The Quad Manhattan
Programs for Twice-Exceptional (2e) Children
Heather Goldman, Ph.D. – Supervising Child Psychologist
Dr. Heather Goldman, a Clinical Instructor of Psychology at Columbia University, has been the Supervising Clinical Psychologist for The Quad since its inception in 2010. She has over 10 years experience coordinating school-based mental health programs, running her own private practice and serving as a school psychologist at 2 schools, one that serves 2E children. She additionally teaches and is experienced in running clinical trials. Heather is the Program Director for The Quad's Psychosocial Internship Program and for the Certificate Program in Meeting the Needs of Twice Exceptional Children. She directs all afterschool programs and provides professional insight to the ALL programs at The Quad by supervising several interns and staff members in working with our kids. She is enthusiastic with knowledge and experience.
Email: heather@thequadmanhattan.com
Ashley Riviere – Director, Summer Camp
Ashley began at the Quad in 2012 as a Core teacher and as the Summer Camp Director in 2013. Ashley is a teacher, tutor, writer, and admirer of all things fun! Ashley graduated from The College at Brockport, SUNY with a bachelor’s degree in English and Journalism and NYS Teaching Certification in English and Special Education. Ashley is currently a Special Education Teacher for New York City Department of Education. She specializes in reading and writing and has implemented two summer curricula for The Quad Manhattan including writing for the media and multi-cultural, hands-on reading with interactive field trips. Ashley has a true passion for teaching, children and their advancement in the world.
Email: ashley@thequadmanhattan.com
Mirlet Auguste – Capoeira and Dance Specialist
Mirlet Auguste has been teaching summer camps at the Quad since 2011. He is a Graduado from Grupo Capoeira Luanda NYC under the supervision of Mestre Jelon Vieira and has been training capoeira for over 8 years. Mirlet has also taught Capoeira at Kipp Amp Charter School in Brooklyn. A native New Yorker, Mirlet is also a free-style dancer and performer with a strong influence of Afro beats and House music and a full-time Fashion Designer.
Kimberly Busi, M.D. – Founder and Director
Kim Busi is a Psychiatrist in private practice in Lower Manhattan and a former Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the NYU School of Medicine. She left her faculty appointment in 2009 to found The Quad Manhattan. She received her Medical Degree from the Brown University School of Medicine in 1997. After completing a year’s training in Pediatrics at the New York Hospital-Weill Medical Center, Dr. Busi finished her residency training in Psychiatry at the NYU School of Medicine in 2001. At NYU, Dr. Busi has designed curriculum, and taught and supervised residents. She served on the Curriculum Committee for the Department of Psychiatry, and as the Director of Education for the NYU/Bellevue Program for Survivors of Torture, a not-for-profit multidisciplinary treatment center within the Bellevue Hospital Center. There, she developed a multilevel curriculum to teach and supervise over 100 medical students, residents and psychologists. Best of all, she is the mother of two wonderful boys, 14 and 10.
Email: kim@thequadmanhattan.com
Nicole Cavaliere- Fine Art and Photography Specialist
Nicole started at The Quad as a fine arts teacher in 2013 and has taught in The Quad After School program and summer program as a Core Teacher. She is an artist and teaching artist with a degree in Art and Design Education from Pratt Institute, where she taught in their Saturday Art School. She has also taught at Academy of the City Charter School in Queens and has worked with sick, disabled, and disadvantaged children in South America and Africa for 3 summers with the Hope For The Children Foundation.
Jackson Kent- Improvisational Theater Specialist
Jackson started at The Quad as an intern in the summer of 2013. He returned in the summers of 2015 and 2016 as an improv teacher. He was an assistant teacher at The Quad Preparatory School from 2013 to 2014. During this time he taught two afterschool classes in improv theater and psychosocial core curriculum. He has been working with children since 2009 and has been involved with theater for his entire life. Jackson completed undergrad studies in Psychology at Oberlin College and is currently pursuing a masters of social work at Hunter College and graduates in May of 2016.
