School Leadership

Farida Mama Graham is the principal at KIPP Academy Lynn Middle School. Farida began her career as a TFA corps member teaching English as a Second Language and Mathematics in Boston Public Schools. Later, she became the founding 5th grade math teacher at an in-district turnaround school within the UP Education Network. In one year, Farida’s 5th grade mathematicians achieved the #1 Mathematics Growth Percentile in the state of Massachusetts. After working as a founding 5th grade math teacher, Farida joined the Lynch Leadership Academy at Boston College as a Principal Resident.

In addition to teaching, Farida has worked with TFA and the MATCH Teacher Residency where she coached and provided professional development for new teachers and new teacher coaches. Farida is an alumna of the Teach Plus Policy Fellowship, where she advocated for educational policy at the local and national level. In October of 2013, Farida was one of two Teach Plus Fellows to meet with President Obama, Former Secretary of Education John King and Former Secretary of Education Arne Duncan about standardized testing in classrooms.

Additionally, Farida is a recipient of the Sontag Prize in Urban Education, the UP Education Network Excellence in Teaching Award and the Teach For America Alumni Excellence in Teaching award. Farida earned her B.A. from the University of Connecticut, and her M.Ed from Boston University.

Farida currently lives on the Noth Shore with her husband and enjoys running, spinning, reading, and cooking in her free time.

Fay Alexander is in her 3rd year as an AP at KAL. Prior to KIPP she worked as 7th grade Humanities teacher at a Charter School in Cambridge. She loves working with the 5th grade students as they experience their first year of middle school as well as working with the 6th Graders as they become more comfortable being a middle school student. She loves talking about the books and digging into the social studies curriculum. She enjoys working alongside such dedicated educators at KIPP MA. In addition to working as an AP, she also co-created WeGotUs alongside fellow principal Shabrina Guerrier. WeGotUs is a space where KIPP BIPOC staff can come together to support one another and find joy.

When she is not working, you can find Fay reading or watching any Star Wars movie.

Michael Johnson (“MJ”), is Assistant Principal at Kipp Academy Lynn, for 7th and 8th grade Math and Science.

Michael or “MJ” is originally from Minnepaolis, MN. She started her career in education as the Student Services Director at LearningWorks at Blake: A Breakthrough Program. It was there she learned about the compelling impact that out of school time and summer programs have in the enrichment and development of youth. During this time, she also served as Director of Cornerstone, an affinity group for students of color at The Blake School. In 2014, she earned a Masters Degree in School Leadership at Harvard Graduate School of Education. She taught 6th grade Middle School math, science, and computer coding at Edward Brooke Charter Schools. During this time, she significantly increased academic performance while simultaneously fostering a classroom environment in which scholars treated each other like family. She aims to provide a safe, warm, academically rigorous, engaging, and affirming environment for KAL scholars. Social Justice has long been her north star and is at the heart why she is in education.

Aside from her role as Assistant Principal MJ has a passion for coaching and softball. She has coached middle school volleyball and softball, and highschool softball. She also loves gardening, and being active in the gym and in nature.

Jimmy Seter was born and raised in Southern California and began his educational career in 2013. Jimmy joined Teach for America Oklahoma and taught 7th and 8th Grade History at KIPP Tulsa College Preparatory. While at KIPP Tulsa, Jimmy served as the 7th Grade Level Chair and History Department Chair. Following his time in Tulsa, Jimmy joined KIPP Massachusetts in 2016. Jimmy joined the team at KIPP Academy Lynn Middle School as the re-founding 5th Grade Social Studies. After two years in 5th Grade, Jimmy moved into leadership and became the Dean of Students in 2018. After being Dean, Jimmy transitioned to being the 7th/8th Grade Humanities Assistant Principal and this will be his third year in the role.

Jimmy enjoys reading, sports, dancing, diving into culturally relevant texts and historical lessons, and spending time with his wonderful girlfriend and puppy.

Elsy Estevez-Hicks was on the KALE founding team in 2015. Elsy was a lead Kindergarten teacher and then the founding Grade Level Chair of second grade. She has also served as the instructional leader and Assistant Principal of both second and third grades prior to becoming KALE’s Principal. Prior to joining the KALE team, Elsy taught at both district and charter schools in Newark NJ. She takes pride in serving the richly diverse Lynn community. She is also passionate about serving the children of immigrant families like herself.

Marlaina Johnston has been an educator for 11 years. She started off her career in 2010 as an elementary school teacher in Revere and since then has worked in DC and other Greater Boston schools. While in DC Marlaina worked at KIPP DC and fell in love with the KIPP network. When deciding to move back to the Boston area she wanted to continue her work at KIPP and became a founding 4th-grade teacher at KALE. Currently, she is an Assistant Principal at KALE and is in her second year in the role.

Marlaina lives in Lynn, MA with her husband Rob and has enjoyed exploring everything the Lynn community has to offer. When she is not working, she likes to spend time with her family, check out local restaurants, and work out.

