Leadership Team

Vice Chancellor Blake Spahn, a leading global educator, founded Franklin in 2021 to expand innovative educational opportunities for high school students in Jersey City and the surrounding community. He has strategic oversight of all Franklin operations, ensuring the efficient and effective management of all facilities, systems, and staff in support of Franklin’s cutting-edge programs.

Mr Campbell is a visionary leader and esteemed educator, recognized for his ability to blend historical best practices with contemporary innovations in education. As the Founding Head of the Franklin School, he has overseen every aspect of the school's development. Mr Campbell serves on the International Heads Council for the Dwight Schools Network and is the Chair of the Franklin Foundation, where his leadership continues to inspire global educational standards.

Originally from Australia, Chris Barnes brings extensive educational and leadership experience to Franklin. Prior to joining our School, Mr. Barnes served a two-year term as the Deputy Head of MLC Sydney’s Senior School. Previously, he was the Director of the IB Diploma Program at Trinity Grammar School for 15 years. 

Amanda Katagiri joins the Franklin team as Director of Professional Practice, bringing seventeen years of teaching experience. Recently, she served as Director of Faculty and Staff Mentoring at Dwight, a program she founded, working with over 100 teachers across all divisions to enhance their pedagogical skills. 

Allison Feldman is an innovative marketing leader with over 20 years of experience in educational publishing, developing programs, partnering with school districts, and collaborating with academics. She worked at Scholastic Inc. and Amplify Education, Inc., where she helped develop ground-breaking classroom programs and teacher professional development, reaching hundreds of thousands of students and teachers around the world. Having also worked at Nickelodeon, Ms. Feldman’s entire career has been focused on children.

Diana Stravoiu brings over 20 years of experience in the education and technology industry to Franklin School. She launched her career in technology by working with the International Securities Exchange in New York City, which was created by the founder of E-Trade. There, she was recognized for her excellent leadership and was introduced as the face of the International Securities Exchange in the Money and Business section of The New York Times Newspaper.

Named a “Teacher of the Future” by the National Association of Independent Schools and a Senior FabLearn Fellow by Stanford University, Jaymes Dec has also gained industry recognition as President of Nerdy Derby, a non-profit that nurtures creativity in educational environments and as a maker educator.

Brad Greenman started coaching baseball and basketball in 2007, serving as the Assistant Athletic Director, Head Varsity Baseball Coach, and PE teacher at Gill St. Bernard’s School for four years.

Gayle Abrams brings over eight years of human resources and recruiting experience to Franklin, as the School’s Talent Management Specialist. Before joining the Dwight family of Schools, she served as an HR recruiter and generalist for the New York Center for Child Development. 

Emily Heider-Belcher brings over seven years of experience in the education field to Franklin, specifically in registrar, scheduling, school counseling, and placement/exmissions roles. Her work experiences in public and private schools in Michigan, New York, and New Jersey have provided her with a unique framework through which to holistically support and advocate for students.

Born and raised in New Jersey, Scott brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to Franklin School as the Director of IT. After attending Monmouth University, Scott spent 11 years honing his skills at Dwight School NY. Now, having been a part of Franklin's inaugural staff, he’s excited to make a significant impact on the school's technological landscape.

Pascale Bernard brings over 12 years of experience in education, holding a BA in Secondary Education with a co-concentration in Mathematics from Bloomfield College and a Master’s in School Counseling from Liberty University. Throughout her career, she has worked with students across a broad age range, from pre-school to college.