Misha Simmonds is in his eighth year as Executive Director. He is a graduate of New Leaders for New Schools and the Leadership Newark program.  As part of principal training, he interned for a full year as an assistant principal at North Star Academy. Previously he spent three years as an Associate Partner at NewSchools Venture Fund. He has earned a BA in History at Princeton University, an MBA from Harvard Business School, and a Masters of Science in Educational Leadership at Baruch University.

Karen Johnson is in her seventh year as School Business Administrator. She brings 15 years of experience in school business administration, including roles at East Orange Board of Education, Essex County Educational Services Commission, Irvington Board of Education, Cedar Grove Board of Education, and two charter schools. In 2010, she successfully obtained certification as a Qualified School Purchasing Agent, which expanded her capacity to secure cost efficient goods and services for the school. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting at Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Maria Picone is in her third year as Lower School Principal, where she leads instruction and culture for grades PreK-2. She joined UHCS from Prospect Park District, where she was Supervisor for Curriculum & Instruction, Special Services, and Testing. Previously she spent 12 years in Bloomingdale School District as a Teacher, School Counselor, Substance Abuse Counselor, and Administrative Intern. She completed a Master of Arts in Counseling, Human Services, and Guidance and a Bachelors of Arts in English at Montclair State University, and has also done post-graduate leadership studies at Montclair State University.

Nikki Jones is in her first year as Upper School Principal. Prior to UHCS, Ms. Jones spent 10 years at North Star Academy as a Middle School English Teacher and English Department Chair where she achieved NJASK proficiency rates of 95% or higher every year. She is the recipient of the 2011 Charter School Teacher of the Year Award. She received her Masters in Educational Administration from Montclair State University and Bachelors of Arts in Urban Education from Rutgers-Newark.

Dowayne Davis is in his third year as Assistant School Business Administrator, where he leads Operations and Technology. Since 2009, he has managed the school’s network infrastructure and has designed systems to support a wide range of educational initiatives. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems Management and Technology from Syracuse University and a Master of Business Administrations from Baruch College, City University of New York.

Jessica Urban is in her first year as Vice Principal.  Prior to this, Ms. Urban worked at UHCS for 7 years in various teacher and leader assignments including Supervisor of Special Services, second grade, ESL, and Spanish.  Ms. Urban is a graduate of New Leaders for New Schools and Teach For America.   She received her Masters of Science in Educational Leadership at Baruch College, City University of New York, her Master of Arts in Bilingual/Bicultural Education at Teachers College Columbia University and her Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and Communications at Ramapo College of New Jersey.

Toni Tagliareni is in her first year as Vice Principal. Prior to this position, Ms. Tagliareni worked one year as Supervisor, two years as Dean of Students and two years as a second grade teacher. She received her Bachelor of Arts from McDaniel College in Social Work and Political Science. Ms. Tagliareni also has her Masters in Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania and her Masters in Educational Leadership from Montclair State University. She is a Teach for America alumna and an adjunct professor at Seton Hall University.