A native of Revere, Angelina has experience with children and family services, youth development, and mental health services in schools and communities. Angelina has a passion not only for supporting students and families, but also faculty and staff! Angelina transitioned from a counselor to a Dean of Students role and joins us as an Assistant Principal of our specialized programs and student supports. She is committed to ensuring each student’s needs are met and supported within our community.

Angelina is excited to be a part of the KIPP community and looks forward to continuing to grow and learn here!

Following my mother’s footsteps, the most audacious woman I know, being a leader in education is how I choose to show up in the world. It is truly my form of activism, it is how I kick up dust where complacency has interrupted our quest for strong equity. As an immigrant, I’ve experienced what it feels like to uproot it all to chase education, freedom, and happiness. Similar to what I experienced in my secondary schools, I hope to be a bridge for families who are making similar transitions as they navigate the hidden curriculums within our institutions. As the proud principal of KIPP Academy Lynn Collegiate, I am unapologetic and forthright about re-centering, honoring, and amplifying voices at the margin through the lens of curriculum & instruction, school culture, policy, recruitment and talent development.

School Mission:
To provide a well-rounded and rigorous education that prioritizes the whole student so that they could live a life of choice, freedom, and happiness.

School Vision:
KALC Panthers are curious, creative, and critical of the world around them. From 9th-12th grade, KALC panthers develop a sound understanding that intellectualism is the counter-narrative to white supremacy culture and the negative stereotypes about their identity as achievers. Students already come to us as experts of their own lived experiences, and we build upon that in our building. They feel empowered to interrogate and be critical about the spaces they occupy or desire to occupy with a sense of agency and a call to critical action.

Zach joined the KIPP Massachusetts team in 2014 and is the Principal at KIPP Academy Boston K-8. This is Zach’s fourth year as Principal and sixth year in school leadership.

Zach started teaching in Chicago in the fall of 2010 on the west side of Chicago. In the fall of 2012, he started his career with KIPP in Chicago teaching 5th grade reading. In 2014 Zach moved to Boston and began teaching at KIPP Academy Boston as a 7th grade reading teacher and Grade Level Chair. During the founding year of KIPP Academy Boston Elementary, Zach taught in the same hallway as the founding Kindergarten class. Those Kindergarteners are now in 7th grade, and it has been one of the highlights of his career watching that group of kids (and many others) grow up at KAB.

When Zach is not at school he enjoys spending time with his wife Jesse, his dog Riggins, going on runs, and reading lots of books.

Meghan began teaching in 2012, after graduating from Northeastern University. She taught sixth grade ELA for seven years, first at KIPP Sunshine Peak Academy in Denver, Colorado and then at KIPP Academy Boston. Meghan loved working with students in the classroom and helping them discover the joy of reading. In 2019, Meghan transitioned to the role of assistant principal at the Boston campus. This year, she is excited to be working closely with the third and fourth grade students, families, and teachers.

Emily started working in education after graduating from Georgetown University in 2011. She began her teaching career at the Lawrence Family Development Charter School in Lawrence, MA, where she worked as a classroom teacher in grades 1-3 for seven years. Following that, Emily transitioned to an Assistant Principal role and worked at Match Community Day Charter School in Mattapan for two years. 

Emily joined KIPP MA as an Assistant Principal in 2020, and is excited to be partnering with first and second grade students, families, and teachers this year. She loves instilling a love of reading early and is passionate about ensuring that all students have access to grade level rigor. 

Gina Lopez, a Bronx, NY native, started her journey in education as a teaching fellow in 2015, but has been a KIPPster since 2002, where she attended KIPP Academy in the Bronx. She has spent the last 7 years teaching and leading in the elementary and middle school at KAB K-8. While at KAB she has taught ELA, Math and founded the 3rd grade. Currently, she is an assistant principal where she works to ensure that families are key stakeholders in their children’s journey, and works alongside teachers and staff to make choices that are best for their students. She is passionate about anti-racist education and ensuring that the social-emotional needs of her students are addressed as prevalently as the academic needs.

Gina graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Boston University, College of Communication in 2015 and is currently pursuing her master’s degree in educational leadership and policy from Boston University’s Wheelock College.

I was born to two teachers in Lowell MA, and raised in Roslindale Massachusetts. I am excited to be a part of positively impacting youth in my Boston community where I grew up. Throughout my career I have been committed to helping youth succeed and thrive. I have been able to work in various non-profits in the city of Boston which positively benefit youth such as: Bikes Not Bombs, Artists for Humanity, Courageous Sailing, Urban Scholars, The Young People’s Project, and RFK Children’s Action Corps. I have also taught in both Somerville Public schools, and Brookline Public Schools. I graduated with my Bachelor’s in Sociology in 2014, and my Master’s in Applied Sociology in 2018, both degrees from UMASS Boston.The position I’m transitioning from was a role as a Social Worker with the Department of Children and Families where I was able to help families create safe environments for children to promote healthy childhood development. My new role with KIPP as School Culture Specialist for K-4th grade is a great opportunity to help youth and their families overcome barriers and achieve academic success.