Morristown

As the fifth generation of teachers in her family stemming back to a one-room schoolhouse in Connecticut, teaching and educational best practices are practically in Heather’s blood. She brings a wide-range of teaching experience having worked in public and private schools, as well as teaching a different subjects, including martial arts (Taekwon-do) and cardio kickboxing classes. Heather is originally from Bensalem, PA, a suburb of Philadelphia. Her Bachelor’s degree is from LaSalle University in Elementary/Special Education and American Studies, and her Master’s degree is from Arcadia University in Education and History. Heather became passionate about history in college and loves visiting historic places, so she loves being in Morristown, NJ to celebrate the local history here.

When she is not teaching, Heather enjoys being physically active and playing outside. She has an extensive athletic background, most notably holding a second degree black belt and a spot on the 2004 U.S. Tae-kwon-do Team where she traveled to South Korea to compete at the world championships. Heather also likes visiting her roots in Philadelphia and cooking delicious Paleo meals. She supports her hometown sports teams, despite their heartbreaking track record (except for the Phillies!), will always participate in random dance parties, and you might catch her belting out songs while driving in her car. (Just remember that second degree black belt, though, before you point and laugh…)

Heather has been part of the Fusion family for three years, and this is her third Fusion campus. She started at the Warner Center campus in Southern California before transitioning to open Fusion’s first Manhattan campus on Park Avenue. Heather was then promoted to Master Teacher/Assistant Director to open the Morristown Campus and quickly transitioned to an Associate Head of School position. She is honored to continue as the Head of School and proudly brings a “Philly Phlair,” sense of humor, and sass that only the East Coast can cultivate. She is impressed by Fusion’s coziness and creativity and is thrilled to help lead a learning environment without limits.

Kevin Madden is a singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist who performs regularly in the New York area, gigging at bars and night clubs in the city. When he’s not teaching and mentoring at Fusion Academy, he can be found playing music for young children at Kidville, an early childhood development center. He also teaches songwriting and production to troubled teenagers, inspiring them to express themselves positively and creatively through music.

Jake Findlay helps his students explore and dive into the world around them in his science classes at Fusion. He went to the University of Rochester where he earned his Bachelor degree in Chemical Engineering. Afterwards, he earned his Master of Science in Education from Johns Hopkins University.

Jake has always held a love for traveling and the outdoors. This passion took him on an adventure to Hawaii Island where he taught high school math and science for two years. He loves playing soccer and has a passion for chess and board games such as Settlers of Catan. In addition to soccer, Jake has participated in numerous sports including baseball, basketball, track, ping pong, and pickle ball!

Lauren was born and raised in northern New Jersey. Lauren has always has an aptitude for science and a love for all living things.  She attended Centenary College where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in biology with a concentration in environmental science. She volunteered at a state fish hatchery and a wildlife rehabilitation center, working with New Jersey’s wildlife!  She also worked as a dog trainer, teaching both owners and their dogs.

In her free time she loves to spend time with her daughter and her dog. She enjoys being outside doing anything from camping to taking her dog on hikes. She loves teaching science where she can teach students about the world they live in and how science pertains to so many things that occur in everyday life.

Deborah Russ is a mental health counselor and NJ state Licensed Social Worker. She received her Masters Degree in Social Work from MaryWood University. Deborah also has a Bachelor of Social Work from Marist College in New York.

Prior to joining Fusion, Deborah has worked at many non-profit organizations. She specializes in crisis intervention, self-esteem, substance abuse, anger management, and family counseling. She has worked in many adolescent homeless shelters including Covenant House and Birth Haven. She also has years of working with DCP&P and Probation to transition adolescents back into their home safely. Deborah has also received her School Counseling License and worked in private schools throughout NJ. In the school system she helped adolescents with social skills, college prep, sensory development, bullying and most importantly self-esteem and empowerment.

