Our mission
With the support of a nurturing and collaborative community, our students will engage in a stimulating and rigorous academic curriculum that celebrates the diversity of their languages, cultures, and learning styles. Teachers, administrators, parents, and other community members will work together to create lifelong learners and accountable citizens who rise to meet challenges and strive to give back to their communities.
Our vision
Lafayette academy’s vision is build a diverse, united, and nurturing community on the pillars of knowledge, experience, and good judgment. We will pursue academic challenges with a standard of excellence in order to prepare our students for their futures as lifelong learners and global leaders
Meet our Front Office
Mr. Zager
Our fearless leader! Always accessible, and always making a short story long.
Principal
Mrs. Fikaris
Mother to all and keeper of the numbers
Parent Coordinator
Mr. Mota
Supply room expert and master of attendance folders
Office Aide
Ms. Fazekas
Has years of special education leadership and experience inside and outside of the classroom. She is an avid sports and fitness enthusiast who will always lend a helping hand to anyone in the school community.
Assistant Principal
Ms. Elena
Ms. Elena is the payroll superhero who keeps things running smoothly behind the scenes.
School Secretary
Meet our Teachers
Ms. Camilo
Ms. Camilo is a Dominican-American lover of books, travel, avocados, coconut water, and dark chocolate with sea salt.
ELA
Mr. Mulligan
Mr. Mulligan enjoys playing and watching sports. He also loves teaching and spreading the value of exercise, sports, and a healthy lifestyle to his students.
Physical Education
Mme Leboeuf
"De la musique avant toute chose...Et tout le reste est littérature." P.V.
French Language Arts
Ms. McBreen
Ms. McBreen is a jack of all trades and master of making sure our testing schedules are always on point.
Art
Science
Ms. Nickerson
Ms. Nickerson has had an exciting and varied career and brings all her past experience to her exciting and enthusiastic teaching practice.
Dual Language Social Studies
Ms. Calogero
Ms. Calogero comes to us with years of experience and a passion for science, dedication to scientific investigation and real world experience and application.
Science
Ms. Soto
Ms. Soto shares her amazing social studies teaching, years of experience, and great taste in throwback music with the Lafayette community.
Social Studies
Mr. McGuinness
Mr. McGuinness is a Political Science and History junkie, who has prior experience working for City Council Member Mark Levine, and is here to help ensure that all students are on a level playing field.
Special Education
Ms. Lecce
Ms. Lecce is a beach lover and a huge skier during the winter. Loves to learn and explore new things. Has a big heart and smile!
Special Education
Mr. Lanvin
You can always count on this proud USC alumnus to bring a cheery disposition and love of math to the classroom.
Math
Mr. MacCulloch
Among the Lafayette Academy staff, Mr. Mac is unparalleled in his amazing jokes and innovative teaching style.
ELA
Mr. McKanstry
Jameel McKanstry is a dynamic music teacher who works with the school’s chorus and musical. Mr. McKanstry is entering his 4th year at Lafayette Academy and his 8th year teaching.
Music: all classes
Ms. Hecksher
Ms. Hecksher is a baking aficionado, lover of architecture, and avid reader who motivates her students to connect their learning from the classroom to the real world.
Special Education
Ms. Tietjen
Ms. Tietjen is an expert traveler who loves her adventures! She looks forward to making each and every day an adventure for our students to experience in with her!
Special Education
Ms. Turan
Ms. Turan loves math almost as much as she loves her students (which, to be clear, is a lot!)
Math
TBD
TBD
TBD
Meet our Guidance and Support Staff
Mr. West
Mr. West wears all the hats - dean of students, basketball coach, soccer coach, proud dad, and all around go-to guy.
Dean
Mr. Greenfield
Mr. Greenfield works closely with students to make sure that their social and emotional health and high school admissions are taken care of.
Guidance Counselor
Ms. Turk
Ms. Turk is a yoga and meditation enthusiast! Nothing starts the day off right like an ice cold shower to keep Ms. Turk's dynamic therapy sessions focused and attentive to the varying needs of her students.
Speech and language provider
Yael Barak
Yael is our RAPP coordinator who sees students for counseling and provides psychoeducational workshops on healthy relationships. RAPP is a program that supports and empowers young people to engage in healthy relationships and is part of a larger organization called the Urban Resource Institute. To hear more about RAPP contact her at ybarak@urinyc.org
RAPP Coordinator
Ms. Rivera
Ms. Rivera cultivates relationships with students and helps push them academically to where they need to be
Paraprofessional
Ms. Finkel
Ms. Finkel is our resident expert listener, student-led conference mastermind, and high school application guru.
Guidance Counselor
Ms. Roman
Diana Roman, LCSW is in the building every day except Wednesdays. She supports students' emotional/social needs and helps parents through the Special Education process. Contact her at droman11@schools.nyc.gov or (212) 531-7314
Social Worker
Mr. Rease
Mr. Rease is one of our fantastic counselors and loves to help students.
SAPIS Counselor
Ms. Rosa
Ms. Rosa is an expert explainer and helps meet student needs every day
Paraprofessional
