Our Staff

Hi I am Mike Thompson and I am security at CityLab. I graduated from Lynn Vocational High School in 1981. I have worked in private security as a Lynn constable serving court orders out of Salem courts. I am from Winthrop and I enjoy walking my dogs, the beach, and bike riding. I enjoy working at CityLab as security!

Email: [email protected]

Hi! My name is Megan McBride (she/her), and I am the Guidance Counselor here at CityLab. I am a proud graduate of Endicott College, B.S., where I enjoyed playing on the field hockey team, and Salem State University, M.ED in School Counseling. Outside of school you can find me spending time with friends and family, laughing uncontrollably, cooking, catering, critiquing French Onion soup from different restaurants/chefs, and mastering my Halloween costume skills. My first job was working as an Ocean Rescue Lifeguard in York Beach, ME. I am looking forward to supporting all of our students as they create a pathway towards their future!

Email: [email protected]

Hi everyone! My name is Melissa Alvarez (She/Her) known as Ms.Alvarez or Ms.A. I’m one of the School Social Workers here at CityLab. I’ve graduated from Boston University Metropolitan College/ School of Medicine B.S., Cambridge College, M.Ed. Outside of school you can find me traveling, listening to new music from around the world or learning about holistic health. I look forward to serving our students and community of Revere!

Email: [email protected]

Hi, My name is Karleny Galan prior to being a school social worker a CityLab High School I was working as an inpatient clinician for an adult dual diagnosis unit. I consider myself a dedicated, hardworking person and I am passionate about teaching my clients the skills to become self-sufficient and to promote self-advocacy to reach their personal goals. I graduated from Simmons University in 2017 with a Master’s Degree in Social work and since then I have had the opportunity to work with diverse clients in a variety of settings. I look forward to working with youth to help them develop a supportive relationships to assist them in building a resilient foundation for adulthood. Outside of work, I enjoy walking on trails, watching crime shows, and spending time with friends and family. I look forward to working with our students and helping them reach their goals.

Email: [email protected]

Hello everyone! My name is Nicolas Blaisdell (he/him) and I am a humanities teacher here at CityLab High School. I am currently earning my doctorate degree in education at Northeastern University and earned my master's and bachelor's degrees at UMass Amherst. Aside from teaching at CityLab, I also work as a part-time instructor for UMass Amherst's College of Education and North Shore Community Colleges' Upward Bound program. My passions include playing the tenor saxophone, gardening, politics, and skateboarding. I'm looking forward to seeing what this school year brings!

Email: [email protected]

Hi everyone! My name is Chelsea Brandwein-Fryar (she/her), or Ms. B-F if you're one of my students. Here at CityLab I teach English Language Arts, and this is my 7th year teaching. I am a proud graduate of UMass Amherst, B.A., Lesley University, M.ED, and Salem State University, CAGS. Outside of school you can find me spending time with friends and family, performing music, and traveling. My first job was working on the line at Bruegger's Bagels burning my hands on the toaster and getting cream cheese everywhere. I can't wait to embark on this journey together!

E-Mail: [email protected]

Hello everyone, I’m Marc Johnson (he/him) and I teach English at CityLab. I have been teaching for 25 years and I am a graduate of Suffolk University. Prior to teaching, I played in a heavy metal band and we released three albums which were distributed worldwide; and several years later I wrote and produced three feature films for cable television. I have also owned and operated a number of small businesses. In my free time, I can often be found at concerts, movies and out with friends at my favorite restaurants. I’m looking forward to a great year!

Email: [email protected]

Hello! My name is Kali Sawyer (she/her), and this is my second year teaching history in Revere. Before Revere, I taught 5th grade history in Chelsea for six years. I graduated from the University of New Hampshire (B.A. and M.ED​), and since I love school so much, I earned my second degree from American International College (CAGS). Since moving to Massachusetts, Dunkin has become a big part of my life, and I love living so close to my friends and family. Traveling is my favorite part of being an adult, and I hope to show you some of my favorite parts of Boston and the North Shore. My first job was changing diapers in the infant / toddler room at a YMCA daycare.

