Joe Rodriguez, Principal IA
Joe was born and raised in NYC and earned both his undergraduate and graduate degrees at SUNY-Stony Brook. He started his social studies teaching career at a high school in East New York, Brooklyn, for five years. Working at The School for Public Safety and Law was both a humbling and rewarding experience. It was the sort of community that attracted Joe to teaching as he wanted to serve as an exemplary model and be able to lift students through education. In 2008, he moved on to become one of the founding teachers at Gaynor McCown Expeditionary Learning School, where he served as a social studies teacher, programmer, and data specialist. McCown helped Joe grow as a teacher; Expeditionary Learning pushed him to make instructional connections beyond the classroom. Joe was able to use the community as a resource in his curriculum to bring a deeper and more meaningful experience to learning. Before becoming an assistant principal, Joe served as an academic policy officer supporting school leaders. In this capacity, he was responsible for supporting 34 Consortium and Outward Bound schools across NYC with aligning to both state and city policies, DOE systems, accountability data, and assessments. On a personal note, Joe is a father of two lovely teenaged boys, a husband, and an avid road cyclist - always searching for adventure!
Lynne Hoover, Assistant Principal
Lynne was born and raised in NYC and is a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology, where she earned a BA in advertising and marketing. This was followed by an eight-year career in ESPN’s Advertising & Sales department where she worked closely with the Programming and Legal departments as a liaison to ensure advertisers received their contractual airtime. During this time she started her family having two daughters 22 months apart.. This is where she found her true calling working directly with children. As a founding teacher at Marsh Avenue Expeditionary Learning School, Lynne worked alongside Jessica and the founding team to create a model school in the network of EL schools. In addition to teaching across subjects, Lynne worked collaboratively with her colleagues to create rigorous learning expeditions that engaged students in learning beyond the four walls of the classroom. After spending her life in New York City, Lynne recently relocated to northern New Jersey, where she resides with her two teenage girls, both competitive athletes. This year, her oldest daughter started her college career in South Carolina. Her youngest daughter is in search of a college where she can major in biology and play her love of the game lacrosse. She is thrilled to continue working alongside Jessica, Joe, and the entire team to build upon the incredible learning environment we’ve created for all students!
Jessica Jenkins, Founding Principal
Jessica grew up in Sag Harbor, a small town located on the eastern end of Long Island. It was there that she became a lover of the great outdoors, swimming, boating, kayaking, and cross-country running. She went on to study at the College of Charleston and Stony Brook University, earning a BA in social psychology and political science. Throughout college, she devoted her free time to the school newspaper, working as a volunteer intake coordinator for a local homeless shelter, tutor for college athletes, and as a weekly reading buddy for a neighboring elementary school. From the moment she stepped foot into her first classroom teaching assignment, she knew that her true passion was working directly with children. Over the past 19 years, Jessica has served as a classroom teacher, instructional & principal coach, superintendent, and principal. After two masters degrees in education and educational leadership, she went on to become the founding principal of Marsh Avenue Expeditionary Learning School in Staten Island, a highly regarded middle school. Jessica felt honored to have been given the opportunity to open and lead a second school, and is incredibly proud of West End Secondary School’s success. She is looking forward to all of the wonderful things the founding class will become after graduating in June of 2022 and welcoming her 8th incoming class to the WESS family! During her time at WESS, Jessica and Chris welcomed identical twin boys into the world. Cameron and Chase will be five in November and mom and dad are embracing every magical moment of parenthood. Jessica regularly reminds herself that of all the titles she’s held in her life, the title of “mommy” is by far her greatest accomplishment.
Karyn Gooden, Parent Coordinator
After being a founding parent and long time volunteer in multiple schools, Karyn is excited to be our official parent coordinator. Karyn grew up in Minneapolis, MN and earned a BS in Special Education from Baylor University. She taught and was the Special Education Department Chair at a public high school in Minneapolis while earning her MA in Developmental Disabilities from St. Mary’s University. After relocating to New York, she worked as a Middle School Learning Specialist before staying home with her three children. She is most happy in a school setting surrounded by students, fellow staff members, and an incredible parent body. Karyn is continuously inspired by the work of the entire team and parent body at WESS and is thrilled to play an instrumental role in building such an incredible learning community.
Andrea Conway, Principal Secretary / General Office Manager
Andrea was born in Barbados and later migrated to New York, where she has lived for over 31 years. She received her MS in Business Administration/Healthcare Management and an MA in Public Administration from Columbia Southern University. Her professional experience includes extensive educational and business consulting management. Andrea has worked in several areas in education including Student Support Services in Brooklyn and working alongside the District 31 Superintendent in Staten Island in support of more than 60 schools. Andrea is thrilled to begin her 9th year at WESS, working alongside the entire WESS team, students, and parent body.
Mary Kane, Payroll Secretary
Mary was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. She attended the University of California, Irvine (UCI) as a biology and dance major graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Dance. After graduating from UCI, Mary was accepted to the University of Southern California in the Master’s Program in Physical Education and was awarded a graduate teaching position in dance. After receiving her Master’s Degree, Mary earned her Equity Card as a Muppet touring the United States in “Sesame Street Live.” Following the tour, Mary returned to USC to chair the dance department for two years before moving to New York City where Mary continued to perform and choreograph. Mary has danced and choreographed professionally throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia in productions of “Sophisticated Ladies,” “42 Street,” and at Radio City Music Hall as a Rockette. After retiring from dance, Mary joined the New York City Department of Education in 2010 as the Administrative Assistant for the District 3 Community Education Council before becoming a proud founding staff member at WESS in the fall of 2014.
Candice Thomas, General Office Manager & Purchasing Secretary
Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Candice joined the WESS team in 2016. Candice attended the University of Hartford under a music scholarship, but decided to study communications instead. She obtained a BA in communications with a concentration in Public Relations. She then went on to obtain a Masters Degree in Human Resources. Candice has a crazy love of sports and a passion for baseball (Yankees all the way :). Her interests include reading, playing and listening to music, Anime, model building and all things nerdy. She is looking forward to another year at WESS and to continue building strong relationships with both families and students.