OUR Staff

Naomi Woodmansee
Head of School

With more than 20 years of experience in Christian education in New York City, Naomi serves as Head of School and invests her time and expertise in teaching scholars, training teachers, and corresponding with the families of our Hope Academy scholars. Naomi holds a Doctorate of Education with a concentration in Curriculum and Instruction. She has been a faithful member of The Bronx Household of Faith since 1988.

Naomi says: “I believe learning environments like Hope Academy are essential for struggling students to gain the hope, confidence, and skills to close the academic gap and to acquire a love for learning about God’s Word and His world. I am honored and humbled to be a part of this endeavor to hold out hope to students and families in our neighborhood.”

Naomi Woodmansee
Head of School

With more than 20 years of experience in Christian education in New York City, Naomi serves as Head of School and invests her time and expertise in teaching scholars, training teachers, and corresponding with the families of our Hope Academy scholars. Naomi holds a Doctorate of Education with a concentration in Curriculum and Instruction. She has been a faithful member of The Bronx Household of Faith since 1988.

Naomi says: “I believe learning environments like Hope Academy are essential for struggling students to gain the hope, confidence, and skills to close the academic gap and to acquire a love for learning about God’s Word and His world. I am honored and humbled to be a part of this endeavor to hold out hope to students and families in our neighborhood.”

 
Jesse Roberts
Director of Partnerships and Part-Time Teacher

Jesse has faithfully served Hope Academy since the opening of the school in 2014. Jesse manages the school building, teaches history classes, disciples and disciplines students, and handles school finances. Jesse’s experience as a coach, a substitute teacher, a ministry coordinator at The Bronx Household of Faith, and an administrator in both ministry and office settings has equipped him to serve Hope Academy in a multitude of ways. Jesse and his wife, Jessica, are the proud parents of three young daughters, Peyton, Madilyn and Colleen.

 

Jesse says: “Hope Academy seeks to serve the community as a whole by impacting the children and their families alike. The work done at Hope Academy is indispensable not only because it meets the academic needs of our students, but because it works to meet the need that we all have – the need for a new heart in Christ.”

Jesse Roberts
Director of School Operations and Part-Time Teacher

Jesse has faithfully served Hope Academy since the opening of the school in 2014. Jesse manages the school building, teaches history classes, disciples and disciplines students, and handles school finances. Jesse’s experience as a coach, a substitute teacher, a ministry coordinator at The Bronx Household of Faith, and an administrator in both ministry and office settings has equipped him to serve Hope Academy in a multitude of ways. Jesse and his wife, Jessica, are the proud parents of three young daughters, Peyton, Madilyn and Colleen.

Jesse says: “Hope Academy seeks to serve the community as a whole by impacting the children and their families alike. The work done at Hope Academy is indispensable not only because it meets the academic needs of our students, but because it works to meet the need that we all have – the need for a new heart in Christ.”

 
Jacob Roberts
Director of School Operations and Part-Time Teacher

Jacob began teaching at Hope Academy in 2015. Jacob was born and raised only a block from the school in the Bronx, only leaving New York City to receive his Bachelor’s degree in English and Communications at Grove City College in Pennsylvania. Jacob’s love for literature and years of experience working with children help equip him to teach reading and writing to Hope Academy scholars with passion and perseverance. Jacob has attended The Bronx Household of Faith with his family since birth, becoming a member in 2011.

 

Jacob says: “My time at Hope Academy has been both challenging and instructive. Without a doubt, the most rewarding and encouraging aspect of my role as a teacher here is the opportunity to share the gospel. God can work in the lives of these scholars. I’m blessed to have the opportunity to teach His truth, to share His love, and to see His plan unfold in the lives of Hope Academy scholars.”

Jacob Roberts
Full-Time Teacher

Jacob began teaching at Hope Academy in 2015. Jacob was born and raised only a block from the school in the Bronx, only leaving New York City to receive his Bachelor’s degree in English and Communications at Grove City College in Pennsylvania. Jacob’s love for literature and years of experience working with children help equip him to teach reading and writing to Hope Academy scholars with passion and perseverance. Jacob has attended The Bronx Household of Faith with his family since birth, becoming a member in 2011.