Email: [email protected]

Bienvenidos! My name is Allison Waxman (she/her), and I’m the resident ELL resource here at CityLab Revere! Working with English Language Learners is my passion, and I’m thrilled to embark on my 20th year in the classroom. I’ve taught in South Florida, Massachusetts, Spain, and China (virtually,) and I’m a current professor of Writing in the Communications Department at Boston University. I earned my B.A in Journalism from the University of Rhode Island, my M.A of Ed. In English Instruction at Florida Atlantic University, and my CAGS/S.Ed in Educational Leadership with a focus on Brain-Based Learning Strategies to reach all learners. When I’m not in the classroom, I’m most likely in the Atlantic Ocean or the White Mountains connecting with nature and drawing inspiration from the communities of Boston and Revere. My therapy pup Wicket is always close by, and loves being out in nature as much as I do! Let’s get this inaugural year off to a great start!

Email: [email protected]

My name is Marcie Day (she/her). I teach Biotechnology courses here at CityLab and it's my 11th year teaching in Revere Public Schools. I studied Biology at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, B.S., and Education at Harvard University, Ed.M. Outside of school, I enjoy gardening, exercising and spending time with my family. My first job in high school was coaching a youth summer soccer program.

Email: [email protected]

Hello to all! I am Adam Donaruma, or Mr. Donaruma to my students. I am one of the Math teachers at CityLab, going into my 3rd year of teaching. I graduated UMass Amherst as a Math major with an Education minor, and soon will be returning to the classroom to finish my Masters and final licensure requirements. When I’m not in school I spend most of my time playing tennis with my friends, building legos, or gaming on my PC. Before teaching I worked for multiple different summer camps, as well as being a member and leader of the community engagement program Team Positive Presence/Walk This Way at UMass during my undergrad. I can’t wait for our first year as an innovation school, and I look forward to the challenges and celebrations we have together.

Email: [email protected]

Hi! My name is JC Eurbin (she/her) and I am the Special Education teacher at CityLab. This is going to be my 4th year teaching as a Special Education teacher at Revere Public Schools and I'm looking forward to seeing how CityLab grows. I completed my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at Curry College and I’m currently enrolled in Salem State’s CAGS program. In my free time I love getting sucked into a good book, hiking the New England 4000s, and finding new recipes to make. ​I can't wait for an exciting year at CityLab!

Email: [email protected]

Hi, I’m so glad you’re here! I’m Erik Fearing (he/him), a CityLab math teacher and year 11/12 experience designer. This is my 19th year teaching. I studied Chemical Engineering at Tufts University, Mathematics Education at Gordon College, Special Education at Salem State University, and Educational Leadership at American International College. I really enjoy immersive theatre and live action roleplaying, and I have performed in several shows around Boston as a character actor and game facilitator. The most interesting job I ever had was the director of the ropes course at Yawgoog Scout Reservation. I’m excited to build CityLab with you!

Email: [email protected]

My name is May Hunter-Smith (she/her). This is my 10th year of teaching mathematics of all flavours. I finished my undergraduate degree at Williams College, then completed my MAT in Mathematics at the University of Chicago. I love thinking about how things are put together. This has led to a number of things, such as my current unsustainable crafting habit, a cabin built from scratch (tree to building!), and as well as my love of math. I have been described as a nerd, a lumberjack, and "if Jess Day was a math teacher". I hope to spend a lot of time in the classroom finding out who you are!

Email: [email protected]

Hi Everyone! My name is Mario Perella (he/him). Here at CityLab I teach Biology and a class called Urban Growers in which we mostly maintain the indoor and outdoor gardens. This is my 25th year of teaching science, mostly in Revere. I am a proud graduate of Boston University, dual major, B.A. Biology, and Secondary Science Education, Northeastern University, M.Ed. While at Boston University I worked as a Peer Counselor for the Financial Aid Office. I also organized and played on an intramural hockey team for 2 years in which we made it to the championship finals both years and won one of two. Outside of school I enjoy travelling, cooking, attending sporting events, and growing live coral in my saltwater aquariums. My first job was at a local restaurant at the age of 15. As the son of Italian immigrants, my first language was Italian. I am looking forward to an exciting first year of many to come here at CityLab!

