Meet The Team

Dr. Tyiba Rashid is a lifelong learner and dedicated educator who has been deeply rooted in New York City public schools both as a student and as a professional. As a mother of two children enrolled in NYC public schools, she is personally invested in the system she serves.

 

Dr. Rashid has spent over ten years as a diligent special education teacher and has more than a decade of experience supporting all five boroughs, particularly in Brooklyn South, through teacher development, coaching, and professional development for school leadership. She was recently appointed Director of the Environmental Study Center, where she looks forward to expanding students' horizons in scientific inquiry through hands-on experiences and immersive learning opportunities.

 

For a memorable student encounter, Dr. Rashid loves introducing our friendly bearded dragon, Nice.

Laura is a Program Manager at ESC. She serves as the project lead for our free rental science kit program, which includes communicating with educators and handling all packing and logistics. Laura coordinates field trips, manages our digital platforms, manages the aquaponics system, assists with beekeeping, and supports the farm and animal care teams as needed.

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With a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and a concentration in Conservation and Biodiversity from the University of Vermont, she brings a strong background in outdoor and conservation education, including prior work on farms in Vermont and New Hampshire.

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Her passion lies in connecting students to where their food comes from. This drive inspired her to launch ESC’s summer Farm to Plate internship program, where high school interns cook meals with farm-fresh ingredients. Outside of work, Laura co-runs a supper club, celebrating her love for food and community. 

A high school and undergraduate English instructor turned farmer, Melissa is a passionate educator. Drawing from her training on farms in the Hudson Valley as well as her dissertation research on farming’s cultural and literary history, she is committed to work that synthesizes the relationship and tension between environmental stewardship and human culture.

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As the Agricultural Programs Manager at ESC, Melissa develops farm-to-table programs for primary and secondary school students, crafting hands-on curriculum to help them understand how agricultural systems shape—and are shaped by—social and environmental justice. She bridges her academic background and on-farm experience to design educational projects that connect food, ecology, and community.

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When she's not thinking about next season, new plant challenges, and how to get you connected to food culture, you might find her tangoing, foraging, or practicing her Spanish.

Victoria DiPaolo has been with the ESC for seven years, bringing a total of 11 years of experience within the Department of Education. As the Animal Care Manager, she oversees the complete care and enrichment of our animal collection and designs our vibrant freshwater and saltwater aquatic habitats. Victoria acts as a crucial liaison with our veterinarian to ensure every animal receives optimal care, and she expertly trains them to become comfortable and handleable for student interactions.

 

Her role extends beyond animal care into our living systems: she supports the greenhouse, composting, gardening, and farming operations, as well as our hydroponics and aquaponics programs. Victoria is also one of our dedicated beekeepers. As an informal educator, she develops engaging programs and events and works closely with our High School Internship Program, where she mentors and trains interns to help them gain valuable new skills.

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Victoria holds a Master’s degree in Special Education and General Education and is a former Zoo Keeper for the Wildlife Conservation Society, a background that deeply informs her compassionate and expert approach to conservation education.

As the Animal Keeper, Anthony ensures the health and well-being of all animal residents through hands-on care and detailed habitat management. His responsibilities range from daily feeding and water quality testing to maintaining the technical systems of the fish tanks, including pumps, lighting, and heating. He also trains animals to be calm and handleable for educational programs and creates bioactive, naturalistic environments by adding plants, isopods, and springtails to aquariums and terrariums.

 

With a biology degree from Kingsborough Community College and Brooklyn College, and prior zoo and aquarium internships, he brings both academic knowledge and practical experience to his role. He is actively pursuing a career in wildlife and environmental conservation, driven by a deep commitment to animal welfare and ecological stewardship.