LEADERSHIP
Carlyle Adams
Carlyle Adams has been with the Newark Opportunity Youth Network since 2015. As a Program Manager, Adams has goals to support young people, identify or create habits that support their growth and development, expose young people to new opportunities, and support young people with creating and obtaining their social-emotional, personal, academic and post-secondary goals.
Wendy Melendez
Rosalina "Wendy" Melendez is the Division Director of La Casa de Don Pedro, Inc., Personal Development Division since 1998. Her previous appointments include working as the Assistant Program Director and Educational Coordinator at La Casa de Don Pedro, Inc. Hispanic Women’s Resource Center during 1992-1997. Under her stewardship, she is responsible for overseeing program delivery and development, fund development, budget management, coordinating and implementing activities for adult educational and immigration program services, and for creating collaborations and partnerships. Melendez is an active member of the Essex County Workforce Development Board, Friends of the Hispanic Research and Information Center for the Newark Public Library and serves as Treasurer of the New Jersey Association of Lifelong Learning. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Arts from Rutgers University in 1992, with a concentration in Sociology and Puerto Rican Studies.
Shabani Stewart
Shabani Stewart is the Managing Director of Instruction at the Newark Opportunity Youth Network (OYN). As a former teacher and district instructional leader, Shabani joined LEAD to develop and lead several initiatives around curriculum and instruction, program development and teacher quality.
Shabani works with the instructional leadership team to plan, organize, coordinate and evaluate the curriculum and instruction program to achieve the highest quality and efficiency consistent with OYN’s resources and goals. Through codifying an asset-based approach to learning, both teachers and students are supported daily by leveraging their strengths and valuing their unique experiences they bring to the classroom.
Shabani continues to be committed to building capacity, developing opportunities and removing any barriers that prevent the highest quality educational programs, services and instruction for all students.
Daniel Cruz
Daniel Cruz the Supervisor of Instruction at LEAD Charter School. Daniel is a Paterson native whose childhood led him to the field of education. Daniel has been in education for the last 16 years as an elementary school teacher, community college math teacher, school administrator and head of his own consulting firm. When Daniel is not working, he spends most of his time with his wife and children.
Darrell Price
Darrell Price has been with YouthBuild Newark since its inception in 2004, and was a part of the team that opened LEAD Charter School. He now serves as the Site Coach for the 201 Bergen campus and focuses on ensuring LEAD follows the model that connects students to success. Darrell earned a Bachelor’s degree from Purdue University in Industrial/Organizational Psychology and is currently working on his M.B.A. with a focus on non-profit management at Rutgers University.