Lloyd Woodcock is an Arts Educator/Administrator with 18 years of teaching and administrative experience. He holds a Bachelors in Theatre Arts from Marymount Manhattan College and a Masters in Education Theater from City College of New York. Throughout his career, Lloyd has taught with various organizations around NYC including TADA! Youth Theater, Wingspan Arts, and Henry Street Settlement, and in the greater Boston area where he served as the Director of Education at Wheelock Family Theatre and The North Shore Music Theatre. Most recently, Lloyd served as the Director of Visual and Performing Arts at Lenox Hill Neighborhood House.
Growing up in Queens, NY, Manuela Garcia has always had a passion for giving back to the community and mentoring children who need it most. Studying Psychology and Spanish at the State University of New York at New Paltz has given Manuela the direction of growing her career in youth development. She has been with the Coalition for over seven years working in both the elementary and middle school aged programs. Manuela is a sports and fitness enthusiast and leads debate class here at IS 227 with the goal of teaching our students poise, as well as providing them with experiences and lessons that they can take with them for a lifetime.
Erin Bradford is an actor, dancer, writer and producer. She holds a BA in Theatre and Dance Education from Muhlenberg College. She specializes in ballet, jazz, modern and hip hop. As an actor she has performed Off-Broadway, at Jeans Playhouse, Florida Studio Theatre, and other venues across NYC. She has choreographed for Florida Studio Theatre and been featured in numerous dance pieces at Columbia University. As a teacher she has worked at NY Kids Club, Nexus Sport club, Florida Studio Theatre, and various dance studios. She is the writer and co-producer of the upcoming series, Plant Moms. She is thrilled to be creating with the wonderful students at IS 227.
Enchanted by her hometown Santa Barbara’s Fiesta, Maya de Silva Chafe came to NYC in 1986, with a BFA in Acting/Dance from UNM, to start working as a flamenco dancer. Authenticating her skills, she made 5 trips to Spain to study in Madrid, Jerez, and on scholarship in Sevilla. She has danced on 100’s of stages of all sizes, notably at the Joyce, at Dance Theater Workshop, and at The Met Opera. Supported with grants from NYFA and LMCC Ms. de Silva directed her own company Flamenco Revolucion for 10 years, producing 4 New York City seasons, and also regional tours, including to Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival. Maya has taught students of all ages, including for 10 years at Rutgers University, since 1994 for Flamenco Vivo, at dozens of NYC schools, and for 2+ years in this Arts & Literacy program. Her classes are enriched by her knowledge of theater as well as her studies in classical and contemporary dance. Her greatest joy is to awaken a love of the arts in her students, who remain her greatest inspiration.
Janiela Lindsay is a proud graduate of the Medgar Evers College with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Though she studied business, her first love has always been Art, which has led her to a role as a Teaching Artist here at IS 227. She considers herself to be a creative and loves finding creative ways to maximize her students’ achievements, which is showcased in her Mixed Media class. Being a creative has allowed her to enjoy different forms of art as well. She is
a makeup artist, web designer, and an event planner/decorator. She is passionate about what she does, she loves to teach, and takes pride in her work. She is so happy to be a part of the IS 227 family. Children are the future and we should “Aspire to Achievement Excellence”.
Tomas ATOMIK Manon is a practicing B-boy, Graffiti Artist, MC, Beatboxer, and Fine Artist/Live Performer. He performs at many events with the Breaking and Hip-Hop company Full Circle Souljahs Inc. (www.fullcirclesouljahs.com). He has performed at Lincoln Center, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Sundance Film Festival, and Le Poisson Rougue, to name a few. Most of the time he teaches inner city youth his art forms including martial arts and the discipline he learned from his experience serving in the United States Marine Corps. He will be teaching "Self-Defense: Mixed Martial Arts" and "Breaking: The First, Original Hip Hop Dance." He looks forward to working with the students at IS 227.
Nasiyr Thomas will be an Arts & Literacy Rap & Poetry Teacher for 3 years as of March 2021. Working with youth for the last ten years between after-school & foster care programs, he has a passion for helping children become successful adults. Whether it be via sports (he's also a basketball coach for A&L) or self-expression, he understands the importance of youth getting to know themselves & others better- fostering high self-esteem & thriving relationships with the world around them. As a world champion rapper & poet-stage name Osyris Antham-, Nasiyr has performed in cities around the globe: Paris, France. Brussels, Belgium. Prague, Czech Republic. Montreal, Canada. Atlanta, Georgia. Also, most of all in his hometown of New York City. Teaching is a mutual learning experience and Nasiyr values what he learns from the students as much as he values being responsible for guiding them.
Juan Zumba AKA Mr. Z is a sports enthusiast & Video Editor who enjoys sharing his knowledge by teaching students. He is a High School graduate from the High School for Arts & Business and was part of the Argentina Academy Futbol Club. He will be teaching "Fútbol/Soccer 101" and "Video Editing 101." He looks forward to working with the students.
