Miatta Massaley takes the helm as school director at Bushwick Ascend Middle School, after serving for two years as dean of instruction and culture at Canarsie Ascend Lower School, where she developed the school’s warm culture and propelled her students to superior academic achievement. Massaley began her teaching career as a Teach For America corps member, and joined Ascend after numerous years teaching middle school reading, writing, math, and vocabulary at PAVE Academy, as well as lower elementary students at Success Academy Charter Schools. She also served as a dean of students at Success, a curriculum writer for fifth and sixth grade exam preparation at PAVE, and a graduate professor at Touro College. Massaley holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Pennsylvania State University and a master’s in education from Hunter College.