Meet Our Trainers
LINARA DAVIDSON GREENIDGE
Linara Davidson comes to EHTP from the public relations and government sector, and is currently an adjunct instructor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. She recently worked for Hillary for America. Prior to that, Linara worked as a Vice President at Ogilvy Public Relations in their Corporate Group. She also served in New York City government for nine years in various capacities, and in 2012, was recognized by City & State as one of the city’s top 40 under 40 Political Rising Stars.
Linara served on the Board of Trustees for the Cathedral School of St. John the Divine for eight years, and is currently a board member for Advocates for Youth and the National Black Theatre. Linara received her MPA at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs and is a graduate of New York University where she holds a B.S. in Humanities.
AVARISSE CRAWFORD
Avarisse (Avi) Crawford believes that through equity-centered schools and systems, our students can work toward becoming whoever they want to be. As Chief of Staff, Avi ensures that the senior management team optimizes strategic growth and the effective implementation of organizational priorities.
Avi’s relationship with EHTP began as a volunteer College Mentor through its CMP (College Mentoring Program). From there, she fell in love with the students and staff and joined the team.
Prior to joining EHTP, Avi worked in business development at Sullivan and Cromwell, crisis communications at Ruder Finn, and event planning and communications at The Penn Club of New York. Throughout that time, Avi served as a math, college advisory, and SAT and ACT teacher with SEO Scholars and The Princeton Review.
As a Questbridge Scholar, Avi received a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, with a concentration in Marketing and Communications. Avi currently resides in East Harlem, where she enjoys the sights, smells, and sounds that remind her of her home of North Philadelphia. Avi looks forward to leveraging her jack-of-all-trades skills to support EHTP and the students who look just like her.
SUSAN GONZOWITZ
Susan Gonzowitz is the Founding Managing Director of the East Harlem Teaching Residency (EHTR), a program she designed. A co-author of a chapter in TheTeacher Residency Model: Core Components for High Impact on Student Achievement, she has presented on her work at the American Association of College for Teachers, American Educational Research Association, National Center for Teaching Residencies, and New York Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, among others.
Susan worked for three years as director of East Harlem Tutorial Program’s elementary after-school program and was instrumental in creating its racial equity work. Prior to at EHTP, Susan was employed with the New York City Department of Education, where she was an instructional coach and an elementary school teacher. She is an adjunct lecturer at Hunter College School of Education, teaching courses in literacy and racial equity.
She received her master’s degree in literacy and an advanced certification in school supervision and administration at Hunter College and her undergraduate degree from Skidmore College. She is currently enrolled in the Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership, Administration and Policy program at Fordham University.
KAYLA MCPHERSON
Kayla has been with EHTP since 2012, supporting the organization’s operations. She is a member of the EHTP Anti-Racism Coalition, a graduate of the inaugural cohort of EHTP’s Anti-Racism Facilitator Training, and member of the Culture Committee. Kayla received her BA and MA from Columbia University where her graduate thesis focused on affirmative action policies, specifically the use of racial quotas in Brazilian public university admissions. Kayla is an avid home cook and enjoys reading speculative fiction.