhood Education and Special Education from Pace University and has experience in grades 3 - 8. Meghann has held many different roles in education but still finds her passion teaching in front of students in a a humanities classroom. This will be her third full year at Brooklyn Independent and she is excited to continue working closely with students and families as Principal!
Kevin Grijalva
Academic Dean
JOINED 2021-2022: Kevin has been involved in New York City education for the past 14 years. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Kevin earned his BA in English Literature from Boston University and his MA in Education from Relay Graduate School of Education University. His classroom teaching experience spans grades 2-8, as well as experience teaching adults in both graduate and professional programs. He also brings several years working in curriculum design to his work at BKI. He is excited to continue to strengthen coaching, curriculum, and data analysis in year 7!
Etta Waddell
Director of Operations
JOINED 2021-2022: Etta opens the line of communication between clients, customers, and businesses to get projects done. She specializes in communication, coordination, and is responsible for using progressive systems and applications, including accounting software, mass communication procedures and organizational apps. Etta is a powerful force in the workplace and uses her positive attitude and tireless energy to encourage others to work hard and succeed. She is inspired daily by her daughter. In her free time, Etta focuses on cooking, and spending time with family.
Micah Brown
Office Manager
JOINED 2025-2026: Micah is a Brooklyn resident born in the Bronx and raised between Harlem and rural North Carolina. They hold a B.A. in Sociology with an emphasis on socioeconomic and race-based health outcomes. Micah has worked in business and administrative operations within non-profits, higher education, and design firms. With an added 4 years of experience in providing 1:1 childcare services, they have grown passionate about shaping spaces for youth to flourish academically, mentally, and emotionally. Informed by their studies and observations within urban and rural public school systems, they believe that all children regardless of background, class or race deserve a holistic and quality educational environment. Micah will be assisting Etta in day-to-day school operations and supporting BKI tech needs, and is excited to be joining the BKI community! In their free time, Micah works as a portrait photographer focused on documenting LGBTQ individuals and is also an amateur baker.
Benny Guzman
7th & 8th Grade Learning Specialist
JOINED 2025-2026: Benny is joining our Learning Specialist Team and will be supporting kids in Reading, Writing and Math. Benny is a Marine Corps Veteran and has been in education for the last seven years. Benny brings a unique blend of military discipline, adaptability, and nurturing spirit to supporting students. After the Marine Corps, Benny found his way into education as a paraprofessional in the NYC DOE before joining The Workshop School as a Learning Specialist. Outside of work, Benny’s love for anime and family values fuels his creative side, adding a vibrant and imaginative touch to his approach in both professional and personal pursuits.
Patricia Mensa
Social Worker
JOINED 2023-2024: Patricia Mensa was born and partially raised in The Bronx, NY. She spent five years of her formative years in Ghana, West Africa split between Takoradi and Kumasi. She has always felt most happy and impactful in the helping profession, and knew she would pursue something in that field. She has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Union College, and a Master of Social Work degree from Fordham University. Patricia has worked in a variety of fields including: criminal justice, mental health and substance use; she has also worked with underrecognized folks and neurodivergent students. She has always known that she enjoys working with students but was unsure of how she could do so without being in a classroom. Her prior years working alongside marginalized folks confirmed the importance of mental health support and inspired her to transition to the education sector as a school counselor. In her free time, Patricia can be caught reading anything by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie or watching reality television shows. She has recently discovered a love of baking and enjoys experimenting with lemon squares. Lastly, she is a proud godparent of an adorable goldendoodle named Franklin, AKA Frankie!
