Two Rivers Learning Institute Faculty

Stephanie Cade

Stephanie Cade is a special education teacher in the early grades at Two Rivers and has worked to promote access to engaging opportunities for students with disabilities and their families. She is passionate about providing teachers with information on the best practices of teaching so they have the tools to elevate their work with students.

Rachel Owens

Rachel comes from a blended family and is the youngest of five brothers and sisters. She grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and relocated to D.C. in 2014 for a graduate teaching program, Urban Teachers. Since then she has earned a master’s degree in Elementary Education and a master’s degree in Special Education from Lesley University.

Growing up in a large family has taught Rachel the value of honesty, acceptance, and most of all humor. In her free time you can find Rachel watching the Golden State Warriors, doing all things artistic, or playing with her cat, Cabbage! She is very excited to meet her new students and for another year at Two Rivers!

Chelsea Rivas

Chelsea Rivas was raised all over the U.S. and has always had a passion for working with children. She attended Guilford College where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in English. After college she moved to South Carolina and worked for an Americorps program, City Year, for two years where she served as a mentor, tutor, and team leader and worked to transform Columbia schools. In 2013, she moved to D.C. and became a resident and graduate student of Urban Teachers alternative teaching program. She earned her Masters of Arts in Elementary Education and Special Education in 2015 and has continued to grow as an educator teaching Kindergarten, First, and Second grades. In her spare time, she enjoys being with her husband and her son, reading, cooking, and exploring D.C. with friends and family. She is so excited to share her love of learning and continue to expand her teaching practice with the community at Two Rivers!

Molly France

Molly France is an instructional guide at Two Rivers, where she coaches and supports teachers in their work with students. Having begun her career as an early childhood educator, Molly has spent years working with students and their teachers on ensuring students learn the social emotional and cognitive skills they need to be successful in school and life.

Helen Gasperetti

Helen Gasperetti is a preschool teacher at Two Rivers Public Charter School. In addition to teaching, some of her work at Two Rivers has also involved researching and creating developmentally appropriate tasks to help facilitate critical thinking and problem-solving for children in early childhood.

Elaine Hou

Elaine Hou is a founding teacher at Two Rivers and has served in the roles of teacher, principal, and currently as an instructional guide. She is passionate about coaching and empowering teachers to lead and teach deeply and equitably. As a member of the TR Learning Institute faculty, Elaine is excited to collaborate with educators across the district to make learning joyful and rigorous for every student.

Dr. Kristina Kyles-Smith

Dr. Kristina Kyles-Smith serves as Executive Director of Two Rivers. She has a wealth of leadership experience in public education. Kristina recently completed her doctorate in educational leadership. As a member of the TR Learning Institute faculty, Kristina leads our work in supporting schools and districts with implementing diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies and strategic planning.

Rossana Mahvi

Rossana Mahvi is the director of specialized instruction at Two Rivers. She works on improving teacher practices to enhance instruction and access for all students. She is passionate about students developing advocacy skills through student ownership of learning.

Dawnyela Meredith

Dawnyela Meredith is the Director of TRConnect, our high school placement and transition program, and works to ensure that 100 percent of Two Rivers students are accepted and matriculate into their best fit high school. In addition to serving students and families, Dawnyela is committed to creating an anti-racist educational experience for all students and continues to work with educators both in and outside the network to meet this goal.

Antoinette Smith Guyton

Antoinette Smith Guyton is an upper elementary lead teacher at Two Rivers Public Charter School. She is passionate about providing opportunities for students to take ownership of themselves, their education, and their communities. In addition to her work as a teacher, Antoinette mentors novice and developing teachers to maximize their impact through the use of classroom management and relationship building. Antoinette’s students, present and former, would describe her as helpful, caring, strict, fun and as “a jazzy teacher but with high standards.”

Ayawnie Wingate

Ayawnie Wingate has been an assistant teacher at Two Rivers for 5 years. She has experience in a range of grades from early childhood to upper elementary. She feels most passionate about helping students feel good about themselves in order to be great learners.

