Our Teachers

Our creative writing workshops are taught by an all-star group of teachers ranging from poets to illustrators, filmmakers, novelists, performers, clothing designers, and comedians – many of whom hold several of these titles!

Above all, they are experienced classroom practitioners. Uptown Stories teachers write terrific curricula, are dynamic and engaging in the classroom, can tailor their lessons to different age groups and abilities, and most importantly, are passionate about the craft and art of writing.

To top it off, most of our teaching artists are residents of upper Manhattan. Discover more about the fantastic Uptown Stories teachers below!

Amanda Alcántara
Amanda
Learn more about Amanda
Education

Amanda is a Caribbean writer, journalist, voice actor, and educator with experience ranging from teaching ESL to college lecturing.

Works

Author of Chula and How I Became a Mermaid, Amanda’s work is in NPR, Rolling Stone, LatiNext, and more. Amanda also recorded the Spanish version of Amanda Gorman’s The Hill We Climb.

Fun facts

Amanda really like mermaids, she's trilingual, and she made a rap song once!

Stacy Davidowitz
Stacy
Learn more about Stacy
Education

Stacy shares her expertise in creative writing and musical theater with kids of all ages, drawing from experience as a performer and published author.

Works

With a rich catalogue of plays, musicals, and award-winning children’s books like Chance to Fly, she's acclaimed for her Camp Rolling Hills series.

Fun facts

Stacy once sang the National Anthem solo for a NY Jets game! She was 16 at the time.

Nicholas Forker
Nicholas
Learn more about Nicholas
Education

Nicholas, a versatile artist skilled in production, art direction, mural painting, and writing comic books, shares his expertise through education.

Works

He created a comic book that released issues monthly for all of 2022, has illustrated for brands such as Marc Jacobs, and paints murals here in NYC.

Fun facts

Nicholas worked as a production specialist in Takashi Murakami and Frederico Solmi’s studios!

CJ Gardella
CJ
Learn more about CJ
Education

CJ lives the filmmaker's dream, as a producer's assistant, indie filmmaker, and educator! He shares his passion and creative expertise with students.

Works

CJ made his first feature Shunka (2011) and completed a short film Elegy (2017) which both garnered multiple awards.

Fun facts

CJ has served as a producer's assistant at Robert Altman's Sandcastle 5 Productions and assisted world-renowned director Noah Baumbach!

Ally Kloster
Ally
Learn more about Ally
Education

Ally is an emerging educator, writer, actor with a background in comedy. What they find most interesting about storytelling is the dance between expanding a world and keeping it focused.

Works

Currently they are venturing into playwriting, having written full-length play "Nothing Nothing It's Nothing" through the Voices of America Writers Workshop. As an actor Allyson recently guest starred opposite Rachel Weisz in "Dead Ringers" on Amazon Prime!

Fun facts

Ally played a bad guy on TV, has three cats, and is good at basketball (minus the stamina part).

Miss Lasko-Gross
Miss
Learn more about Miss
Education

Miss is a published author and illustrator of celebrated graphic novels and comic books. She specializes in teaching comic writing and illustration.

Works

Her graphic novels such as Henni and Escape From “Special” have made top book lists, The New Yorker’s Daily Shouts, and been nominated for awards.

Fun facts

Miss once played a zombie in a low-budget horror movie.

Jane LeCroy
Jane
Learn more about Jane
Education

Jane - poet, performance artist, and educator - publishes student work and teaches writing, literature, and performance across all age groups.

Works

Jane's published poetry book Names is part of the award-winning ABC Chapbook Series. One of her poems has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize.

Fun facts

Jane fronts the band The Icebergs and was a part of Sister Spit, the famed west coast women’s poetry troupe!

Tess Michaelson
Tess
Learn more about Tess
Education

Tess Michaelson is a writer, interdisciplinary artist, and educator with an MFA in nonfiction writing from Columbia University.

Works

Tess’ articles have been published by The Chicago Review, independent online magazine The Rumpus, The Brooklyn Rail, and more.

Fun facts

Tess has an identical twin!

