Meet the Team

Learn about the STEM Team

STEM Director

Dierre Taylor

Dierre Taylor has been an educator in New York City since 2009. He began his teaching career as an AmeriCorps member with the educational nonprofit City Year serving in East New York, Brooklyn. Through this experience, Dierre naturally gravitated towards teaching, later becoming a science educator through the New York City Teaching Fellows program where he taught at a progressive, public, consortium school in South Williamsburg, Brooklyn. As a dedicated science educator and leader, Dierre has worked for a the science fellowship, STEM Ed Innovators, since 2015 helping science teachers around NYC, Houston, and other parts of the country democratize their classrooms through elevating student voice, sharing authority to transform classroom spaces, and leveraging students power through STEM criticality. Dierre has been the Director of STEM Programs for District 75 since the Fall of 2022.

Instructional Technology Coach

Charles Gerber

Charles is a skilled educator bringing over 12 years of experience spearheading technology integration and STEM initiatives for New York City schools. He is poised to take on a new role as a District 75 Technology Coach, where he will be responsible for modeling effective use of instructional technology, coaching teachers, and supporting the comprehensive integration of technology to enhance learning across District 75.

He has continuously worked to break down barriers to technology adoption through outreach and PD. With deep expertise across educational hardware/software, pedagogy, and curriculum design, Charles will contribute to the development and implementation of a shared vision for leveraging technology to support all learners in his new district-wide capacity.

Instructional Technology Coach

Charles Bender

I am a staff developer with the department of education. I love what I do..

District Science Coach

Sarai Bakal

Once I graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor's degree in Art Education and a Master's degree in Special Education, my husband and I moved to NYC to settle down and begin a family. In 2000, I began my teaching career at 226M as an elementary school special education teacher and a science teacher. I have worked with students of all ages and abilities while engaging them with hands-on science learning. After 16 years in the classroom, I transitioned into a coaching position for District 75. I am currently a part of the STEM department and work as a science coach, helping teachers develop a science program that is engaging, meaningful, and accessible to all types of learners. I enjoy supporting our district's schools and communities by participating in special programs and events that bring science and art to the families. My objective is to make science meaningful and purposeful for our students, so that they can develop the necessary skills to become independent and resourceful individuals in their community.

District Science Coach

Joaquin Rodriguez Jr.

Joaquin Rodriguez, Jr. is a dedicated science educator with over 35 years of experience teaching in New York City public schools. He currently serves as a Science Instructional Coach for District 75, supporting STEM education across the district. Joaquin has facilitated professional development workshops for the NYC Department of Education, coached teachers, mentored new science teachers, and served on the NYC DOE Elementary Science Leadership Team. He is passionate about making science engaging and accessible for all students through hands-on, inquiry-based learning. Joaquin holds a Master's in Elementary Education from Hunter College and has presented at National Science Teacher Conferences. He has also taught science graduate and undergraduate courses at Hunter College and City College. His love of learning and teaching inspire his work every day.

Coordinator of Applied Learning

Cara Coffina

An innovative and accomplished educator with over 20 years of experience developing and implementing cutting-edge programs for students in New York City Public Schools. As part of the District 75 STEM Team, she currently works as the Coordinator of Applied Learning, where she pioneered the nation's first online Debate program, a 3D virtual world program for autistic students, and a district-wide school garden initiative called D75 Plant Learn Grow. Cara is skilled at using technology to create engaging and relevant learning experiences for students. Her work has been featured in educational publications and she has presented nationally on using immersive environments in the classroom. In addition to her passion for leveraging technology, Cara is dedicated to social justice, sustainability, and helping students develop critical thinking skills to become active global citizens. Most recently, she has been dedicated to supporting schools in nature-based STEM instruction using indoor and outdoor edible gardens and facilitating long-term partnerships with local green spaces and community organizations.

District Math Coach

Danielle Clermont

Danielle Clermont is a Mathematics Coach for District 75, where she designs and facilitates professional development for staff and coaches educators to enhance math instruction for students with disabilities. With over 15 years of experience supporting students with disabilities, Danielle's background includes teaching in District 9 and District 24, as well as holding various leadership roles both inside and outside of NYC Public Schools. Prior to her current role, she served as a Director of Education in a private school for students with disabilities in Connecticut. Danielle is passionate about developing pedagogy that is equitable and accessible for all students with disabilities.

A native New Yorker, Danielle was born and raised in Queens and attended NYC public schools from K-12. She holds a Bachelor's in Psychology from Stony Brook University, a Master's in Special Education from Hunter College, and a Master's in Educational Leadership from Lehman College.

District Math Coach

Jack Catalano

Jack Catalano is an experienced teacher and instructional coach with District 75. He taught students with disabilities for 10 years at P226M in 8:1:1, 6:1:1, and transition classes. He currently serves as a District 75 mathematics instructional coach. Jack has extensive expertise developing differentiated instruction, implementing assistive technology, analyzing student data, and creating targeted interventions to support diverse learners. He has demonstrated strong leadership abilities through his roles as a mentor teacher, teacher development facilitator, curriculum team member, and school-wide Thinking Maps coach.

Jack holds a bachelor's degree in Exceptional Education from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a master's degree in Educational Leadership from the American College of Education. Born and raised in Wisconsin, his sports fandom remains loyal to all Wisconsin teams. He is both disabled, living with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, and neurodivergent with ADHD. His own disabilities fuel his passion for empowering educators to meet the needs of all students through the principles of Universal Design for Learning and building a more inclusive world. He wants the world to know that disabled is not a bad word!