Deborah enjoys spending time with her husband and 3 active boys. Deborah is involved with any activity her children choose, from sports to lego’s to science projects. She also enjoys cooking, skiing, and loves documentaries. She enjoys spending quality time in the Pocono Mountains but also loves to spend a day down at the Jersey shore

Meghan graduated from Montclair State University with her Bachelors in Art. She currently coaches three sports (basketball, field hockey and lacrosse.) Meghan loves to teach, coach, and inspire as much as she can. She continues to involve herself in art, and runs a photography business with another photographer called Friends with Lenses. She believes it is important in life to have a creative outlet and that is exactly what draws her to all types of art. She tries to live by the quote her father always tell her, “Be where you are.”

Jesus Cartagena offers guidance and help with their homework as a teacher in the classroom and in the Fusion Homework Café. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Special Education in Mathematics with a minor in sociology from Dowling College. He did his field training at Brentwood High School and Wyandanch High School in New York for two years, where he taught in an inclusion and general education classroom setting. Also for four years he volunteered working with Special Olympics in weight lifting. Jesus is athletic, so in his free time he loves playing sports and going to the gym. He also loves traveling with his fiancé and his family. In 2009 Jesus competed in bodybuilding competition, where he took first. Also in 2010 Jesus was rank 4th in the country for college wrestling in NJCAA.

Monica teaches English, history, and film classes at Fusion. While living in the United Kingdom, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Literature from Richmond the American International University in London where she read and wrote quite a bit about the relationship between the novel and film. Monica then went on to earn an interdisciplinary Master’s degree in Victorian Studies from Birkbeck College, University of London where she wrote her dissertation on the relationship between mothers and daughters in 19^thcentury fiction. She has been teaching in the United States since she moved back to the land of her roots in 2008, and has worked with charities in London that support education and training for inner-city youth.

Monica loves writing, watching movies and TV, and reading science fiction and fantasy, so when she’s not at Fusion you’re likely to find her working on one of her writing projects, reading a Neil Gaiman book to her daughter (or to herself), or flicking through her somewhat protracted Netflix queue. With such a positive learning atmosphere at Fusion, Monica is always looking forward to helping her students achieve meaningful goals and build confidence.

Chip O’Brien tries to incite passion for literature, history, and the examined life in Fusion’s classrooms. He earned his bachelor’s in English as well as his master’s degree in education from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ, where he was an Urban Teaching Fellow. Before coming to Fusion, he made pizza in three different restaurants across two continents, edited an independent quarterly magazine, helped grow an internet startup into a national company, taught EFL in Shanghai, and prepared students for approximately nine thousand different standardized tests.

He enjoys reading, writing, theater, live music, Muay Thai, and climbing things. He is an awful cook who didn’t make his first omelet until he was 27 (it was terrible).

Kathy Donovan is eager to explore her love of the humanities in her role as Fusion’s English and History teacher. Kathy earned her Bachelor’s degree in English Literature at Loyola University in Maryland back in 2002, yet as chance would have it she spent the last 12 years teaching reading and reading comprehension to learning disabled students. The combination of Special Ed., sensory based learning, with a background in English has molded Kathy into the teacher she is today. She feels confident working with all different types of students, and is passionate about making lasting connections with all of her students.

Over the last decade Kathy worked as a teacher, mentor, and consultant at Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes. She has taught students with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Dyslexia, ADHD, CAPD….you name it! When Kathy isn’t teaching you can find her at her beloved Bar Method exercise classes or sweating it out at Soul Cycle. She is an animal lover and advocate, and often volunteers at animal shelters.

Funny fact about Kathy: she has a reputation for breaking out her 80’s dance moves during dance parties….specialties include the running man and roger rabbit!

Dori Mendel is honored to serve as a French, Spanish and Language Arts teacher, as well as the Director of Homework Café, to Fusion students. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in French from Muhlenberg College, graduating magna cum laude, and received her Master’s degree in Secondary Education from Boston College. While at Muhlenberg, Dori was able to spend a semester in southern France where her love of languages and travel grew infinitely.