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Jennifer Yu- Core Teacher
Jennifer is a graduate of Wellesley College and Teach For America, Jennifer holds Master’s degree in Secondary Special Education and is currently pursuing a PsyD in School-Clinical Child Psychology at the Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology at Yeshiva University. She has experience teaching co-taught and self-contained Reading to high school students and most recently worked with 2e children at the Quad Preparatory School and Quad Manhattan Afterschool Program where she has co-written curriculum for the humanities and taught after school programs.
Meet Us!
Kimberly Busi, M.D. – Founder
She/Her
Kim Busi is a Psychiatrist in private practice in Lower Manhattan, Founder of The Quad Preparatory School (2013), and a former Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the NYU School of Medicine. She left her faculty appointment in 2009 to found The Quad Manhattan. She received her Medical Degree from the Brown University School of Medicine in 1997. After completing a year’s training in Pediatrics at the New York Hospital-Weill Medical Center, Dr. Busi finished her residency training in Psychiatry at the NYU School of Medicine in 2001. At NYU, Dr. Busi has designed curriculum, and taught and supervised residents. She served on the Curriculum Committee for the Department of Psychiatry, and as the Director of Education for the NYU/Bellevue Program for Survivors of Torture, a not-for-profit multidisciplinary treatment center within the Bellevue Hospital Center. There, she developed a multilevel curriculum to teach and supervise over 100 medical students, residents and psychologists. Best of all, she is the mother of two wonderful boys.
Ashley Riviere – Managing Director
She/Her
Ashley began at The Quad in 2012 as a Core teacher and as the Summer Camp Director in 2013. Ashley is a teacher, tutor, and writer. She holds a BS in English and one in Journalism and initial NYS Teaching Certification in English and Special Education grades 5-12 from The College at Brockport, SUNY. Ashley was a Special Education Teacher for three years before transitioning to The Quad Prep School as Curriculum Coordinator for two years and External Affairs Manager for another two. She specializes in teaching reading and writing and has implemented several summer curricula for The Quad Manhattan including writing for the media and multi-cultural, hands-on reading with interactive field trips. Ashley previously managed freelance marketing and development projects and continues to teach dance to children grades K-12 in her spare time.
Email: ashley@thequadmanhattan.com
Dr. Tara Hannon, PsyD -- Supervising Psychologist
She/Her
Tara Hannon joined the Quad Manhattan in June of 2026. She is currently working as a clinical psychologist at Parent and Child Psychological Services, PLLC/PANDC, Inc on the Upper West Side in Manhattan seeing children and teens for weekly therapy and doing parent consultation work; Dr. Hannon also works for Comprehensive Psychological Services, PC in Brooklyn and Harlem doing neuropsychological evaluations for the Department of Education (DOE). Dr. Hannon graduated from the Combined School-Clinical Child Psychology Program at Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology at Yeshiva University in 2010. In her spare time, Dr. Hannon likes to travel to and hang out with her three nephews (two of whom live in California) and niece, go for walks in NYC, puppy sit, go to comedy shows, bake, and hang out at the beach with her family and friends.
Email: tara@thequadmanhattan.com
Sarah Cehelyk--Summer Program Director
she/her
Sarah Cehelyk is a doctoral candidate at St. John's University with a Master's of Science in School Psychology. She has been with The Quad Manhattan since Summer 2021, serving as an intern, chief intern, psychosocial support, and assistant director. She is passionate about evidence-based practices for twice-exceptional youth and serving from a neurodiversity-affirming lens. Sarah teaches undergraduate Psychology courses at St. John's University as an adjunct professor and is passionate about increasing equity and access for neuropsychological assessments. In her free time, she enjoys reading, spending time with loved ones, and exploring New York!
Email: sarah@thequadmanhattan.com
Mirlet Auguste – Senior Capoeira and Swimming Specialist
He/His
Mirlet Auguste has been teaching summer camps at The Quad Manhattan since 2011. He is a Graduado from Grupo Capoeira Luanda NYC under the supervision of Mestre Jelon Vieira and has been training capoeira for over 8 years. Mirlet has also taught Capoeira at Kipp Amp Charter School in Brooklyn. A native New Yorker, Mirlet is also a free-style dancer, stuntman, and performer with a strong influence of Afro beats and House music and a full-time Fashion Designer.
