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The Team

Dear ILI Family,

We are thrilled to announce that two members of the family, Roxanne Leff and Angel Gonzalez are joining the ILI faculty. In addition, Markell Parker has joined as ILI’s first Director of Operations. In different ways they have all navigated the independent school world to positions of leadership, influence and admiration. They lead with emotional intelligence and integrity. For these and many other reasons, we are excited to welcome them to the ILI staff.

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Angel Gonzalez

ILI Core Faculty

Angel Rubiel Gonzalez is the Head of School at De La Salle Academy and a proud alumnus of De La Salle Academy, where he was previously Principal, Academic Dean, Director of Admissions, and a social studies teacher. Angel taught as an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Africana and Puerto Rican/Latino Studies and the School of Education at Hunter College, CUNY, and as an adjunct professor in the Educational Leadership Program at the Klingenstein Center at Teachers College, Columbia University. He has served on the Board of Directors of the New York City GUILD of Independent Schools and is currently a National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) trustee.

 

Angel has delivered presentations at the American Educational Research Association, the Eastern Sociological Society, and the Caribbean Philosophical Association. His work has appeared in NBC Latino and NPR’s Latino USA and has been published in the Teachers College Record and the edited volumes Sexualities in Education and Teaching About Gender Diversity.

 

He holds a B.A. in Sociology from Hunter College, CUNY, and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Social and Cultural Studies in Education from the University of California, Berkeley. Over his sixteen years as an educational researcher, teacher, and administrator, Angel has committed to building nurturing and sustaining educational environments for all, especially for families that lack access to quality education.

Roxanne Leff

ILI Core Faculty

Roxanne Leff earned her BA from Rutgers University, an MA in Teaching from Tufts University, and an M. Ed. in Educational Leadership from the Klingenstein Center at Columbia University. Roxanne is completing her 24th year as an educator and her seventh year as the Assistant Head of School at the Brooklyn Heights Montessori School. Prior to her current tenure in Brooklyn, she has worked at The Town School, Riverdale Country School, Ethical Culture Fieldston School, and the Shady Hill School including roles as apprentice teacher, middle school classroom teacher, Diversity Coordinator, Dean of Students and Assistant Division Head. 

 

Roxanne served on the NYSAIS Diversity Committee, and was Co-Chair from 2017-2019. Additionally, she volunteered on the Manhattan Country School Board of Trustees for six years, chaired the Head of School search for MCS' third Director and is the proud parent of an MCS alumni and current student. Roxanne is the proud alum of both CSTI and ILI!

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Markell Parker

ILI Director of Operations

We are also happy to announce that ILI has hired its first Director of Operations, another alumnus, Markell Parker. Markell brings over 20 years of experience in independent schools, including leadership roles in admissions, diversity, and most recently he served as Executive Director of a not-for-profit academic enrichment program in the Bronx. A creative and multifaceted professional, he combines his deep expertise in education with a passion for technology and storytelling. As a filmmaker, screenwriter, and AI enthusiast, Markell brings a blend of innovation with a commitment to equity and community impact.

We look forward to everything they will bring to the ILI faculty, curriculum, and operations. During this period of growth and innovation, we are proud to be adding three alumni to the team who will help to expand the legacy and the possibilities for ILI as it enters its second decade.

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