Project Description
Tim Castanza, Fellow
Bridge Preparatory Charter School
Staten Island, NY
Tim Castanza is the founder and Executive Director at Staten Island’s Bridge Prep Charter School, the first and only public school in New York, and one of only a few nationwide, dedicated to serving students with dyslexia and other language- based reading needs in inclusive classrooms alongside their peers. Tim believes a caring, supportive and inclusive school community is critical for the success of public education and he is committed to ensuring that Bridge Prep provides an educational experience where students, families and staff feel valued, safe and respected. Under Tim’s leadership, Bridge Prep continues to expand, evolve and find ways to increase its impact. Tim has worked alongside NYSED’s Office of Special Education as a part of a team tasked with helping to develop guidance for districts to promote improved outcomes for students with learning disabilities resulting from dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia. He is a Teach for America alumnus and has served as guest speaker and panelist for several literacy-based and school development panels across New York State. Tim previously worked for the NYCDOE leading teams responsible for evaluating access to high-quality schools, the demand for educational programming for at-risk students, and the assessment of space available for those services. Tim’s work enabled him to support the DOE in developing strategies to improve engagement with and between NYC’s many diverse communities. Tim received his Bachelor's Degree from Saint Joseph's University, and his Master's Degree from the prestigious Graduate School of Education at the University of Pennsylvania.
Cheryl Otterbeck, Ally
Director of Specialized Instruction
Bridge Preparatory Charter School
Staten Island, NY
Cheryl Otterbeck currently serves as the Director of Specialized Instruction at Bridge Prep Charter School on Staten Island. In her role as the DSI, Cheryl serves on the School's Leadership Team and is responsible for overseeing the school's Special Education programming and assuring that the school's high percentage of differing learners are having their special education mandates met. A key part of Cheryl's role is as supporting the school's special education teachers in the classroom with strategies, coaching and modeling and working alongside the school's Orton Gillingham Fellow during specialized trainings. In this role, Cheryl also manages all related services providers and serves as the school's liaison to the Committee on Special Education. Cheryl is a member of the Bridge Prep founding staff, and has served as a teacher and grade team leader in her time at the school. She is a native Staten Islanders and is a graduate of St. John’s University Education program, earning her degree in Childhood and Special Education. In her time at Bridge Prep, Cheryl has made immense contributions to her students as well as the school community and has been identified as a rising leader by Bridge Prep's Executive Director Tim Castanza. She was awarded the Shield of Bridge Prep in 2020, the school's highest honor and award presented to a community member that exemplifies and models Bridge Prep’s core values and commitments through actions, mindsets and their impact on the larger community.