About – Trinity Advancement Academy

Trinity Advancement Academy’s Statement of Faith

We embrace the historic tenets of Christianity as presented in the following Statement of Faith. Beyond these primary doctrines, we respect and acknowledge that many secondary doctrinal questions exist among the true Body of Christ. We defer to parents and their local churches to clarify these issues.

We believe in One God, Creator of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in a loving unity of three, equally divine persons:
The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Our Holy Trinity.

Our mission is to collaborate with parents to help develop well educated, spiritually mature persons that are dedicated to Christ; equipped to contribute to his church, to society and to the well-being of their own persons.

We are dedicated to educating our scholars mind, body and spirit. We intend to feed their minds with a wealth of knowledge, bring their bodies to life in nature, and nurture and feed their spirit with God’s spoken scriptures in both the Old and New Testaments.

Meet the Faces Behind TAA!

Mrs. Daphne Fernández-Hawkins
Founding Director,
Educational Mentor: Grades 4 & 6,
Curriculum & Events Manager

It is with great honor that I share this brief summary of who I am, both personally and professionally, in the hope of offering a clear and meaningful picture of my journey as an educator and individual guided by faith.

I am a Latina woman, born and raised in Queens, New York, to parents of Colombian descent. I am one of four siblings, with two sisters and one brother. My upbringing was deeply shaped by the unwavering dedication of my parents. My father worked tirelessly seven days a week to provide our family with every opportunity, while my mother devoted herself fully to raising us with love, discipline, and strong moral values. Above all, she instilled in us the importance of education and the courage to pursue our dreams. I carry her lessons with me daily, striving to honor the blessing God has given me through her example.

I went on to earn a Master’s degree in both Special and General Education and hold certifications for teaching students from birth through 8th grade. I dedicated 17 years to the New York City Department of Education in the Bronx, where I provided early intervention services to infants and toddlers. I later continued my work in Rockland County, serving families through the East Ramapo Central School District, Clarkstown Central School District, and various private early intervention agencies. Throughout my career, I have worked with students ranging from 6 months to 12th grade across both general and special education settings. Teaching has always been my calling; however, my perspective deepened profoundly when I became a mother.

With the birth of my first child, my husband and I made a conscious decision not to allow societal expectations to define how we would raise our family. It was during this time that God began placing a vision on my heart—to create a homeschooling co-op that would support like-minded families seeking a nurturing, values-driven educational environment. For several years, I developed plans and laid the groundwork, yet fear often held me back—fear of leaving a stable career and fear of not assembling the right team to bring this vision to life.

After carrying this dream for five years, clarity came in 2023 while I was pregnant with my second child. In that moment, I fully embraced God’s calling on my life, trusting in His plan over my own understanding. With a heart rooted in love and unwavering faithfulness to the Lord, I now move forward with confidence, knowing that I have a purpose within His greater design—not only for my life, but for the lives of the families I am called to serve through Trinity Advancement Academy.

Today, I stand ready to bring this vision to life alongside a carefully selected team whose unique gifts and strengths will help cultivate a thriving, supportive community. Trinity Advancement Academy is a Christian, nature-based homeschooling co-op where we intentionally spend much of our time outdoors, encouraging children to explore, learn, and grow while stewarding the world God has entrusted to us. Through this approach, we aim to nurture not only academic excellence, but also a deep appreciation for creation, responsibility, and faith-centered living.

We welcome families to join us in homeschooling their children in a safe, compassionate, and like-minded environment—one where every voice is valued and where Jesus Christ remains at the center of all we do.

All are welcome. All minds matter here at Trinity Advancement Academy.

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Mrs. Kimberly Moody
Founding Assistant Director,
Educational Mentor: Pre-K 3 & 4,
Technical Support Manager

Hey everyone!

My name is Kimberly Moody and I am so excited to be serving as one of the educators in this co-op! Since we’ll be spending a good amount of time together, I’d like to take this opportunity to tell you a little bit about myself. I was born and raised in Mt. Vernon, NY to Jamaican immigrant parents. My mom was a teacher back-home in Jamaica and started a very successful daycare when she came to America, with her students growing up to become engineers, entrepreneurs, fellow educators… I became an educator, following in mom’s footsteps.

I received a Masters in Special Education, grades 7-12, and have served as a high school special education teacher, specializing in math since 2015. I also have experience working as an IEP coordinator, helping educators best support our special needs students.

My first full-time teaching job was in an inner-city school in the Bronx, a melting pot of cultures, and a diverse set of economic backgrounds and learning needs. That experience has shaped my entire life. I’ve since left that school but continue to work alongside some of our most vulnerable learners which I’ve done in a virtual setting, working with students age 6 upwards in reading, writing and math. I went on to teach special education math at Ramapo High School in 2021, and upon giving birth to my daughter in May 2022, have since resigned and have been out of the classroom, doing my best to provide the most loving and nurturing environment for her.

