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 WHY BEGINNING WITH CHILDREN Beginning with Children was founded on our deep belief in the power of education to transform - a child, a family, a community. Our schools are located in communities where roughly a third of all families earn less than $25,000 per year. Our hard-working families, facing high rates of low-wage employment, are finding it increasingly difficult to break the cycle of poverty and continuing injustice which plagues their neighborhoods. Education can break the cycle. Education opens doors and allows children to see beyond their challenges. We give every child an equal chance to be well-educated in a free public school with excellent resources, from Kindergarten through college. Our children succeed. With each child’s success, we leave the world a better place than we found it. Return to top |
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 A charter movement pioneer serving Brooklyn since 1990 Joe and Carol Reich founded BwC in 1990 to advocate for public education reform and start a high-quality school for low-income children in Williamsburg. BwC opened Beginning with Children School (BwCS) in 1992 at Pfizer's original headquarters as an alternative school within the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE). BwC was actively involved in bringing a strong charter school law to New York State and helped found the NYC Charter School Center in 2004. BwC, with local parents in Fort Greene, launched Community Partnership Charter School (CPCS) in 2000 and founded Beginning with Children Charter School 2 (BwCCS 2) in Williamsburg, in 2012. BwC established the groundbreaking Alumni Program in 2003 to provide comprehensive supports for BwCCS graduates transitioning to high school. BwC honors our founders' legacy by creating and supporting liberal-arts based academically rigorous schools and programs with exposure to the rich resources of NYC and beyond. "The principles we were building our school on, presented something potentially huge in education reform. These principles-parental choice, freedom to operate in a manner consistent with the needs of specific children, parent involvement, longer school days and a longer school year, merit compensation for teachers-could be a game changer for children of poverty. It was the growing sense of this possibility that re-energized us and gave us the strength to push on, for as long as necessary." "We both shared a common and basic belief: families of means can afford to send their children to private schools or relocate to an affluent neighborhood where public schools have greater resources. The poor cannot. We recoiled against this injustice. We made it our own struggle." FOUNDERS JOE AND CAROL REICH Return to top |
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MICHELE ASHLEY Assistant Superintendent NATALIE BLEDMAN Vice President of Operations DAI FLECK Alumni Program Coordinator NANCY LEWSON KURZ Chief Executive Officer and Board Chair GERALDEEN LICURSE Chief Financial Officer RENATO MUGUERCIA Technology Support Specialist SINEM OKUR Grants Writer and Administrator SONIA ORTIZ-GULARDO Director of Parent Engagement and Community Outreach DENNISTON M. REID Chief Academic Officer and Superintendent BRIAN STEMMER, CPA Controller TOMOMI UETANI Alumni Program Manager JOSE VALLEJO Senior Accountant MATTHEW WHITT Director of Data Systems JENNELLA YOUNG Chief Program Officer and Director of Alumni Program |
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MICHELE ASHLEY MAshley@bwcf.org Assistant Superintendent Ms. Ashley supports educational supervision and leadership development services for schools in BwC network. She was a public school teacher in Brooklyn for nine years prior to becoming Director of Education at Project Reach Youth. After six years developing literacy based enrichment programs for Brooklyn schools, she entered the New York City Leadership Academy to pursue her dream of becoming a principal. In 2005, she assumed leadership of The Jesse Owens School in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, where she oversaw dramatic improvements in teaching and learning. An alumnus of Barnard College, Mrs. Ashley holds a master's degree from New York University. Return to top |
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NATALIE BLEDMAN NBledman@bwcf.org Vice President of Operations Ms. Bledman provides operations leadership and support to the schools in BwC network. Before joining BwC, Ms. Bledman lead the opening and daily operations of two charter schools in New York City. Prior to that, she supervised several afterschool programs, summer camps and sports programming for non-profit organizations. Ms. Bledman received an MPA from the City University of New York at Baruch College and a BA in Sociology and Literature & Rhetoric from the State University of New York at Binghamton. Return to top |
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DAI FLECK DFleck@bwcf.org Alumni Program Coordinator Ms. Fleck coordinates various BwC Alumni Program services including SHSAT prep, Spotlight on Me! and college tours, as well as manages the program database and provides budgetary support. Ms. Fleck recently graduated from Manhattan College with an MA in School Counseling. She was previously a corporate paralegal at Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP after graduating from Fordham University with a BS in Economics. Return to top |
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NANCY LEWSON KURZ NKurz@bwcf.org Chief Executive Officer and Board Chair Ms. Lewson Kurz provides overall strategy and direction to BwC. Ms. Lewson Kurz received an Ed.M. in Education Policy from Teachers College with concentrations in charter schools and education equity. Previously, she was an advisor in the New York City Mayor's Office and a Deputy Commissioner for Legal and Legislative Affairs at the Department of Environmental Protection. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and New York University School of Law, she practiced law at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, founded the Urban Environmental Law Foundation and was a fellow at the Max Planck Institute in Munich, Germany. Return to top |