Email: mirlet@thequadmanhattan.com
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Madeline Toledano Assistant Director
She/Her
Madeline holds dual Degrees in Psychology and Religion from Barnard College of Columbia University. She completed the Quad Manhattan's Psychosocial Internship in the summer of 2023 and quickly rose to the top of her class. She returned in 2024 as the Chief Intern and in 2025 as the Assistant Director. Madeline previously worked as a Teacher in Residence at the Windward School. She is pursuing a Master of Social Work at the Silberman School of Social Work, planning to continue working with children. In her spare time, she can be found reading in Prospect Park.
Lex Wingerter, MS Psychosocial Core Teacher
Lex began at The Quad Manhattan in the Summer of 2024 as an assistant teacher. She is a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College, where she earned her Master's in Education, with certification in Special Education. She returned in 2025 as a lead teacher and tutor with the Counselor-In-Training program where she now leads middle to high school students in exploration of their special interests and helps to prepare them for post-secondary life. Prior to her time at Quad, Lex served as an assistant teacher at a Preschool in 2023 and as a Basketball Camp Counselor in Florida, implementing physical health practices as well as teamwork and skill development.
Email: lex@thequadmanhattan.com
Angela Balbuena-Garcia, Substitute Core Teacher
She/Her
bio coming soon
Email: angela@thequadmanhattan.com
Lila Spiro, MS, Core Teacher
She/Her
Lila joined the Quad Manhattan in the summer of 2024 as a psychosocial intern. She is a graduate of NYU Steinhardt, where she earned her Master’s degree in Teaching with dual certification in Special Education and Social Studies. She is excited to return to The Quad Manhattan as a lead teacher in 2026. Recently, Lila served as a student teacher in New York City Public Schools, working in both self-contained (8:1+1) and Integrated Co-Teaching (ICT) classrooms. She studied Education and Psychology at Barnard College. Her psychology research focused on students and the ways in which peer friendships influence academic confidence.
Email: lila@thequadmanhattan.com
Ali Banks, Culinary Arts Instructor
She/Her
Ali Banks is a culinary strategist, consultant, and educator with 15+ years building and scaling food businesses rooted in integrity, creativity, and systems thinking. She holds a Diplôme de Cuisine from Le Cordon Bleu Paris and has held senior culinary leadership roles across restaurant groups, retail food operations, and culinary education — most recently as Vice President of Culinary at Founders Table Restaurant Group, where she oversaw menu innovation and operational growth for Chopt Creative Salad Co. across nearly 100 locations. Today, through her consulting practice Cassien Creative, she partners with founders and operators to translate culinary vision into executable, profitable realities. She is deeply invested in food as a vehicle for curiosity, confidence, and connection for adults, children and families.
Diana Hoang, Technology Instructor
She/Her
Diana is an educator pursuing her Master of Arts in the Educational Technology Specialist program at Teachers College, Columbia University, building on her undergraduate background in Linguistics and Computer Science from UCLA. Drawing from her experience as an instructor for Girls Who Code, she specializes in translating computational thinking into hands-on maker education for diverse learners. She designs engaging STEAM experiences that utilize tools like micro:bits, Raspberry Pi, laser cutters and 3D printers to create dynamic physical computing environments. By applying design thinking and user experience principles, Diana helps students build executive functioning and communication skills, ultimately guiding them to approach robotics and coding as empowered creators. Outside the classroom, she loves creative fabrication, exploring physical computing, and blending her technical expertise and eclectic range of interests in her personal design projects.
Lauren MacLean, Theater Instructor
She/Her
Lauren MacLean is a graduate student at NYU working toward her Masters in Drama Therapy. She received her undergraduate degree in Theatre from University of Redlands and has been teaching theatre ever since. This will be Lauren's first summer with Quad Manhattan and is very excited to share her love of theatre making, especially improv and devising, with the campers.