She spent six years working as a middle and high school French teacher in Massachusetts, and has years of experience tutoring students privately. Dori was a competitive diver, and still enjoys being active. She loves yoga and any group exercise class that challenges her physically. Dori enjoys spending any free time she has being outside or taking trips with her husband, Mat, and two young (and very energetic) children, Wade and Jaye.

Michele assists the Director or Student Development in organizing student and staff schedules each week.

Michele attended Roxbury School District from Kindergarten through 12^th grade then went to County College of Morris and graduated with an Associates in Humanities and Social Sciences in May 2014. She is currently taking prerequisites at County College or Morris to apply for the Nursing Program at CCM.

Michele volunteers on the Flanders Fire Department and Rescue Squad and is a certified EMT! She enjoys going on camping trips with her boyfriend, gardening, snowmobiling, animals, kids, photography & videography, home décor, traveling and being adventurous. Michele is also a huge animal lover and has 2 fish tanks and 1 cat. Michele has a small obsession with journals and notebooks.

In Michele’s 7^th grade math class, her class was challenged to memorize as many digits of Pi as they could for national pi day (3/14). Michele memorized 81 digits of Pi and held the school record.

Adriana Tosun tries to share her passion for history and language as an English and History teacher at Fusion.  She earned her B.A. in English and French from Rutgers University, where she graduated magna cum laude. Before coming to Fusion, she spent three years as a writing and composition tutor in New Brunswick, NJ, and two years teaching immersive English classes to French middle school and high school students in a tiny town outside of Paris. She is an avid musician and writer, and in her spare time enjoys taking meandering walks through the woods.

Little-known fact: Adriana was a working sailor and lived on a schooner for four seasons. She often dreams about the sea!

Andrew Schweighardt teaches Art/Design and encourages all students to explore the vast field of the visual arts. He earned his Bachelor’s of Fine Arts degree at Rutgers University’s, Mason Gross School of the Arts in New Brunswick, New Jersey. There, he concentrated in Graphic Design.

In his junior and senior year, Andrew interned for the Student Life Marketing Department where he was responsible for composing select spreads of the Daily Targum; the official student newspaper of Rutgers University. Prior to being hired by Fusion Academy, Andrew had been a Permanent Part-Time Substitute Art Teacher at his alma mater, Mount Olive High School. He also has four years experience as a New Jersey Youth Soccer Coach and Trainer; working with both recreational and travel leagues, K through 12.

Andrew thoroughly enjoys watching thought-provoking documentary films, playing in pickup soccer games and creating conceptual artwork of his own.

In junior high, Andrew took a strong interest in punk rock and skateboarding. He and his buddies spent hours learning new tricks and recording skate videos that they’d mail to major skateboard companies in hopes of becoming sponsored. He is still very nostalgic about his skateboarding days.

Bill Fennelly is excited to bring his passion for history and literature to Fusion Academy in his role as teacher/mentor. Bill earned a Bachelor’s degree from Salisbury University and later a Master of Arts in History from Fordham University. With seven years of teaching experience, he understands the importance of the role a teacher/mentor plays in the life of students. Bill was recently recognized by the non-profit organization SENG (Supporting the Emotional Needs of the Gifted) as an Outstanding Educator.
Bill loves all sports and has coached cross-country, basketball, and softball at his previous schools. A former baseball player, he still competes in competitive softball. More than anything, Bill cherishes spending time with his family and friends. Interestingly, Bill has had dozens of different jobs; some friends make a game of trying to learn all of them.

David is a Music teacher, offering classes in Drums, Guitar, Bass, Vocals, Piano, Music Theory, and Recording Arts. He attended Seton Hall University for both graduate and undergraduate, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts in English, and a Master of Arts and Education Specialist in Mental Health Counseling. His work experience covers ground in corporate, non-profit, education, special needs education, entertainment, publishing, and mental health arenas.

In his free time, David enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter, playing in bands, writing and recording music in his home studio, and watching movies.

Little Known Fact: David writes for the Modern Drummer Magazine, which he started reading when he was little in middle school. He’s been fortunate enough to interview and meet some of his childhood idols, as well as some of the greatest drummers on the planet!