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GERALDEEN LICURSE GLicurse@bwcf.org Chief Financial Officer Ms. Licurse manages the financial operations and technology of BwC and the schools in BwC network. Ms. Licurse oversees all aspects of financial accounting and reporting for the four organizations. Previously, Ms. Licurse was a manager with Goldstein Golub Kessler, LLP certified public accountants and consultants. During this time she oversaw audits, and performed compliance and consulting services for not-for-profit organizations nationwide. Ms. Licurse received her BA in Accounting and Information Systems from City University of New York, Queens College. Return to top |
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RENATO MUGUERCIA RMuguercia@bwcf.org Technology Support Specialist Mr. Muguercia is responsible for providing information technology support to schools in BwC network. Prior to joining BwC, Mr. Muguercia was a Systems Administrator and a Technical Trainer for six years at Etek Training in New Jersey. Mr. Muguercia is a Microsoft certified trainer and holds the following certifications: MCSE, MCITP, CRM 4.0, Great Plains, Sharepoint 2010 and Microsoft server virtualization. He has an AAS from Borough of Manhattan Community College and is currently pursuing his bachelor's degree from Monroe College. Return to top |
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SINEM OKUR SOkur@bwcf.org Grants Writer and Administrator Ms. Okur prepares private and public grant proposals and reports and administers grant contracts for BwC and the schools in BwC network. Prior to joining BwC, she was a Development Associate at Wildcat Service Corporation for six years. She holds a BA in Sociology and a BA in Political Science and International Relations from Bogazici University, Istanbul, Turkey and an MA in Media Ecology and Film Production from New York University. Return to top |
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SONIA ORTIZ-GULARDO SOGulardo@bwcf.org Director of Parent Engagement and Community Outreach Ms. Ortiz-Gulardo provides parent engagement and community outreach services for BwC. The founder of the BwC Alumni Program, previously Ms. Ortiz-Gulardo was the Founding Principal of Beginning with Children Charter School. She has worked under Mayor Koch's Administration as the Assistant Director for Early Childhood Education, and has served as a classroom teacher, staff developer, and Director of Bilingual Programs in East Harlem. She serves on the boards of the READ Foundation, Literacy, Inc and ReConnect. Ms. Ortiz-Gulardo received a BS in Sociology and a master's Return to top |
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DENNISTON M. REID DReid@bwcf.org Chief Academic Officer and Superintendent Mr. Reid oversees student achievement through coaching, developing and evaluating principals and schools as well as manages curriculum and assessment selection, alignment and teacher development. Previously, he was an elementary school principal in East New York, Brooklyn. While serving as a program officer at New Visions for Public Schools, he facilitated teams launching and managing new schools through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation New Century High School Initiative. He was a founding teacher at Bronx Preparatory Charter School and a Teach for America corps member. An alumnus of Colgate University, Mr. Reid has a master's degree from Teachers College. Return to top |
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BRIAN STEMMER, CPA BStemmer@bwcf.org Controller Mr. Stemmer is involved with the financial accounting and reporting for BwC and the three schools in BwC network. Additionally, his responsibilities include all aspects of business management for BwC and the schools. Prior to joining BwC, Mr. Stemmer was the controller for a privately held precious metal jewelry manufacturer. He received his Bachelor of Accountancy from George Washington University and is a Certified Public Accountant. Return to top |
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TOMOMI UETANI TUetani@bwcf.org Alumni Program Manager Ms. Uetani manages a range of personal, academic and career support services for the BwC Alumni Program, including mentoring, test prep, tutoring, professional training and summer internship programs. She is a trained and certified school, mental health and career counselor with prior experience in both high school and college settings, including the High School of Art & Design and Baruch College. She joined BwC in August 2009 and earned her MSEd in Counseling Psychology from Fordham University and BA in Psychology from Vassar College. Return to top |
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JOSE VALLEJO JVallejo@bwcf.org Senior Accountant Mr. Vallejo is responsible for accounting of the schools in BwC network. Prior to joining BwC, Mr. Vallejo was the Accountant for National Minority Supplier Development Council, a national non-profit organization with 37 regional councils that provide minority certified vendors to Fortune 500 companies, local businesses, and government agencies. Previously, Mr. Vallejo was the Supervisor of Accounts Payable at Planned Parenthood of New York City. He also worked as an accountant at the Cultural Council Foundation, an organization providing accounting and grant writing services for small non-profit galleries, art and theater groups. Return to top |
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MATTHEW WHITT mwhitt@bwcf.org Director of Data Systems Mr. Whitt is responsible for supporting the management of BwC data systems, ensuring data quality practices at the schools, and is the main point of contact for technical support and training in regards to all student data systems. He also manages the reporting and analyzing of data related to student outcomes for BwC and is responsible for all donations processing and development mailings. He joined BwC in March 2013 after working at the International Rescue Committee (IRC) as their Customer Service Coordinator from 2011-2012, and interning at the Asia Society with the Global Leadership Initiatives Team in 2010. He earned his BA in International Studies from Marymount Manhattan College. Return to top |
