Poplar / 6 to 12

Zymir Brunson

Music Teacher - Poplar Campus

Zymir Brunson is a recent graduate of Temple University’s Boyer College of Music,
with a Bachelor’s of Science in Music . He served as Co-Vice president for the
Temple University Progressive NAACP. Along with his duties with the NAACP,
Zymir is a former choir member of Temple Gospel Ministries, where he led as the
Student Music Director. Additionally, he was a former radio host for the university’s
student-run radio station, WHIP. He learned professional theatre after spending four
years at the New Freedom Theatre of Philadelphia. In his many musically related
talents, Zymir has performed across the tristate area and beyond. Outside of his
education and musical enjoyment, he loves cooking and baking. Zymir’s career plans
include becoming a voice teacher, musician, and cook. Through his work and passion
for social change, he hopes to move the needle on important political and economic
issues facing hard-hit communities. Zymir is now the first Vice President of the
Philadelphia NAACP Youth Council.

Brittany Swartz

English Teacher

Ms. Swartz is a Philadelphia native, originally from the Northeast. Ms. Swartz recently finished her bachelors in English Literature from the Arizona State University. Her favorite writer is James Joyce, and her favorite Novella the Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway. She has traveled to over 12 countries, and 20 states, but always found herself back home in Philadelphia. In her free time, you can find Ms. Swartz on a hiking trail. Ms. Swartz has hiked over 200 miles in total of the Appalachian Trail, and has hiked parts of the Alps, Germany’s Black Forest, New Hampshire’s White Mountains, Cadillac Mountain, and parts of the Grand Canyon. Ms. Swartz has a life goal of visiting every National Park in the United States.

Emerald Sims

9th Grade English Teacher + Building Sub

I started as a long-term substitute for The City School through an outside agency and over time, when I began to know the community, I knew that God had placed me here for a reason. To see how God worked not only through the staff but the through students was such an uplifting feeling and made me excited to come to work every day. I am grateful to continue my time with TCS and pour into each student as an English teacher. Outside of school, I love to dance and am a dance teacher in center city. I also love to hike, cook, and travel to new places any time I can.

Amber Young

Science Teacher

Amber is one of our science teachers. She is passionate about science but even more passionate about sharing the love of Christ with everyone she comes in contact with. She is heavily involved in the singing ministry at her church and leads a youth Bible study ministry for young people across the country. In her spare time, Amber enjoys spending time with her family and friends, crafting, singing, and reading. She states “My introduction to The City School was God-ordained and I will forever be grateful.” Amber is excited to have the opportunity to share science with the youth!

Judith Williams

Office Assistant

My name is Judith Williams. I worked as an Administrative Professional a number of years for the William Penn School District and Elwyn.

I am delighted to be the new office assistant for The City School Spruce Hill, Fairmont, and Poplar Campuses.

I am thankful to God that he has made a way for me in joining the City School Family.

I attended the Art Institute of Philadelphia for Graphic Design. I love and enjoy all things creativity. My most loved hobbies are drawing, painting and Photography and a host of other things that are too long to list. 🙂

I have 4 adult children and 2 grandchildren.

John Walker

Poplar Principal

John Walker has been serving in education for over 15 years in Rochester, New York and in Providence, Rhode Island. He graduated from Oral Roberts University with his Bachelors degree in International Business and a Masters in Teaching English as a second language.

After serving in Tulsa as an International Admissions Counselor, his family moved to New York where John gained his Masters degree in Education and worked in mathematics and special education at a public school with grades 7-12 while his wife entered medical school at the University of Rochester. His family then relocated to Providence, RI as his wife completed her residency program in Dermatology at Brown University. Along this journey John and his wife welcomed five children to enjoy life together.

While in Providence, John served at a charter high school in mathematics and then transitioned to the role of assistant principal at one of largest public high schools in Rhode Island for the past three years. The Walker family adventure has arrived here in the Philadelphia area as John’s wife has taken a position at Penn and John was recently named principal of the Poplar Campus at The City School.

John is excited to be part of The City School family!

Cherie Hackett

Office Manager

Cherie joined our team as an Office Assistant and began serving each campus as a support in the office alongside the Office Manager Team. She now exclusively serves the Poplar campus, and joins the City School with a wealth of experience in planning and organization. Cherie stated that she is “excited to join the mission!”

Joseph McClain

Gym + Health Teacher, Girls' Basketball Coach

Mr. Joseph McClain expands his role as Girl’s Basketball Coach to include Gym and Health Teacher at the Poplar Campus. He is a former professional basketball player and Assistant Coach at West Catholic Preparatory High School in Philadelphia. Joseph encourages others with these words, “Don’t compare your life to others. There is no comparison between the sun and the moon, they shine when it’s their time.”

Vicki Taylor

Academic Support Coordinator

“What we say about having a family atmosphere at The City School is true. As a parent, I understand the careful, hopeful, prayerful considerations that go into choosing a school for your child. I assure you this is an excellent school—it’s where I chose to send my daughter. This is a place where students are known and loved as individuals and challenged to grow as learners.”

In addition to having served as a Teacher, Principal, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, and now Academic Coordinator at the Poplar Campus, Vicki continues to teach algebra classes and loves sharing her joy of theatre with students. She “falls in love with books” and says her favorite is always something newly discovered, most recently Melanie Shankle’s Nobody’s Cuter than You: A Memoir about the Beauty of Friendship. Vicki lives in University City with her husband Paul.