Jessica joins our team as a Homework Café Teacher! Jessica Curran opts to create a positive learning environment for all of the students while also facilitating productivity and social interaction in the Homework Café. Jessica earned her Bachelors of Science in Nursing from William Paterson University. She has a passion for people and strives to make a difference one day at a time. She currently coaches high school lacrosse & also partially owns a photography business called Friends with Lenses! Jess enjoys being outside the most, so she loves to spend her free time playing sports (her favorite is lacrosse), hiking, floating on the lake, going to the beach, watching sunsets & enjoying time with friends and family! Her favorite TV shows are Friends & Suits!
“Enjoy the little things in life because one day you`ll look back and realize they were the big things.”

Josh graduated with a degree in Business from Boston University in 2008. He decided, however, to pursue a career in education because he enjoys interacting with students and helping them build a strong knowledge base. Josh had tutored casually in a variety of Math and Science subjects and realized that he wanted to be teaching full time. He has since taught the full scope of Math and Science subjects at the high school level both in school and private tutoring settings.

Josh has a passion for knowledge and understanding how the world works and seeks to impart the same passion in his students. Furthermore, he tries to arm his students with sustained knowledge and study skills that will facilitate their learning at the college level and beyond. At Fusion, Josh can adapt his teaching approach to the needs and strengths of each student and thus ensure that they grasp the material and maximize their potential.

Mary Beth is a teacher/mentor offering instruction in History, English and Latin. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in History from Georgetown University and her Master’s degree in History from Seton Hall University.

She has been teaching since 2007, when she began studying for her Master’s in History at Seton Hall in South Orange, NJ. She taught History and English at Marylawn Academy in South Orange where she served as senior advisor and mentor in the Humanities. Mary Beth began tutoring on a dedicated basis in the last two years with a focus on test prep and college writing.

While she loves to read and write prose and poetry, traveling the world is her first love.

Matt’s role is to help each student learn to love themselves and life! He wants to supply each student with a great education, but more importantly he wants each student to learn how to become a good and loving human being.

Matt graduated from Seton Hall University with a Bachelor’s degree in History and a minor in communications.

Matt worked for two years at Morris Catholic High School. He says it was the best two years of his life because it developed him into the teacher he is today! While at Morris Catholic, he was also a soccer coach, the head of the international program, and a student mentor.

Matt loves just about anything sports related! Skiing and swimming are his favorites, but he also plays tennis, basketball, softball, and soccer. When he’s not playing sports, he likes to play chess and he LOVES fantasy football!

An interesting fact about Matt is when he was in 4th grade he was the runner up in a New Jersey state invention contest. He placed 4th in that same contest a year later when he was in 5th grade. His inventions were a compartmentalized glass recycler and a chair with a 5th leg so students wouldn’t be able to tip their chairs backward and fall over!!

Michael Gervits is a math and science teacher at Fusion Academy in Morristown, NJ. Michael earned a bachelor’s degree in physics at Rutgers State University. He gained experience volunteering at the Jardine Academy in Cranford, NJ, developing a sixth grade math curriculum for a student with physical disabilities. He later went on to work as a math tutor at the Mathnasium Learning Center in Wayne, NJ, where he eventually became an assistant center director.
In his free time, Michael likes to read anything from fiction to scientific journals to poetry. He also enjoys playing board games and has a large collection of his own. In college, Michael was the ace for his CSL (Collegiate Starleague) team and led them to many victories, most notably the Princeton LAN, a 2 day event for all schools in the northeast with a prize pool of $1,500.

Rama Madhavarao teaches Math/Computer Science courses for the students at Fusion.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Anna University, Chennai, India and a master’s degree in Applied Electronics from Anna University, Chennai, India.

She is has worked as an adjunct faculty at the Math and Computer Science department at Fairleigh Dickinson University at Madison, NJ for the past 4 years. Prior to that she also worked for 6 years at College of Saint Elizabeth. This summer she taught Math at the summer session of Newark Academy . She has tutored Math at all levels for the middle and high school and college students for the past 10 years.