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JENNELLA YOUNG JYoung@bwcf.org Chief Program Officer and Director of Alumni Program Ms. Young supports program design for BwC and schools in BwC network, as well as oversees BwC Alumni Program. Previously, she was a Program Officer at New Visions for Public Schools where she facilitated professional trainings for new public high schools and collaborated with the Annenberg Institute to support educational partnerships between the United Kingdom and New York City. She also served as an Interim Director of Programs for the Harlem Educational Activities Fund, a Consultant for the New York State Board of Education, and an Assistant Director of Admissions for the Stern School of Business at New York University. Return to top |
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BOARD Nancy Lewson Kurz Board Chair and CEO Beginning with Children Chris Gaulin Principal Maverick Capital Deborah Goldfarb Director Barclays Kofi N. Kankam Founder Admit Advantage Marshall King Partner Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP Zarifa Brown Reynolds Partner Greenberg Traurig LLP Alexandra Hallen Utterman Senior Vice President Neuberger Berman LLC Kevin D. White Managing Partner Spring Hill Capital Partners LLC Chana Zimmerman Business Journalist Eric Hoffman Principal Centerbridge Partners, L.P. Kevin Genirs General Counsel Barclays Capital Carol F. Reich, Ph.D. Emeritus Board Member Co-Founder Beginning with Children Joseph H. Reich Emeritus Board Member Co-Founder Beginning with Children Return to top |
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LEADERSHIP COUNCIL Lindsey Shufelt Sabena Ahmed Stella Binkevich Sisi Chen Dabney Doni Alexander Dyroff Andrew J. Frank David Fu Angie Guerrero Eric Hoffman Julia Kastner Michelle Kim John Mascari Lisa Norman Jessie Page Kevin Shiau Kelly Shortridge Karyn Swoopes Return to top |
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OUR SUPPORTERS Education is the key to success. Many thanks to the following institutional funders who have supported our students' success:
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 Beginning with Children was founded on our deep belief in the power of education to transform - a child, a family, a community. Our K-8 schools are located in communities where roughly a third of all families earn less than $25,000 per year. Our hard-working families, facing high rates of low-wage employment, are finding it increasingly difficult to break the cycle of poverty and continuing injustice which plagues their neighborhoods. Education can break the cycle. Education opens doors and allows children to see beyond their challenges. We give every child an equal chance to be well-educated in a free public school with excellent resources, from Kindergarten through college. Our children succeed. With each child's success, we leave the world a better place than we found it.Anita Ames is just one of our many success stories. Growing up in a low-income housing project in Brooklyn, with a single parent working hard to make ends meet, Anita was an angry child who found school difficult and frustrating. With support from her teachers in a Beginning with Children charter school, Anita continued on to high school, participating, reluctantly at first, in the BwC alumni Legacy Program. Through the Program, Anita began to exhibit leadership qualities and found her passion for writing. She attended the University of Albany, graduated and joined the Peace Corps. After two years of giving back globally, Anita decided to return to her Brooklyn roots and is now an assistant teacher at a Brooklyn charter school. According to Anita, "It's not where you are from, rather where you are going that matters. Beginning with Children created opportunities for me to achieve my dreams." In 2013, our Legacy Program for alumni continued to yield stellar on time high school graduation and college acceptance results of 100% and 97%, respectively. The average high school graduation rate for students like ours in NYC is close to 60% and only 30% are accepted to college. Improving educational outcomes not only puts our students on the path to success but helps our city by lowering crime and providing a more stable job force. I'm proud to share that, in 2013, our Legacy alumni continued to be accepted to the most selective colleges and universities including Barnard College, Boston University, Brown University, Colgate University, George Washington University, Lehigh University, Macaulay Honors College at City College, MIT, University of Chicago, and Vassar College as well as CUNY and SUNY schools and honors programs. These recent alumni, like Anita, will help ensure the viability and vibrancy of our city. Sincerely,  Nancy Lewson Kurz Chief Executive Officer and Board Chair Beginning with Children Foundation Return to top |
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Beginning with Children is a registered 501 (c) (3) charitable organization with the Internal Revenue Service. Our financial and legal documents: 1. Form 990 • A. 2007 / Download pdf file • B. 2008 / Download pdf file • C. 2009 / Download pdf file • D. 2010 / Download pdf file • E. 2011 (PART 1 OF 2) / Download pdf file • F. 2011 (PART 2 OF 2) / Download pdf file 2. NY State CHAR 500 form • A. 2007 / Download pdf file • B. 2008 / Download pdf file • C. 2009 / Download pdf file • D. 2010 / Download pdf file • E. 2011 / Download pdf file 3. Audited Financials • A. 2009 / Download pdf file • B. 2010 / Download pdf file • C. 2011 / Download pdf file • D. 2012 / Download pdf file 4. Letter from IRS • A. 501C3 DETERMINATION / Download pdf file Return to top |
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