Dr. Leah Kedley has been the Assistant Superintendent of Innovation, Equity, and Engagement since July 2024. Kedley joined Schenectady schools in March 2023 as the substitute principal of Hamilton Elementary School. In June of the same year was named the permanent principal at the school.

Kedley started her career as a kindergarten teacher nearly 20 years ago. She then spent five years as an assistant principal and, prior to coming to Hamilton, was a principal in Rochester for two years.

As Assistant Superintendent of Innovation, Equity, and Engagement, Kedley will serve as a key member of the superintendent’s executive leadership team. She is responsible for implementation of key programs, priorities, initiatives and engagement with the school community. Kedley is responsible for continuing the implementation of community schools, promoting the district’ equity, diversity, and inclusion goals, and addressing culture and climate matters.

When Kedley was selected to serve as Assistant Superintendent of IEE, Superintendent Carlos Cotto said, “We are excited to welcome Dr. Kedley to the executive leadership team. She stood out as the principal at Hamilton and continues to demonstrate a strong commitment to Schenectady students and the school community,” He added, “I am confident she will continue to effectively advance the efforts of the IEE department forward.”

Simone Miranda is the Assistant Director of Innovation, Equity and Engagement with the Schenectady City School District (SCSD), where she oversees the department’s daily operations. She leads many initiatives in the department, which includes 21st Century Grant, My Brother’s keeper, Parent Centers, Community Schools, After-school Programs, Summer Enrichment Program, and so much more.

She began working for SCSD more than eight years ago in the Human Resources Department and recently in Planning and Accountability where she was the Project Manager for the 21st Century After-school Program. She enjoys working with the diverse students and families in the district. Her passion is helping students develop their social and intellectual skills, so they can transition into adulthood and the workforce. Her goal is to inspire students to become leaders of tomorrow.

During her tenure as the Project Manager, she successfully implemented a project-based learning program in the 21st Century After-school Program where students wrote and published their own book. She served as the Co-President for the Working Group on Girls of Schenectady (WGGS), board member for Cornell Cooperative Extension of Schenectady County (CCE, SC), and 2019-2020 Power of 3:00 Ambassador with the New York State Network for Youth Success.

She currently holds a master’s degree in Public Administration, Bachelor’s Degree in Public Policy, and an associate degree in Computer Programming.

Husband and father... Married to Octavia we have four adult children and grandchildren.

Director of an overnight Summer Camp for Children - lead a staff of twenty, provided leadership training, orchestrated trainings for first aid/ CPR, food and allergies awareness, and equipped children with coping skills and leadership training. Director of Community Outreach at City Mission of Schenectady - Distribution of food, furniture, clothing for people in need, provided pastoral care and marriage counseling, trained, and implemented programs for community, assisted individuals incorporating team building skills, participated in developing teams for community planning and outreach. Served I ministry to people for over thirty years - performed weddings, funerals, hospital visits, crisis counseling, performed premarital counseling, caring for families, networking for local churches, communities, and schools. Director of Haven family Center – after-school program caring for the needs of middle and high school students and their families, provided training for staff, and implemented diverse programming, developed family care work involving home visits, crisis counseling, coordinating community partners. Leader of Sage Works – a ministry of marriage counseling, pastoral care, and leadership training. Itinerant Preacher in churches throughout the Capital Region – providing pastoral care, bible study, pastoral counseling

Overseas Diversity work: Served in ministries in South Africa – leadership development, provided support for people infected with HIV/Aids Virus. Uganda, Africa – Pastoral care and leadership development for area ministers and community leaders and worked in developing and training church leaders working with children. Conducted leadership training short term mission’s trips. Dhaka, Bangladesh – worked for five years on short term mission’s trips serving in orphans centers, provided leadership training, parenting skills for childcare workers, taught team building activities, and participated in community development throughout local communities, provided training for college students.

