Our Team
Senior Leadership Team
Forte Prep Middle School
Forte Prep High School
Central Office
CENTRAL OFFICE
Graham Browne, Founder & Executive Director
Graham Browne is a proud graduate of Brown University and Yale School of Management with an academic background in urban studies, education, and nonprofit management, and a professional background in education policy advocacy with the Education Equality Project and nonprofit management consulting in the education practice at the Bridgespan Group. Mr. Browne completed two intensive Leadership Residencies, working alongside the leaders of some of the most successful charter schools in the country. Born in New York and raised in New Jersey by hardworking Caribbean parents who immigrated to this country to seek better opportunities, he experienced the great power of education to change the trajectory of a child's life. He has also completed graduate coursework with Bank Street College of Education as part of the Venture Consortium’s Urban Education Semester. Through the program, Mr. Browne served as an assistant fifth grade teacher at P.S. 20 - Anna Silver School in Manhattan, NY in 2006.
Justin Smith, Chief Operating Officer
Justin Smith received his B.A. from Carleton College and his M.A. from Teachers College at Columbia University. He began his teaching career through Teach for America in San Pablo, California, where he taught for three years before moving to New York and teaching English at Democracy Prep Endurance Middle School. At Democracy Prep, Mr. Smith was able to visit other exceptional schools around the country as well as learn from master leaders and teachers, leading to him serving as an Instructional Coach and Assistant Principal before joining Forte Prep as the founding Director of Curriculum and Instruction and, currently, Principal. Born and raised in Crossville, Tennessee, Mr. Smith comes from a family of teachers and has seen firsthand the community-altering impacts of high-quality schools.
Viviana Benjumea, Chief Community Officer
Viviana was a founding member of Forte Prep, starting her career here as a Family Manager, and then the Director of Family and Community Programs at the Middle School. She is a Williams College alumna.
“I feel very fortunate to have had a series of transformational educational experiences. As an eighth grader, I received a scholarship to attend a top private high school due to a little skill and far too much good luck. I felt like I received a golden ticket that I did not deserve, because this kind of opportunity is not guaranteed for the vast majority of students, especially first-generation Americans and low-income students of color who often look like me. For too many students, demography determines destiny. Forte Prep is designed to create a better future for all students who attend. Together, as a community, we can build a school that defies the norm and allows every student to excel in college preparatory high schools and use their leadership and voice to change the world.”
CAMPUS LEADERSHIP
Damali Caine, Founding High School Campus Director
Damali Caine brings over 14 years of diverse educational experience, focused on empowering students and fostering academic growth. She began her academic journey at Andrews University, later earning a master's degree in Human Services Counseling from Liberty University and a School Building Leadership degree from Manhattan College.
Currently, Damali serves as the founding Campus Director for Forte Prep High School, a role she approaches with pride and enthusiasm. Her leadership is centered on building a supportive and engaging learning environment where students can excel in all areas of their lives.
Throughout her career, Damali has worked in various capacities, including parent coordinator, teacher, department chair, and grade-level leader. She has worked in a variety of schools, from boarding schools to urban campuses, gaining valuable experience in addressing the unique needs of diverse student populations.
Damali has a strong passion for serving inner-city youth, whose experiences resonate deeply with her own background. Returning to New York City was a purposeful decision, allowing her to give back to the community that shaped her to be the person she is today. She believes in providing all students with the resources and opportunities they need to succeed and reach their potential.
In her free time, Damali enjoys spending quality moments with her family, drawing inspiration and strength from these connections.
Julie Mastrella, Head of Lower Middle School
(Head of Lower Middle School) Julie Mastrella received her B.A. from the University of Delaware and her M.A. from Hunter College. As a teenager, Ms. Mastrella found a love for Special Education and a passion for inclusion while she volunteered and worked at various programs for people with disabilities. That work inspired her to study Special Education and Disabilities Rights in her years at Delaware.
She began her official teaching career abroad in Quito, Ecuador where she taught Special Education and English. Born and raised here in New York, Julie returned home in 2013 and began working in the Growing Up Green Charter Network. There she took on various student support roles including Special Education coordinator. A passion to create a school that met the needs for all students led Ms. Mastrella to the doors of Forte. Ms. Mastrella served as the founding Director of Students Supports at Forte Prep and created the Student Supports Program. She has since moved into the Assistant Principal role. Growing up, Ms. Mastrella's family spent significant time teaching her how to give back, be generous, and take action to make an impact through volunteering and teamwork. She strives to live those values as she ensures 100% of students are truly seen and 100% of teachers are truly supported.
Angela Mu, Head of Upper Middle School
Angela Mu received her B.A in music and M.A in music Education from Hunter College at the City University of New York. She then returned back to Hunter College two years after graduating and received a gifted and talented extension license in addition to her K-12 music education license. Her first experience in the classroom began at Amber Charter School in East Harlem, where she worked while she was in graduate school. Once she graduated she began teaching music and visual art at PS/MS 188 The Island School in the Lower East Side of Manhattan and then taught choir at MS 210 Elizabeth Blackwell Middle School before joining the founding Forte Prep team as the arts teacher. She continued to teach arts while taking on additional roles including the Grade Level Leader, an Instructional Coach and the Arts Department Chair. She is currently an Assistant Principal here at Forte Prep. She has great gratitude for all the experiences she has had and the people who she had learned from throughout her career to help her develop into the leader she is today and is proud to serve the families and students of the community where she grew up.