Aaron Stewart, Animation Instructor
He/Him
bio coming soon
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Ken Breese – Strategy Games Specialist
He/him
Ken joined The Quad in 2024 as a game master. Ken has a decade of experience teaching and facilitating strategy games as well as four years experience working with middle and high school students to provide social-skill focused D&D after-school groups. Ken holds a bachelor’s degree in Film and Digital Media from The University of California at Santa Cruz. Having served over three thousand unique participants, he specializes in quickly on-boarding new participants into the basics of D&D and reinforcing skills in English language arts, mathematics, as well as life-sciences. Ken's D&D after school group also highlights skills such as social interaction, teamwork, being patient, and leadership.
Email: ken@thequadmanhattan.com
Max Fan, Psychosocial Assistant Teacher
He/His
Max graduated from Wesleyan University in 2024 with dual degrees in Psychology and American Studies. He was a part of the Quad Manhattan team during the summer of 2023, rising to the top of his class as a psychosocial intern, and returned to the Quad in 2025 as an assistant psychosocial teacher. Max is currently pursuing his doctorate in School-Clinical Child Psychology at Pace University. In his free time, Max enjoys skiing, watching football, reading, and hanging out with his friends.
Email: max@thequadmanhattan.com
Edmond Malin, Tutor
He/Him
Ed Malin received his MSEd from Bank Street College in 2022. He also completed the University of Connecticut's certificate program in Gifted Education and Talent Development. Parent of a New York City teenager and Japanese anime fan, Ed enjoys learning about students' interests and channeling their enthusiasm into learning. Ed has taught at GO Project's summer and Saturday programs and at The IDEAL School of Manhattan, an inclusion school. Other interests include playwriting, history, and world languages.
Email: ed@thequadmanhattan.com
Julia Lieberman, Occupational Therapist
She/Her
Julia is a pediatric Occupational Therapist and has been teaching at the Quad Preparatory School and Quad Manhattan summer camp since 2021. She received a Bachelor's of Health Science and a Master's of Occupational Therapy from Quinnipiac University in May 2020. Julia has received training in the Learning without Tears Curriculum, the Interoception Curriculum, and Sensory Integration. She loves working with the 2e population and is excited to return to camp this summer. When she is not working, Julia enjoys walking with her puppy and trying food spots around the city.
Email: julia@thequadmanhattan.com
Julie Beynenson, MA, MEd, LMHC
She/Her
Julie Beynenson, LMHC, is a licensed mental health counselor with a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Maryland and a dual master’s in Psychological Counseling from Columbia University. She has extensive experience supporting children, adolescents, and adults in both school-based and clinical settings. For the past seven years, Julie has worked in specialized schools for neurodivergent children, collaborating closely with students, families, educators, and multidisciplinary teams to provide individualized emotional and behavioral support. This work has given her a deep understanding of how mental health influences students’ academic success, social development, and emotional well-being. In addition to her school-based work, Julie sees clients across the lifespan in a group private practice in Brooklyn, supporting individuals as they navigate a wide range of life challenges.
Email: julie@thequadmanhattan.com
Amanda D'Alessandro, MS, CCC-Speech and Language Pathologist
She/Her
bio coming soon
Email: amanda@thequadmanhattan.com
Booker Arnold, Camp Support Associate
He/Him
Booker has served as a junior counselor at The Quad Manhattan since 2019. He assists in the Capoeira classroom with Mirlet, where he has developed and refined his Capoeira skills over the last ten years with the program. Booker also specializes in transportation coordination for all summer field trips. Booker is a Quad Prep School graduate and is happy to work with Quad Manhattan students every summer.
Henry Dal Piaz Junior Counselor
He/Him
Henry is a rising junior at The Quad Preparatory School and joined The Quad Manhattan's team in the summer of 2025. In school, his favorite subject is history. In his free time, Henry enjoys reading books, watching funny videos, learning about animals, and spending time with his cats.