Email: [email protected]

Hello, my name is Katie Cerasale-Messina (she/her) but most families and students know me as Mrs. C. I am a Technology teacher for CityLab. This will be my 19th year of teaching and my 15th year in Revere. I am a proud Suffolk Ram (BA) and have additional degrees from Simmons University (MLIS) and Salem State University (CAGS). You will soon find out that I am obsessed with my pug, Neville, Starbucks and all things Disney. Prior to teaching, I worked in the Educator Resource Center and Library at the Museum of Science where once in a while I helped the museum's bee keeper tend to the museum's hive. Cannot wait to see you all in Lab 225!

Email: [email protected]

Hi! My name is Nate Dore (he/him) and I am the P.E. teacher at both City Lab and Beachmont Elementary school, a position I have held for the last 13 years. I also work as an Athletic Trainer for Revere’s sports teams, along with the soccer and basketball teams at Bunker Hill community college. I attended Westfield State College for my undergraduate degree, and Endicott for my masters degree. After living in Saugus for 10 years, I recently moved to Peabody with my wife and our 2 dogs. I am a huge Boston sports fan, and in my free time, I enjoy the beach, golfing, running, and snowboarding in the winter.

Email: [email protected]

Hey! My name is Shaun Harris (he/him) and I‘m the visual art teacher at CityLab. This will be my eighth year teaching. I have a BFA in Illustration from UMASS Dartmouth and a Masters in Education from Lesley University. I also teach art to elementary students at Beachmont Elementary School. When not making art at here at CityLab, I love spending time in the outdoors and making art with my partner and my daughter.

Email: [email protected]

Hello everyone! My name is Tim O'Brien (he/him). Here at CityLab I teach Music, and this is going to be my 11th year teaching. I am a proud graduate of Boston University, B.M., University of Southern Maine, M.M., and Salem State University, CAGS. Outside of school you can find me spending time with friends and family, and following the Red Sox, Patriots and Celtics very closely. My most interesting job was performing numerous concerts with the Bangor Symphony Orchestra as second chair in the Viola section. I'm very excited to embark on this journey together!

Email: [email protected]

Hello, CityLab! My name is Sara Colum (she/her) and I am the C2C coach for all Revere teachers, grades 9-12. This is my 14th year as an educator in the Revere Public School district. I went to Boston College for both my undergraduate degree and my Masters. Outside of school, I love cooking, singing at church, and reading! My most interesting job was as a hostess in the lobby/lounge of a fancy hotel-- my duty was to eavesdrop on all the guests and bring them what they wanted before they even had to ask for it (sooooo crazy, I know!). Can't wait to see you around the halls! '22-'23 is going to be a great year!

Email: [email protected]

Hi. My name is Evalynn Bulger, or Evvy. This is my second year as the literacy coach for CityLab and Revere High School. Prior to being the literacy coach, I was an English Language Arts teacher for ten years at Revere High School. I mostly taught seniors about English stuff. I am a proud three degree graduate of Salem State University (BA, M. Ed., and CAGS). Outside of school, I mainly spend my time with family and enjoy goofing around with my son. During my down time I can be found with my nose in a book – currently on my 122nd book of the year. My first job was as a Certified Nurse’s Aide (C.N.A.) in a nursing home during my senior year of high school (I went to Lynn Tech). Looking forward to working with you all this year!

Email: [email protected]

Hey there! My name is Melissa Hamilton (she/her). I am the Math Coach for both CityLab and Revere High School. This is my 17th year in the district and my 2nd year as a Math Coach. I attended UMass Lowell for my undergraduate degree as well as Lesley University for both my M.ED and CAGS. Outside of school I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, trying out new recipes, and traveling. My first job was at a Dunkin Donuts which is where I started my love for coffee. I am excited to be part of the CityLab team!

Email: [email protected]

Hi! I’m Ms. Petty and I’m the History Instructional Coach for grades 6-12 in Revere. I work with teachers at CityLab to figure out how to teach history and civics in a way that matters today! This is my 18th year as a teacher. Before I was a teacher coach I taught grade 6, 7, and 8th grade history at SBA. I also co-ran the drama program at SBA and am working to bring theater opportunities to Revere High and CityLab students this year. I am a graduate of Stonehill College, B.A., Salem State University, M., and University of Massachusetts Boston, CAGS. Outside of school you can find me spending time with friends and family, playing at the park with my two daughters, or traveling to the beaches of Maine – even in the winter. Have a great year!

Email: [email protected]