Our School
Our Students
Administration
 |
||
Candace L. Caprow has been a School Psychologist with the Niagara Falls Public Schools since 1989. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Special Education from Ohio University, a Master of Education degree in Counselor Education from Arizona State University and a Master of Arts degree in School Psychology from the State University of New York at Buffalo. She holds a NYS Permanent Teaching Certificate in Special Education and a NYS Permanent School Psychologist Certificate. Prior to becoming a School Psychologist in Niagara Falls she taught at the Bostrom Alternative Center for Education in Phoenix, Arizona, at the Grand Island High School and in the Buffalo Public School System. She is the mother of three children and is currently a member of the National Association of School Psychologists and the Western New York Association of School Psychologists.
 |
||
Amy H. Friedman, Tapestry Charter School Trustee is a founder of Tapestry Charter School and the mother of three children, one of whom attends the school. She is a recipient of the “Pathfinder Award” given by representatives of the Buffalo Business Community for her work in public education. She was appointed by the Mayor to the City of Buffalo Charter Revision Commission that was charged with revising the City of Buffalo’s governing charter where she served as the Chairperson of the Task Forces on Budget and on Education. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Allegheny College and has served in leadership positions on the City Honors School Foundation, The Buffalo Seminary Parents Association, the Olmsted Home School Association and the Junior Group of the Albright Knox Art Gallery.
 |
||
Joy Stanli Pepper, Tapestry Charter School Director, is a founder of Tapestry Charter School. Prior to her work with Tapestry, she was Founder and Partner, Director and Teacher of The Right Place for K.I.D.S., a preschool and kindergarten program for children three to five years of age established in 1991. She was a Student Teacher Supervisor for Erie Community College, leading a program of workshops on Art and Literature for the ECC Education Department's Curriculum Class and leads a series of Art Workshops for children. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Art Education with a Minor in Textile Design from the State University College at Buffalo and a Master of Education degree in Early Childhood Education from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Prior to opening her own school she taught at the Calasanctius School and at various day-care and preschools in the Buffalo area including the Jewish Center of Greater Buffalo and the Campus Child-Care Center at SUNY Buffalo. She is a recipient of the 2000 Pathfinder Award. She is the mother of one child and has been active in several community projects including Forever Elmwood where she served as the Co-Chairperson of the Beautification and Garden Committee.
 |
||
Steven H. Polowitz, esq., Tapestry Charter School Trustee, is a partner in the law firm of Gradl Polowitz & Schwach, LLP. where he specializes in Mortgage Banking, Real Estate and Community Development. He is admitted to the practice of law in both New York State and Florida. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the State University of New York and a Juris Doctor degree from SUNY Buffalo School of Law. He is the father of three children and currently is a member of the Erie County Bar Association where he is active on the Real Estate Committee, the Florida Bar, Phi Beta Kappa Society and is President of the Board of Directors of the Buffalo Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc. He previously served on the Board of Directors of the West Side Neighborhood Housing Services and the Kadimah School of Buffalo and is a past member of the City of Buffalo Housing Court Advisory Council.
 |
||
Hannah Raiken-Schulman, founder, arts coordinator, dance instructor and parent, began teaching in 1978. She was on the dance faculty at the Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts for 19 years. During her tenure with the Buffalo Public Schools, Hannah taught ballet, dance history, dance composition, and dance fundamentals. She choreographed for student concerts, musicals, lecture demonstrations, and interdisciplinary projects. In addition to her teaching responsibilities Hannah wrote curriculum, mentored student teachers, and auditioned students for admission to the dance department.
In 1983 she wrote and produced a video documentary about the dance program at the Arts Academy called “ A Chance To Dance”. In 1990 she produced and directed an original ballet about the Holocaust entitled “Light from a Dark Canvas” and was recognized by the Holocaust Resource Center of Buffalo and the Buffalo Public Schools for her work. In addition to her teaching, Hannah performed and choreographed for local dance and theatre companies.
In 1995 Hannah took a break from teaching to raise her daughter Anya and returned to the classroom in 2000. She co-founded the Tapestry Charter School and took a leave of absence from her position at the Arts Academy to teach and work at Tapestry. She then resigned from her position with Buffalo and has been at Tapestry since its inception.
Hannah is an ardent advocate of providing rich arts experiences for children in elementary school and beyond. In 2003 she received a Pathfinders Award for her work at Tapestry. She has had opportunities to speak about the arts and education in a variety of settings. Hannah enjoys her work at Tapestry and is continually learning from her students. Dance builds community and offers boundless opportunities for learning. Being a founder of Tapestry has also offered the opportunity to build community, stay an active learner, and make connections through the arts and education.