Joan Hamel

Poplar Lead Teacher & Advisor to Poplar Teaching Staff

“I cherish my students and want them to succeed. I love working with middle school students through their awkward, challenging teen years where they really begin to discover themselves and their purpose in the world. These are formative years, and I am honored to be a part of their story at such an influential fork in their paths.”

Joan lives in Erdenheim with her husband, Tom, and enjoys traveling into the city often. Her hobbies include gardening, bike riding, and going for long walks in her beautiful neighborhood. Her favorite book is To End All Wars, the true story of Allied prisoners in a Japanese death camp during World War II—their lives were transformed when one person began to love the way Jesus loves.

Felicia Mercer

Science and Math Teacher

“I believe with all my heart this is what the Lord has ordained me to do. This is evident in the joy I get from doing this work. I love that our teachers invest so deeply in their students and that we celebrate their diversity, humor, and uniqueness. We want what is best for each individual child.”

Felicia came into our community as a City School mom, volunteer, and substitute teacher before joining us full-time in 2013. She enjoys dancing, people watching, and taking scenic walks around the city.

Noel Terrell

Music Teacher

“Music is more than notes and harmony–it’s a way of unleashing your emotions. Music moves people. It brings us together. It glorifies God. My dream is to share the power of music with my students.”

Noel has served as a Musical Director and keyboardist for diverse musical acts like Pharrell Williams, Meek Mill, and Jill Scott. He also toured Europe with British hip-hop/r&b duo Floetry and currently performs with his contemporary Christian band, The Browne Boyz. Noel is happily married and has two sons, Roman and Lincoln.

Kenyatta Rush

Athletics Director

“I see athletics as a way of honoring God. Good sportsmanship, teamwork, practice and patience, discipline, perseverance, and a desire to do your best are all virtues learned through competitive sports. I teach my students and athletes that competing with integrity, as ambassadors of Jesus, is more important than taking home a trophy.”

Kenyatta was a scholarship football player at Temple University when he met his Savior. Since then, he’s pursued diverse fields of ministry, working in social care with seniors, as a missionary in Africa, and as a minister to prisoners here in Philadelphia. Kenyatta lives in South Philly with his wife—our Choir Director, Ruth Naomi Floyd—and two children.

Tessa Allebach

History Teacher

“Education has always been my strongest calling and having the opportunity to teach in an enriching and challenging environment such as The City School is a blessing. It is encouraging to be part of a school environment that gives life to both students and staff while the majority of educational climates that we currently live in unfortunately are often life-draining.

I look forward to lifting history off the textbook pages for my students and hopefully begin to have them understand how essential historical context is in the present.”

Tessa enjoys slow-paced activities such as taking walks and reading. Her love for the arts runs deeply and she has had the privilege of both taking and teaching art lessons for many years.

Joe Sinagra

Arts Teacher

“I’m passionate about my job because I love people—they’re the crown of creation. I am blessed to get to know students as individuals and learn what makes them unique bearers of God’s image. I walk with my students as they develop their skills, and I am challenged to learn from them just as they learn from me.”

Joe lives in South Philly with his wife and six children (five of whom attend The City School—at all four campuses!). He loves making—painting, drawing, photography, costume design, and cooking. He is also an elder at Grace and Peace Community Church where he strives to love people as Jesus has loved him.

Rich Lindberg

English Teacher

“My goal is to help students become intelligent and engaged people in this world. Through books, I am hoping they will understand how to live on this planet, how to interact with others, and how “to be.” I am hoping that they will leave my class being a better writer, a thinking person, and a strong Christian.”

Rich lives in Roxborough with his wife and loves living in “an honest-to-goodness world-class city.” His favorite book is Frederick Buechner’s Godric, a semifictionalized account of the life of medieval saint Godric of Finchale, who inspires Rich to be a more humble and self-sacrificing person. He is also an avid cyclist and bikes to work almost every day, even in the dead of winter.

Ben Guy

History Teacher

“I strive to make history come alive for students so that they grow in their knowledge and understanding of history and subsequently grow in their knowledge of themselves and how the global society in which they live came to be.  Ultimately, my goal is that the students would use the knowledge, understanding, and critical thinking skill they gain from studying history in furthering the work of the Kingdom in their families, communities, city, and world.”

Ben lives in Elkins Park and enjoys reading, walking, playing the piano, and discussing “deep and profound topics.” His love for learning and teaching came from his mother, a longtime teacher who joined The City School team last year, bringing the Guy family teaching tradition full circle.

Ken Hunsberger

Math Teacher

“Over the years I have come to believe that an education is not complete if it is not Christ-centered. As a Christian school, we can offer more than excellent academics—we can introduce students to the one who created everything we learn.”

Ken lives in Chester County and enjoys his early morning commute on the train. Ken is an avid reader and has lately been on an Agatha Christie kick. He also enjoys crossword puzzles, crypto-quotes, and Sudoku, and he tends a bountiful vegetable garden at home.

Katelin Conde-Rodriguez

College Guidance Counselor

“The City School embodies so many of the values I hold dear, not least of these is shalom, the wholeness and completeness God desires for his people. I began my work with the City School three years ago as an intern from Mission Year, an urban ministry program dedicated to pursuing justice, peace, and reconciliation in the city. It became apparent to me early on that this was a special place where we not only pursue shalom by providing accessible and excellent education, but also raise students up to bring shalom to their city.”

Katelin lives in South Philly, “near a little enclave of City School folks.” When she’s not reading something that challenges her perspective, she enjoys watching nerdy tv shows, baking and cooking new recipes, and spending the day at the beach. And while Katelin’s heart belongs to Philly, her football loyalties are still in the Midwest—Go Pack Go!