Rama enjoys walking with her husband/friends and enjoys special cooking and baking. She enjoys spending time with her husband and son whenever he is home. She also enjoys spending time with her niece and nephew and her sister and brother-in-law whenever they meet.

She used to play a musical instrument called the Veena and has given performances on the radio when she was in India.

Rolande Tam is a French Teacher at Fusion Academy.  Rolande is a French native speaker who has lived in France as well as several French speaking countries in Africa.  She earned her BA at Manhattan College in Riverdale, NY where she graduated with a 4.0 GPA for her French Major.  During her college years, Rolande also won a French essay contest for a study abroad summer program sponsored by Manhattan College and the Alliance Francaise.   She worked as a French Professor Assistant throughout college as well a French Tutor for over 8 years now.   Rolande loves travelling and learning new languages.  She is currently learning Mandarin and is looking forward to her next trips to explore Asia.  Rolande is also very passionate about her beliefs and she enjoys doing volunteer work reaching out to those in her community.

Francisco Ayala holds a BA in Studio Art and Education from Dartmouth College, an MA in Teaching from Bennington College, an MS in Educational Administration from Pepperdine University. He has worked in education for over 10 years, initially starting as a 3rd Grade Teacher in New Haven, CT. He then moved to California where he was one of the founding faculty, and later the Assistant Principal, for a brand new charter school in Canoga Park. He continued his work in alternative education as the Regional Director for Options for Youth, supervising all of the sites in the San Fernando Valley for several years. In 2011, Francisco joined Fusion as the Head of School for the Pasadena campus, which he helped open and ran for close to a year. He then transitioned across the country into the role of Head of School for the Fusion Park Avenue and Lincoln Center campuses. Francisco now serves as the Regional Vice President for all East Coast area Fusion Academy schools.

Francisco is an avid reader and runner. He is also a self-proclaimed foodie, balancing his time cooking in the kitchen and enjoying the culinary experiences out in the community.

Kim started her journey with Fusion as Director of Admissions and Outreach in 2012. She has held multiple leadership positions such as Assistant Director and Head of School for the Woodbury campus. She is a native New Yorker, growing up in Queens and moving to Long Island in 1996 to start a family. She has over nineteen years experience in the education and human services sectors. Kim is a NYS certified School Counselor and holds a BA in Psychology; a MS Ed with Specialization in School Counseling from Hofstra University; a Mentoring Supervisory Certificate from Fordham University; a Non-Profit Leadership Certificate from Adelphi University; and a Development and Fundraising Certificate from Molloy College. Currently, Kim is nearing the completion of her Educational Therapy Certificate from the University of California.

Kim’s focus has always been working with youth with learning and developmental disabilities, who are at risk, pregnant and/or parenting, and their families. She has held various positions throughout her career, having worked at YAI the National Institute for People with Disabilities as a Senior Employment Training Specialist for their Long Island Supported Work Program and was a Teacher/Guidance Counselor for the Diocese of Brooklyn. Notable is her ten year tenure as the Director of Services with the Economic Opportunity Council of Suffolk, Inc.’s, SNAP (Suffolk Network on Adolescent Pregnancy) Division, where she provided direction and leadership to their adolescent pregnancy prevention funded programs throughout Suffolk County. Prior to joining our team, Kim served as the Executive Director of Girls Inc. of Long Island, a nonprofit organization, inspiring girls to be strong, smart and bold. Her focus was specific to the development of collaborative youth development programming to expand and enhance financial literacy and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) opportunities for middle and high school girls throughout Nassau and Suffolk Counties.

In her free time, Kim enjoys gardening, collects books, fishing, and finding a great Vera Bradley sale. She is addicted to Edy’s Double Chocolate Fudge ice cream and resides in Suffolk County with her husband, son, Shih Tzu, 2 cats, a hamster, two leopard geckos, two crested geckos and 6 oranda goldfish.