Educated through life experiences with people further schooling - Bachelor of Science, Lancaster Bible College, Masters’ Degree from Northcentral University in Organizational Leadership.

Rebekka Henriksen is the Farm to School Project Manager for our district. In her former role as Farm to School Coordinator, Rebekka helped design and implement a strong Farm to School program that has been recognized by the USDA as one of the leaders in our state and region.

Rebekka works with our schools to create edible gardens, ensuring best practices are followed to make them equitable, sustainable spaces that allow for engaging hands-on learning. She also creates and leads lessons that support existing curriculum through a lens of agriculture and growing activities, as well as collaborates with Food Services to strengthen relationships with local farmers to bring more of their products into our school meals and create future employment paths for students. An experienced grant writer, Rebekka uses this skill in her position to apply for grants that support engaging programs for our students and help with materials for project-based learning that relate to Farm to School objectives. 

Rebekka has degrees in both the Liberal Arts and the Sciences. She has worked for more than a decade on creating and teaching edible garden, nutrition and nature-based curriculum to children, in addition to consulting on multiple national and state projects related to improving child health and nutrition through the National Institute for Children’s Health Quality and the New York State Department of Health. This year she will receive certification both as a Master Naturalist and as a Master Composter through Cornell University Cooperative Extension. A Schenectady resident, all three of her children are students in our district.

Damonni Farley is a lifelong resident of Schenectady; he was educated in the Schenectady school system. He is a graduate of Schenectady High School. Damonni is named among the most creative and influential young community leaders in the capital region. As a descendant of generations of community organizers and civil rights activists, Damonni uses his background and experience to empower the disenfranchised, as well as build bridges between cultures, geographic barriers, religious beliefs, and social economic status.

In 2014, Damonni drew from his extensive experience working in the national programs Youth Build and AmeriCorps to cofound M.O.C (Miracle on Craig Street), a non-traditional highly innovative grass roots initiative dedicated to addressing problems in under-served communities by combining and maximizing the resources and talents of those in need with those who want to give. The primary focus is to open a robust community center in the neighborhood in the highest need. According to Damonni, he states “Our success is our collaboration with like-minded individuals and organizations that understand it truly takes a village”. Because of Damonni’s expertise in youth development and community transformation, he is frequently invited to present at national, state, and local conferences on his innovative work. He also serves as a technical advisor to numerous community groups and committees, including Southern Christian leadership Conference (SCLC), The Capital Region Youth Justice Team (RYJT), Boys Day Out (BDO) youth enrichment services providing guidance and leadership. Damonni has also been actively engaged with the Schenectady County Strengthening Families committee. He is currently serves on the City of Schenectady Affirmative Action Board.

Damonni is currently employed by the Schenectady City School District where he oversees a new school and community empowerment program that he designed grounded on the principles of the Cultural Broker. The model emphasizes that understanding the unique culture of a community is not just necessary, it’s a valued commodity. Consequently, local, respected neighborhood leaders will be hired and trained in subject areas such as understanding basic human behavior and cognition, navigating the school culture and system, and applying analytics to solve critical social problems. Further, these highly trained community specialists serve in key leadership roles to effectively bridge the relationship between schools and parents; as well as, actively participating in local policy decision making and allocation of resources. Since the implementation of this program the school district reports a 52 percent reduction in violent incidents. Historical data shows the lowest occurrence of negative incidents in five years. Through his involvement with the school district, he was selected to be a committee member for a local Trauma Informed Care Group.

Damonni uses innovative ways to reach younger voters and create interest in community involvement through a venue he created known as “Poetry in Motion” (PIM). Poets who participate in PIM tackle a wide range of current social, political, and cultural topics in a manner that is not only artistic but thought provoking and emotionally moving. Another major element of PIM’s success is reflected in the diversity of audiences, which reflects the full array of social and economic variables, including but not limited to race, ethnicities, age social status and political beliefs.