I’ve always dreamed of homeschooling my children in order to provide more individualized instruction that caters to their interests, have more of a say in what academic, spiritual and social topics/ideas are being prioritized in my child’s learning, as well as to circumvent mandated state policies regarding my child’s health, a decision I believe should be made by each family based on personal convictions. Trinity Advancement Academy will allow me the opportunity to fulfill that dream of my daughter being homeschooled, whilst being in a setting with other children of like-minded families. Whatever your reasons for wanting to homeschool your children, at this co-op we welcome them all! I look forward to entering this exciting homeschooling journey with each of you!

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Ms. Carolane Leonard
Educational Mentor

Hello! My name is Carolane, and I am passionate about making a positive impact in the lives of scholars. I am committed to helping each scholar learn, grow, and reach their full potential. I enjoy working with people and bring a dependable, positive attitude to everything I do. I believe in creating welcoming, supportive environments where every scholar feels valued and encouraged to succeed.

I look forward to using my skills, dedication, and passion to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those I serve.

Ms. Vania Nyarko
Educational Mentor

Warm greetings TAA family and friends! My name is Vania Nyarko, and I am honored to be joining Trinity Advancement Academy Homeschool. I’m so excited for this divine opportunity and look forward to the year ahead!

I was born in Bronx, NY. I moved to Rockland County at the age of 4 and have lived here since then. I’m here with my mom, dad and three brothers. I have always had a heart for serving God and investing in children. I used to babysit the kids in my neighborhood starting at a young age and have taught the children in Sunday School at my church. As I grew older, that passion never died as I went on to start a campus ministry at my college. My faith in Jesus Christ is the foundation of everything I do, and I believe that every child is created with purpose and deserves to be nurtured with love, patience, and biblical truth.

I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a minor in Marketing, and throughout the years I’ve enjoyed serving in church and mentoring young people. It is a blessing to combine my love for education with my passion for helping children grow into confident learners and faithful followers of Christ. I look forward to partnering with families as we encourage each scholar to thrive academically, build strong character, and deepen their relationship with God.

Mrs. Zullay Yepes
Financial Manager

Hello families! My name is Zullay and I’m so excited to embark on this learning journey with you all. I am a math educator by trade and a lifelong learner at heart. Since my youth, God has always been a priority in my life, but as an adult, accepting Jesus Christ in my heart and pursuing a relationship with the almighty God is what has made me into the person I am today.

The world around us is filled with many diverse languages, cultures, formulas, natural habitats and so much more, and I’m excited to jump in and begin investigating with our curious scholars.

Pastor Jason Hamlet
Educational Mentor: Bible

Pastor Jason has years of experience homeschooling his own children as well as working in a traditional school setting. He received a B.S. degree in Biblical Studies from Trinity Evangelical Seminary, two Master’s degrees from Luther Rice Seminary and has been called to full-time ministry for the last 26 years. Pastor Jason is excited to be a part of the TAA team, teaching Bible in an exciting and interactive way to our young scholars.

Mrs. Sakura Van Houten
Educational Mentor: Bible

Greetings! My name is Sakura Van Houten, and I am excited to be teaching Pre-K Bible at Trinity Advancement Academy, where I will work with 3- and 4-year-olds as they begin to learn about God and His Word. I was born in Okinawa, Japan, and moved to the United States when I began elementary school. My Okinawan heritage is an important part of who I am, and I feel blessed to share that culture with my children.

I hold a B.S. and M.S. in Elementary Special Education, with minors in English Literature and Social Studies. I bring over 15 years of experience working with children in both education and ministry. I previously taught Special Education in the public school system for three years and have served in children’s ministry for more than a decade, including my current role as Director of Children’s Ministry at Park Evangelical Free Church. Before that, I taught and served as Director at Living Christ Church (formerly Simpson Memorial Church).

TAA’s Board Members

Lu Lu Rivera
Chair of the Board

Human Resources Professional
Lu Lu Rivera graduated from Moody Bible Institute with degrees in Bible and Communications. She has worked with various global Christian organizations and currently serves as a Multimedia Producer at The Salvation Army Eastern Territory Headquarters. Since her oldest son joined Trinity Advancement Academy in 2024, she has become an active part of the TAA community. As Chair of the Board, Lu Lu is honored to serve alongside fellow families, offering her perspective as both a Christian parent and ministry professional while supporting the co-op’s mission to educate the mind, body, and spirit.