Monica Powell

Monica Powell is a middle school English teacher and proud member of the Two Rivers crew. A theatre educator prior to her time in the classroom, Monica quickly discovered that the best kind of learning happens when students are on their feet, immersed in an experience. Monica is passionate about exploring ways that crew can strengthen a community, and finding and teaching literature that reflects the rich lives and experiences of her students.

LaKiesha Watson

LaKiesha Watson hails from Prince George’s County, Maryland where she has resided for the majority of her life. She started her collegiate career at Salisbury University where she first had an inkling that teaching would be her calling. She acted on her impulse and applied and became an Extended Day Teacher at Friendship Public Charter School (FPCS) – Chamberlain. Thereafter, she transferred to Bowie State University as a full time student and simultaneously worked at FPCS. LaKiesha’s tenacity did not go in vain as she assisted her campus in gaining certification as a high performing facility by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and a year later graduated with her Bachelors of Science in Communications. With her accomplishments in tow she is expanding her passion and knowledge of teaching by becoming a member of the Two Rivers family! She most looks forward to meeting new students/families and learning a lot from her awesome Lead Teacher.

Elizabeth Weiss

Born and raised in St. Louis, Ms. Elizabeth is the product of Clayton public schools. She graduated from Western State Colorado University in Gunnison and then ended up staying for a decade to teach reading, science and math at a small multi-age school. As a founding teacher of the school in rural Colorado, she created the math curriculum from scratch for students of all ages, ability levels, and learning styles.

She moved back to St. Louis as part of the Teach for America program and and earned her masters in secondary math. After her required years with TFA she stayed on at Gateway Middle School to continue her work as the head of the math department and track and field coach. She loves nothing more than inspiring kids to love math, reading and writing and to realize how it affects their lives every day.

In her spare time, she likes to hang out with her dogs Millie and Gideon, hike, camp, rock climb, and play the mandolin.

Kelly August

Kelly is excited to begin her time as part of the Two Rivers community. She graduated from Elon University with a degree in Public Health and Leadership Studies. For the last two years, she taught in Baltimore City as part of the Urban Teachers Program. She will graduate with her Masters in Education from Johns Hopkins University in May 2020. When not in the classroom, she can be found playing with her dog, testing out recipes in the kitchen, or reading. She can’t wait to get to know everyone!

Katrina Delaney

Katrina grew up on the South Shore of Massachusetts and has lived and taught in DC since 2013. She is a Teach for America alum who worked in the DC Region focusing on Special Education. Katrina graduated from Bridgewater State University (BSU) in 2013 with a Bachelor’s in Sociology and a concentration in Global Studies, and she has a minor in Civic Education & Community Leadership. Katrina continued her education and graduated from George Mason University with a Masters in Special Education in 2015.

Katrina believes in a holistic and joyful approach to learning. Katrina is actively working to expand and cultivate her anti-racist and anti-biased teaching pedagogy. In her free time, she enjoys meditation, yoga, going on walks, reading, and playing with her dog, Freyja. Katrina loves being a part of the Two Rivers community!

Tyrone “T” Farrell

Known as “Mr. T,” Tyrone was born and raised in Washington, DC where he attended local public schools in the Ward 7 and 8 areas. He received his humanities bachelor’s degree in Communications from Pennsylvania State University. After graduation, he came back to DC and started to focus on his PURPOSE. Unfortunately, he had no clue what that was until a glimpse of inspiration took place. While working as a team leader for a college program he was introduced to a world that was fulfilling and it was a desirable place with the youth! Excitedly, Mr. T began to apply to several jobs/careers that were in the field of education and began substitute teaching through a temp agency called Align Staffing.

While at Align, Mr. T was able to be a part of Two Rivers at Young campus as a dedicated aide with the second grade team! Due to a successful year at Two Rivers and being an educational aide, he decided to further his education and pursue a Master’s of Education and Human Development degree from George Washington University in 2017. Being able to work with such a collaborative and diverse group of people has given him the necessary skills and confidence to become a desirable educator for children.

Outside of school, Mr. T is usually singing with different gospel or R&B groups, cooking, self-journaling and painting pictures. He is super excited to be a part of the Two Rivers boat.