Abigael Puritz
Abigael
Learn more about Abigael
Education

Abigael Puritz is a graphic novelist, printmaker, illustrator, and educator with a BFA from SUNY Purchase, and an MFA at the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan.

Works

Abigael's hand made art books have been collected by libraries such as the Columbia and Stanford Rare book archives. Abigael has also been teaching drawing and comics to students since she was still a student herself.

Fun facts

Abigael grew up in a veterinary hospital, has had pink hair for 16 years straight, and is a pretty good singer.

Dorkys Ramos
Dorkys
Learn more about Dorkys
Education

Our deputy director, Dorkys currently educates students of all ages in writing and art across Washington Heights and Inwood.

Works

Her bilingual works have appeared in Time Out NY Kids, BET, Parents Latina, Syracuse Post-Standard, and the Manhattan Times.

Fun facts

Dorkys keeps the gears of Uptown Stories turning, but when she's not at US she spends her time painting and illustrating!

Alejandra Ramos Riera
Alejandra
Learn more about Alejandra
Education

A Puerto Rican, published, and award-winning playwright, Alejandra is a dedicated teacher with Uptown Stories.

Works

The 2020 winner of Miranda Family Voces Latinx Playwriting Competition, she has multiple published plays and recent off-Broadway triumphs.

Fun facts

Alejandra achieved a 2021 Emmy nod for Voice Over Actress in La Cucarachita Martina’s Musical Adventure!

Kate Reuther
Kate
Learn more about Kate
Education

Kate, a dedicated educator, taught middle and high school humanities in both public and private schools for over 25 years before founding Uptown Stories.

Works

Her own fiction has appeared in The Madison Review, Brain Child, Salamander, and The Ledge!

Fun facts

Kate is a lifelong New Yorker and has lived in Washington Heights since 2003 with her two kids. Thank you Kate for the gift of Uptown Stories!

Luis Rivera Figueroa
Luis
Learn more about Luis
Education

Luis, a Puerto Rican actor and educator, holds an MFA in acting from Brown University. Proudly bilingual, he creates vibrant spaces for fun, learning, and growth.

Works

Luis has taught writing, acting, and speech in Puerto Rico and at Brown University. His acting credits include “The Glass Menagerie”, “Nicky Jam”, and more!

Fun facts

Luis’ first job was at Cold Stone Creamery where he performed mini ice cream ball juggling shows while preparing orders!

Dave Roman
Dave
Learn more about Dave
Education

Dave is an author, illustrator, and teacher at the School of Visual Arts. He shares his artistic skills with our young writers here at Uptown Stories.

Works

He is the author/illustrator of the Astronaut Academy series and writer of graphic novel, Teen Boat! Race for Boatlantis (with John Patrick Green).

Fun facts

Dave is a former editor at Nickelodeon Magazine, current editor for First Second’s Science Comics and History Comics series...and he loves waffles!

My daughter’s writing has improved tremendously. She loves writing now. She can sit for hours and let her imagination fly.

Annie

Parent

Uptown Stories redefined "after school enrichment" for me. The kids were learning the fundamentals of good writing, but in a way that felt like a fun romp, rather than a two-hour slog through rules and thesis statements.

HK

Parent

I feel like if I hadn't taken Girls Rising, I wouldn't have become a better writer, and I wouldn't have met some friends who have changed my life.

Xanthe

Student

The quality of teaching is superb. The teachers have the chance to get to know each child, and due to the small class size, the feedback is very specific. Also, witnessing the other children critique the writing is remarkable - the children are kind and respectful, but very honest.

Lori

Parent

My daughter takes her writing seriously because Uptown Stories takes her seriously.

Kimberly

Parent

Uptown Stories has helped me come out of my shell and explore my imagination. My writing has become more complex and descriptive over the years. It is helpful and fun to anyone who is interested in writing or not!

Kayla

Student

Writing used to be something that was just work; something we have to do at school. However, now it's a way for me to express different things, and it's much more enjoyable now that there is a place where everyone has the same passion for writing that I do.

Anna

Student

I would not be the writer I am today without Uptown Stories.

Elias

Alumnus