Everton Laidley
Athletic Director
JOINED 2020-2021: Before joining BKI, Everton was a Math teacher at the middle school level for 5 years and is a resident of Bed-Stuy. Born and raised in Spanish Town Jamaica, Everton attended Ardenne High School in Kingston before moving to Connecticut to attend Wesleyan University. There, he earned a BA with a major in Biology, as well as specializing in classroom technology as a campus job. While at Achievement First in Connecticut and then Brooklyn, he taught 6th and 8th-grade Mathematics, as well as Regents Algebra I, driving exemplary proficiency growth every year. Everton was a member of the Achievement First Leadership Fellows program and also led the school's soccer program for 4 years. His wide range of passions has helped him play a variety of roles at BKI. Since being at BKI, he has taught math at all grade levels, been Dean of School Culture, helped develop the sports program and acted as technological support for the school. He recently earned a Masters Degree in Learning Technologies.
Jasmine Marrero
Executive Assistant & Admissions Coordinator
JOINED 2025-2026:
Jasmine Marrero was born in the Bronx and, as she puts it, raised bi-boroughly between the Bronx and Brooklyn before settling in Brooklyn permanently in 2016. She began her career intending to teach, but soon realized her true calling was in operations, where she could make a lasting impact by supporting students, families, and schools behind the scenes. She discovered her passion for this work at prior charter schools and has since built more than a decade of experience in operations, administration, and family engagement. Jasmine holds a BA in Psychology from Mercy University and a MA in Childhood Education from The City College of New York.
​
At BKI, Jasmine brings both expertise and warmth, providing high-level support to the Co-Heads of School and building connections with prospective families throughout the admissions process. Outside of work, she loves spending time with her husband and two children, finding calm in organizing and creating systems at home, and getting lost in a good psychological thriller.
Aviva Gibbs
Chef
JOINED 2025-2026: Aviva Gibbs is a classically trained chef with over 20 years of experience in the New York City food service industry. Upon graduation from the Institute of Culinary Education in NYC, Aviva honed her skills working at award-winning bakeries and restaurants in NYC and private schools throughout Manhattan. Aviva has a Masters in Food and Nutrition from NYU and loves to talk to students about eating healthy. Aviva is excited to have started the first in-house food program at BKI!
Teachers
Kevin McKeown
8th Grade Science
JOINED 2021-2022: Kevin has worked in education for the past 9 years, and is a resident of Astoria, Queens. Kevin joined BKI in the Fall of 2021 as the Latin teacher, and joined the Science Department in the Fall of 2022. Kevin earned their B.A. in Classical Studies from Wesleyan University, where they were the recipient of the Ingraham Prize for Excellence in Ancient Greek, and their M.A. in Theological History from Union Theological Seminary in New York City, where they were the recipient of the Wyn Wright Prize for Biblical Languages. Kevin utilizes their background in languages, history, and theology to teach science as a subject of exploring and understanding the unknown, and as a tool for challenging antiquated narratives concerning knowledge. Kevin's classroom is a laboratory where students are taught to hone their skills of observation, critical thinking, and deduction—a place where students are encouraged to discover their own voices and talents, and how they can uniquely contribute to their communities and the world at large.
Rivka Rappoport
8th Grade Humanities
JOINED 2024-2025: Rivka has taught reading, writing, and history classes to students in grades 5 through 8 for the last 9 years. Born in Teaneck, New Jersey, Rivka earned her BA in Film Studies at Columbia University in 2015 before pursuing her Master’s from the Relay Graduate School of Education. Working at Achievement First in Brooklyn, she served as a teacher and learning specialist, curriculum fellow, instructional coach, grade level chair and Associate Dean of Writing. Last year, she moved to Madrid, Spain, to teach English to high schoolers and improve her own Spanish language skills. She is passionate about supporting all students in developing strong critical thinking and analysis skills, and extremely excited to work with the students and families at BKI!
Emily Specht
8th Grade Math
JOINED 2023-2024: Emily has spent the past 9 years teaching math in Brooklyn. Originally from Long Island, Emily earned her undergraduate degree at Vanderbilt University, and pursued her Master’s in Education from Relay Graduate School of Education. She is passionate about providing equitable opportunities for all students within the classroom and cultivating a genuine and open love for math.
