Team

Johana Andujar
Principal

Johana Andujar joined LEEP Academy with seven years of leadership experience as a Principal in the Ascend charter school network, where she transformed the flagship elementary school’s culture while strengthening academic results. A Responsive Classroom expert and skilled mentor teacher, she has also served in a leadership role at the Children’s Literacy Initiative in Newark, New Jersey. Ms. Andujar is a graduate of Lehman College with a Master’s degree in Education from Hunter College.

Roberto Gutierrez
Founder & Senior Leadership Fellow

Roberto Gutiérrez founded Latino Educational Equity Partnerships (LEEP) in 2015 with the vision for schools like LEEP Academy. A Brooklyn resident since 2005 and the son of Mexican immigrants, Mr. Gutiérrez is a writer, filmmaker, communications leader, and former executive for leading national charter school networks. He is a graduate of St. Mary's University and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Notre Dame for advancing values of justice and peace in American broadcasting.

Tenille Faria
Senior Director of Operations

Tenille Faria joins LEEP Academy with five years of educational operations experience, and six additional years of facilities management and HVAC management experience. Having served as an Assistant Principal of Operations at Ascend Charter School, Tenille has worked to improve and systemize operations to support the needs of all students, both in and out of the classroom. A tenacious, creative and gracious leader, she manages the operations team, the Student Support Team, and oversees the After School Programming at LEEP. Tenille is a graduate of Binghamton University with a double major in Political Science and Anthropology, and is currently pursuing a Masters Degree at New York University in the Mental Health, Counseling & Wellness program to support childhood development. Her mission is to support our students at LEEP by providing them with the tools to succeed. 

Margarita Cheng
Director of Family Experience

Margarita Cheng helps ensure a strong connection for all families at LEEP Academy and is a founding LEEP Academy parent herself! She was born in Panama, grew up in Venezuela, and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Baruch College, CUNY. Ms. Cheng has experience in television and marketing and previously worked as a parent liaison at a high school in Manhattan.