Neil Fitzgerald, Director and CEO
Neil Fitzgerald has been involved in education in New York City as a teacher, coach, and administrator since 1996. As founder and director of the Arts and Athletics afterschool program in the early 2000s, Neil has managed the expansion of the organization to four schools, employing over a hundred amazing teachers and regularly serving close to a thousand children.
Neil earned his BA in philosophy from Brown University and two masters degrees in education from Teachers College, Columbia University. As an athletics coach, Neil is certified by United States Track and Field as a Level II coach in three specialties: Sprints, Endurance, and Youth Athletics.
Sayeed Ramnath, Co-Site Supervisor at PS 452
Sayeed joined the afterschool team in September 2016, first as a Sports Specialist. He quickly took on a range of additional responsibilities, including supervising daily operations at PS 452. Sayeed obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Lehman College and has a strong background in early childhood education, teaching, and student mentorship. Sayeed brings a combination of leadership, education, athletics, and administrative experience to his work and is committed to creating opportunities that help students grow both in the classroom and on the court.
With over a decade of experience working with young people as a coach and teacher, Sayeed is passionate about empowering students, helping them reach their full potential, and creating positive experiences through education and athletics. He has also spent five years working as a substitute teacher in NYC Department of Education schools, gaining valuable experience supporting students across different grade levels and learning environments.
In addition to his school-based responsibilities, Sayeed helps build and expand the athletics enrichment program within the Arts and Athletics organization. During the summer, he runs basketball clinics that provide students with opportunities to develop their skills, confidence, teamwork, and love for the game. Sayeed also supports the organization’s human resources needs, including coordinating HR and New York City Department of Health (DOH) clearances for staff.
Marlen Cuevas Duarte, Co-Site Supervisor at PS 452
Marlen has been part of the Arts and Athletics team since 2021. She’s known for her warm and welcoming presence at the front desk and is often the first point of contact for families and students. Before joining Arts and Athletics, Marlen honed her leadership skills as a supervisor at a previous afterschool program. She holds a BS degree in Criminal Justice from CUNY John Jay College and is currently advancing her expertise with a Master’s degree in Computer Science from Pace University.
Elisa Colon, Site Supervisor at PS 9
Elisa joined Arts and Athletics in the fall of 2023, bringing with her a wealth of experience from various camp and educational enrichment settings. She is well-versed in educational programming and personnel management. Elisa holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Whitman College, where she worked in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion for three years. During her time at Arts and Athletics, she has contributed as an instructor in our Upstarts Pre-K program, as well as in coding and technology, and has played a key role in streamlining the organization’s check-in and sign-out procedures.
Simon Mogul, Instrumental Music Coordinator
Simon joined Arts and Athletics in 2024 and over the past two years has re-worked all dimensions of our music offerings. He has skillfully coordinated the diverse talents and personalities of the twenty-plus world-class musicians who make up our music department, increasing the number of private lesson, group ensemble classes, and performance opportunities available to our students. In concert with his educational projects, Simon is a Miami-born tenor saxophonist based in New York City whose music blends the spirit of the jazz tradition with a contemporary voice. He has performed with acclaimed artists including Curtis Lundy, Bobby Watson, Jeremy Pelt, Warren Wolf, Arturo O’Farrill, and Phillip Harper at leading venues across the United States. In 2026, he released his debut album, Simon Says, produced by Curtis Lundy, and toured nationally with support from South Arts’ Jazz Road Tours program, culminating in an album release concert at Smalls Jazz Club. An active educator, Simon has coached ensembles at The City College of New York and serves as a saxophone mentor through Music on the Inside. https://www.simonmogul.com
Andrea (Drea) Bibiloni, Pre-K Coordinator
Drea joined Arts and Athletics in 2025 already having worked as an early childhood educator for almost a decade. She is both an enthusiastic educator and resolute program developer, identifying student needs and efficiently harnessing resources to establish the systems needed. Drea is deeply committed to team development, working closely with staff to create a collaborative, reflective environment where educators feel supported and confident in their practice. She specializes in tailoring instruction to meet the diverse developmental needs of young children, ensuring that each child feels seen, supported, and set up for success.
Lisa Baccus, Chess Coordinator
Lisa Baccus started off her education career as a teacher and soon moved on to personnel and program management. She earned her BA in Psychology and her MS in Education. She has eight years of leadership experience with a focus on professional development and project management for enrichment programming. She was also a scholastic chess player, learning the game at the age of 5 and continuing to play throughout school. While with the Arts and Athletics team, she has managed a multi-site chess program, coordinated daytime chess instruction, recruited and trained instructors, and developed our series of monthly chess tournaments. She is a wealth of information about child develop through chess.