Brian Ledbetter was born and raised in Schenectady; a student of Howe Elementary, Mont Pleasant, Central Park, and a 2005 Schenectady High School graduate. Following graduation, Mr. Ledbetter went on to continue his education, pursuing the field of Communications with a concentration in Public Relations.

Partnership with the community, and particularly youth development, is his passion. He began his professional career working with youth in foster care. His primary objective was to support young people on the path to independent, quality living. Following, he served as a program coordinator with Medication Matters, facilitating work rooted in conflict resolution, mediation, and restorative practices.

Currently, Mr. Ledbetter is the supervisor of Schenectady City School District's My Brother's Keeper Mentorship Program. The mission of My Brother's Keeper is to support, empower, and equip young men of color to step into their gifting and purpose. In its inaugural year, MBK partnered with Union College to provide mentoring to 30 middle school students. Schenectady students met with their Union mentors on campus, participating in tutoring sessions, Socratic circles centered on character and community building, and recreational activities. Under his leadership, MBK has since expanded to connect elementary, middle, high school, and college students. Mentorship remains the foundation of the program, with continued opportunities to build confidence, self-esteem, and foster leadership.

A standout student-athlete, Mr. Ledbetter has embedded his love for sports, especially basketball, within his mission. He has founded and directed camps, led skill development workshops, and coached multiple teams; using athletics as an additional avenue to build connection, community, and character. Mr. Ledbetter is excited for the bright future of Schenectady’s youth!

Alex Torres is the new Senior Parent Liaison. He started working for the district eight years ago as a Spanish Translator for the Special Education Department. He also became the Spanish translator for teachers, counselors, and staff districtwide. During 2018, he became Student/Parent Advocate for the district and was stationed at Hamilton Elementary. Alex then became Hamilton’s Parent Liaison in 2020.

Alex also is the founder, band leader and bassist of the multi-award- winning Latin band, Alex Torres & His Latin Orchestra. The band has traveled as far as Shanghai, China, and other countries. He started the band on October 27th, 1980. The band is celebrating their 42nd Anniversary this year and continues to perform numerous concerts throughout the year. Alex and the band are also registered with Arts in Education through BOCES and taking Afro-Caribbean roots and rhythms to schools.

Kayla Ambesi joined the Schenectady City School District in June 2022. Prior to this role, she served as a Caseworker and Domestic Violence Liaison for Schenectady County Department of Social Services for nine years. Ambesi has spent her career engaging with youth and families in Schenectady County, and ensuring families have access to necessary services and supports to meet their needs.

In the role of Community Schools Coordinator, Ambesi oversees planning, implementing, and evaluating numerous services, supports, and opportunities for the youth of our district. Ambesi works closely with administrators, teachers, and other community/school stakeholders to ensure that students and their families have equitable access to programs and resources to address their physical and emotional needs, early childhood education, and expanded learning opportunities. Ambesi believes that serving the whole child and family will ultimately lead to academic success and a positive educational experience for all.

Ambesi earned a Bachelor of Science in Social Work from The College of Saint Rose.

Ryan Williams or Coach Ry, as his players call him, has been with the Schenectady City School District since July of 2022. His employment here is a full circle relationship as he is a Schenectady High School graduate of the Class of 2007. Coach Ry played baseball and basketball for the Patriots and grew up playing in many of the youth sports organizations around the city. Before joining our IEE team, Mr. Williams owned and operated 2 successful Friehofer bread routes in both Colonie and Niskayuna.

As a Community Schools Coordinator, Mr. Williams is tasked with planning, implementing and evaluating numerous services, supports, and opportunities for the youth of our community. In a collaborative effort, he works directly with administrators, teachers, and other community members to ensure that students and their families have equitable access to programs and resources that address their physical and emotional needs, early childhood education and expanded learning opportunities. Coach Ry is a product of this community and comes from a family that is deeply rooted in the city of Schenectady that have a reputation for strong faith, leadership and service to others. In this role, he hopes to continue that legacy and give back to the community that helped raise him.