Jacob says: “My time at Hope Academy has been both challenging and instructive. Without a doubt, the most rewarding and encouraging aspect of my role as a teacher here is the opportunity to share the gospel. God can work in the lives of these scholars. I’m blessed to have the opportunity to teach His truth, to share His love, and to see His plan unfold in the lives of Hope Academy scholars.”

 
Amanda Swift
Full-Time Teacher

Part of the Bronx Household of Faith since birth, with a degree in Music, work experience in healthcare, and 5 years of missions in Asia, Amanda is very thankful for this opportunity to teach music, health, science, and Bible right in her own backyard.

 

Amanda says: “To be a part of this team, daily holding out the glorious message of the gospel, is a weighty and joyous privilege. “…who is sufficient for these things?” But, we have “confidence… through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God.” As the Lord has changed our hearts and brought us into His kingdom, so we pray and labor in the hope that He will do so for our scholars.

Amanda Swift
Full-Time Teacher

Part of the Bronx Household of Faith since birth, with a degree in Music, work experience in healthcare, and 5 years of missions in Asia, Amanda is very thankful for this opportunity to teach music, health, science, and Bible right in her own backyard.

Amanda says: “To be a part of this team, daily holding out the glorious message of the gospel, is a weighty and joyous privilege. ‘…who is sufficient for these things?’ But, we have ‘confidence… through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God.’ As the Lord has changed our hearts and brought us into His kingdom, so we pray and labor in the hope that He will do so for our scholars.”

 
Hannah Stinson
Full-Time Teacher

Hannah Stinson grew up in Washington state and came to New York City for college. She is currently working on her master’s degree at Teachers College. In God’s providence, she heard about Hope Academy after the school where she had been hired closed. She teaches our eight middle schoolers Bible, math, Geography, Botany, and Technology. 

 

Hannah says: “I appreciate the way HA values creativity in instruction and prioritizes equipping scholars with what they need for success, while consistently sharing the truth with them in word and deed.”

Hannah Stinson
Full-Time Teacher

Hannah Stinson grew up in Washington state and came to New York City for college. She is currently working on her master’s degree at Teachers College. In God’s providence, she heard about Hope Academy after the school where she had been hired closed. She teaches our eight middle schoolers Bible, math, Geography, Botany, and Technology. 

Hannah says: “I appreciate the way HA values creativity in instruction and prioritizes equipping scholars with what they need for success, while consistently sharing the truth with them in word and deed.”

 
Gillian Jackson
Full-Time Teacher

Gillian Jackson, a native of Syracuse, NY, has spent time teaching in Morocco and Guadeloupe. She earned her master’s degree from Middlebury College. Gillian’s family and church have prayed for our school for years.  We are thrilled that she is teaching our freshman and sophomores English and Global History.

 

Gillian says she is here “to teach and to learn.”

Gillian Jackson
Full-Time Teacher

Gillian Jackson, a native of Syracuse, NY, has spent time teaching in Morocco and Guadeloupe. She earned her master’s degree from Middlebury College. Gillian’s family and church have prayed for our school for years.  We are thrilled that she is teaching our freshman and sophomores English and Global History. 

Gillian says she is here “to teach and to learn.”

 
Clara Leo
Full-Time Teacher

After working in youth ministry and music education, Clara Leo received God’s call in 2022 to relocate from her home in the Chicago area to teach at Hope Academy.

 

Clara says: “During my time at Hope Academy, I have been so blessed and humbled to see and experience God’s ability to change me and the people around me. He is continually working through prayer and through relationships between scholars, staff, and administrators, demonstrating the transformative power of the gospel. I am thankful that He has seen fit to bring me here!”

Clara Leo
Full-Time Teacher
 After working in youth ministry and music education, Clara Leo received God’s call in 2022 to relocate from her home in the Chicago area to teach at Hope Academy. 

Clara says: “During my time at Hope Academy, I have been so blessed and humbled to see and experience God’s ability to change me and the people around me. He is continually working through prayer and through relationships between scholars, staff, and administrators, demonstrating the transformative power of the gospel. I am thankful that He has seen fit to bring me here!”

 

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Hope Academy of The Bronx
2206 Andrews Ave Bronx NY 10453
(347) 762-2463
hopeacademy@bhof.org

 

Hope Academy of The Bronx
2206 Andrews Ave Bronx NY 10453
(347) 762-2463
hopeacademy@bhof.org

 

Site Design by CMD Graphic & Web