After teaching in middle school for three years, Mr. Waronker graduated with the first cohort of the NYC Leadership Academy. Upon his graduation, he assumed the principalship at Jordan L. Mott, Junior High School 22, in the South Bronx—one of the twelve most violent schools in New York City. Under Mr. Waronker’s leadership, the school completely turned around. He was featured on the front page of the NY Times, as well as on the Today Show, CNN, and numerous other media outlets. His work at the school garnered him two fellowships: a Cahn Fellowship at Columbia University’s Teachers College and a Presidential Fellowship at Harvard University. He has a MSc in School Administration from Touro College; an MEd from Harvard University; and is completing his Doctorate in Education, again, at Harvard University. His awards include the Humanitarian Lamplighter Award and the National Urban Alliance Educational Leadership Award.
Celenia Delgado - School Secretary cdelgado5@schools.nyc.gov
In addition to working with children and staff at TNAA, Ms. Kearns enjoys hiking in the Hudson Valley. She grew up in the Bronx and graduated from Manhattan College with a degree in Business Administration. She received an MBA from New York University and an MSc in Teaching from Fordham University. Ms. Kearns has worked in financial services for 28 years and for two of those years she lived in Zurich, Switzerland! She is a NYS Certified Teacher in General Education and Special Education.
Iman Elhalim – Speech Teacher While not working with children at TNAA, Ms. Elhalim enjoys reading and partaking in adventure sports such as indoor rock climbing, white-water rafting and parasailing—oh my! She graduated from Rutgers University-Newark with a dual degree in sociology and psychology, and received an MSc in Communication and Science Disorders from New York University. Ms. Elhalim lives in Bayonne, New Jersey and is a NYS Teacher Certified Speech-Language Pathologist.