Gisselle Taylor
7th Grade Science
JOINED 2023-2024: Gisselle has worked in education for the past 5 years, and is a resident of Brooklyn, New York. Gisselle earned her B.A. in Environmental Studies from the State University of New York at Buffalo and her M.A. in Sustainability Studies from Hofstra University. Gisselle received the Shirley Chisholm Freedom Fighter Award for Excellence in Teaching and became the 6th Grade Level Leader in her second year of teaching. This year, Gisselle will teach 7th grade science. Gisselle’s classroom is a safe space where students may thrive while learning, and are encouraged to approach unfamiliar topics with an open-mind as they continue to discover and unlock the world around them. Gisselle’s goals as a teacher are to empower all students to feel confident in their innate ability to actualize their dreams and to explore new and challenging topics with strong collaborative skills.
Terra Vetter
7th Grade Humanities
JOINED 2025-2026: Terra is excited to be joining the team at BKI. She’s spent over ten years in education, including a decade teaching high school history at The Brooklyn Latin School. For the past two years, she stepped away from the classroom to write humanities curriculum for a national education company, work that deepened her love for thoughtful, engaging instruction. Now, she’s beyond happy to be returning to the classroom, where she feels most at home. Terra holds a Master’s degree in Education and one in American History from Pace University. She lives in Brooklyn and is passionate about helping students connect with the humanities in meaningful ways.
Jaida Sanchez
7th Grade Math
JOINED 2024-2025: Jaida holds a B.A. in Spanish from Gettysburg College and a M.S.ED of Childhood Education from Brooklyn College. Jaida has taught in a variety of settings from adult GED education to elementary and middle school classrooms in Merida, Mexico. She can confidently say that middle school math is her absolute favorite. Jaida believes that everybody is a math person. She fosters student confidence through hands-on and inquiry based learning.
Rebecca Thompson
6th Grade Science
JOINED 2025-2026: Rebecca has worked in education for the last 4 years. Originally from Boulder, CO, she got her BA in Comparative Human Development from the University of Chicago and her MS in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus on science education from Western Governors University. She previously worked at a special education inclusion school, where she created and led the Health and Life Skills program, developing a progressive, science-based curriculum for all grades K-12 and the adult transition program. Passionate about the intersection of science and social justice, she sees science as a powerful tool for creating meaningful social change. In her classroom, Rebecca prioritizes student voice and hands-on learning opportunities, encouraging students to channel their innate curiosity into rigorous and engaging scientific inquiry.
Hayley Guy
6th Grade Humanities
JOINED 2025-2026: Hayley Guy was born and grew up in Boca Raton, Florida. She attended Florida State University where she received a bachelor of arts in Creative Writing and a Master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning. Hayley got her second master's degree in Education From Relay Graduate School. She also participated in the final cohort of Master’s international in the Peace Corps where she taught English in the Republic of Moldova for 2 years. When she wasn’t teaching in a small village called Sadaclia, she learned Romanian and spent time working with a local youth organization writing grants.Teaching and working with children has almost always been a part of her professional life. From online English tutoring, being a PE coach in rural Florida, and running an elementary school program to teach kids how to ride bikes, Hayley has always loved getting to work with students. After a brief stint away from Education in Denver, CO with Social Security, she moved to NYC in 2022 where she returned to teaching middle school. Outside of work, Hayley is currently in her ~sports era~. She is a season ticket holder for the NY Liberty. Her other teams are any Detroit sports team, the Miami Dolphins, and West Ham United. She loves to run, cook, read, and sew. As a former competitive cyclist you can also catch her riding her bike around town.
Kadidiatou Wague
6th Grade Math
JOINED 2022-2023: Kadidiatou’s love for math began the day she was born. Numbers served as the vehicle that allowed her to break barriers for her family. She attended Cornell Univeristy where she studied Applied Economics and Management and has spent the last 10 years teaching math. Prior to joining BKI, she taught 6th and 8th grade Math. She received her Master's from Relay Graduate School of Education. This year, Kadidiatou is committed to pouring her love for math into her students in a way that develops them academically, emotionally, and socially.