Jennifer Hayden
Vice Chair of the Board

Human Resources Professional
Jennifer Hayden brings over 20 years of professional experience and a deep commitment to personal and spiritual growth to her role on the Board of Directors. As a devoted mother of two college-aged children, she understands the importance of nurturing both academic excellence and strong character. Her own journey has included a powerful transformation through health and wellness, which reflects her belief in the importance of cultivating mind, body, and spirit. Jennifer values the ongoing evolution of her spiritual journey and seeks to live with intention, presence, and purpose. She looks forward to bringing forward innovative ideas and best practices from both her professional and personal experiences to help further the mission of TAA.

Christina Masso-Gonzalez
HSLDA Advisor

Homeschooling Mother, Former Production & Project Manager
Mrs. Masso-Gonzalez is a stay at home mom. She currently homeschools 2 of her children along with supplemental education at a Christian co-op in Suffolk, Long Island. Her journey as a homeschooling parent began in 2019 with the repeal of the religious exemption and her need to seek education for her children outside of the confines of a traditional classroom setting. She has a good amount of personal experience with different types of co-ops and homeschooling styles. Christina believes the benefit of having her on the board would be her experience as a current homeschooling parent providing first-hand knowledge of a community that is growing exponentially and providing insight of what like-minded parents are looking for in a co-op like TAA. She is part of homeschooling groups that keep abreast of legislation that support and challenge homeschooling, and is very familiar with the requirements of the NY State Homeschooling laws as set forth in the NY 100.10 regulations. Prior to to Christina’s homeschooling journey, she was in the media industry as a project and production manager, and producer for well respected companies in the business such as Viacom, Vogue, The New Yorker, and The Wall Street Journal. Her responsibilities included organizing shoots and handling million dollar budgets for events such as the Met Gala for Vogue, The New Yorker Festival, hiring and organizing travel shoots for The Wall Street Journal, and producing on-air video promos for MTV and the VMA’s.

Christopher Liu, CFA
Treasurer of the Board

Independent Business Owner
Mr. Liu has over 20 years of experience in financial services, including financial education. He has served on numerous boards as both Treasurer and Chair of Braata Productions, his condo board as well as the Asian Employee Resource groups at Thomson Reuters and S&P Global. Mr. Liu is looking forward to serve on TAA’s board and assist with a successful financial journey.

Melissa Perez
Secretary of the Board

Certified General & Special Education Teacher, Birth – Grade 6
Ms. Perez is excited to share her knowledge in instructional methods, curriculum implementation and in helping to create a loving and positive environment while ensuring a high-quality education for all diverse learners.

Johanna Vanessa
Social Media Marketing Advisor

Marketing Specialist | Advocate for Families
Johanna Vanessa is a dedicated mother and marketing professional with a passion for helping families and children thrive. With years of experience in branding, communications, and creative strategy, she brings a strong voice to TAA’s mission of community-building and educational excellence. Her background in marketing allows her to connect with diverse audiences and craft messaging that inspires action, connection, and growth. As a mother, Johanna is deeply invested in creating supportive, empowering spaces for children to learn, grow, and feel safe. She believes that intentional collaboration, clear communication, and heart-led leadership are essential to building strong and lasting educational communities. Johanna is honored to serve on the TAA board and contribute her insight to a mission she deeply aligns with.

Jessica Jackson BSN, RN
Fundraiser of the Board

NYS Registered Professional Nurse
Ms. Jackson desires to help TAA maintain records of medical needs and files for existing students and staff. She plans to assist in providing medical updates and hands-on nursing to students and staff.

Juan M. Santos
Board Member

Executive
Juan M. Santos is a seasoned executive, entrepreneur, and community leader with more than three decades of experience in retail management, business ownership, insurance, and organizational leadership. His career includes executive leadership with Costco, ownership of a successful small business, senior management with Lowe’s Home Improvement, and founding an independent insurance agency. Today, Juan combines his professional experience with his commitment to public service, advocating for ADA accessibility, public safety, and government transparency as a statutory blind resident of Rockland County, New York. He is known for integrity, servant leadership, and a lifelong commitment to helping people and strengthening his

Trinity Advancement Academy’s Statement of Faith

Meet the Faces Behind TAA!

Mrs. Daphne Fernández-HawkinsFounding Director, Educational Mentor: Grades 4 & 6, Curriculum & Events Manager

Mrs. Kimberly MoodyFounding Assistant Director, Educational Mentor: Pre-K 3 & 4,Technical Support Manager

Ms. Carolane LeonardEducational Mentor

Ms. Vania NyarkoEducational Mentor

Mrs. Zullay YepesFinancial Manager

Pastor Jason HamletEducational Mentor: Bible

Mrs. Sakura Van HoutenEducational Mentor: Bible