Past SPARK Awards Winners

2025 Winners

Charisma Wright

Charisma Wright is a dedicated educator with nine years of experience who recently transitioned into the role of Assistant Principal at Bedford Stuyvesant New Beginnings Charter School (BSNBCS). Throughout her career, she has been a tireless advocate for students with disabilities, working both inside and outside the classroom to enhance educational outcomes for all learners. In her current role, she focuses on deepening teachers’ understanding of special education best practices and actively supports the implementation of accessible, evidence-based instructional strategies. Read our interviews with Charisma on how she tackles family engagement and student supports.

Angela Singh

Angela Singh is the Network Director of Multilingual Learners for Growing Up Green (GUG) Charter Schools. Angela has been a part of the GUG family since 2013, starting as a Kindergarten Associate Teacher and then transitioning to roles across all campuses, including ENL teacher K-8, 7th grade ELA teacher, Middle School Intervention Teacher, and ENL coordinator. In her current role, she oversees the multilingual learner intake process across all campuses, ensures compliance with essential record-keeping and state assessments, and supports MLL teachers and leaders to implement ENL programming. Learn more about Angela’s work supporting multilingual learners through bilingual literacy initiativesand language objectives.

2024 Winners

Gissel Burgos

Gissel is an ENL teacher and teacher leader at Family Life Academy Charter Middle School in the Bronx. She was born and raised in the Bronx, New York to immigrant parents from Colombia and the Dominican Republic. She has degrees in Childhood Education and T.E.S.O.L. and has been teaching and supporting ELL students for five years. In her S.P.A.R.K. nomination submission, Gissel was described as a “fierce advocate for ENL students” and a teacher leader who supports other staff by deepening their understanding of the challenges our ELL population face and ways to create nurturing and inclusive classrooms for all learners.” Take a look at Gissel’s blog series for insights into her work with MLLs/ELLs (Part 1 and Part 2).

Anyelis Taveras

Anyelis has held several positions in her time with Brilla College Prep Charter School in the Bronx and this year is the Behavioral Specialist. In her role, she builds relationships with individual students and families to create inclusive and targeted behavior supports, as well as supports staff in implementing proactive behavior supports, both for individual students as well as school-wide policies and practices. In her S.P.A.R.K. nomination submission, Anyelis is “the heart and soul of our educational community when it comes to building relationships that champion equity and inclusion. Whether it’s providing tailored resources, advocating for inclusive policies, or simply being a compassionate listener, they’re always there, fighting for the rights and dignity of every student.

2023 Winners

Dawn Campell

Dawn is a special education teacher at Bronx Community Charter School for the past 9 years and this year marks her first (and the school’s first) year in a 12:2 setting. She holds degrees from Lehman College and Bank Street and attributes her approach as an educator to being a mother of four children, individualizing and creating meaningful learning experiences for all young children. Her S.P.A.R.K. nomination submission relayed Dawn as “an inspiring role model for her students and colleagues…demonstrating a deep committed to social justice, advocating for and supporting students who are often marginalized” and working to “empower her students to think critically about issues of equity and justice.” Listen to podcast episode where we interview Dawn about how she fosters inclusive environments at her school.

Avery Hollander

Avery is the Dean of Multilingual Learning at East Harlem Scholars. Her experience spans multilingual learners of all ages, with a focus on instructional coaching and teacher training. She is committed to reimagining and building an educational landscape that is inclusive and meaningful for all learners. In her S.P.A.R.K. nomination submission, Avery was described as “an advocate for MLL students who works tirelessly to ensure that families are valued partners in their education…[is] valued by teachers, and is invaluable to the MLL program at her network.” Check out Avery’s blog post featuring some of her essential MLL/ELL practices.