about us
the people behind the program
the mission
We endeavor to offer students the single best possible education in writing at the high school level. We will provide all who join with the tools, the training, and the opportunities needed to become professional writers, communicators, artists, and scholars. If there is a New York City student who dreams of becoming a writer, Townsend Harris High School is the school for that student.
meet the writing tutors
Writing Tutor
Hana Arafa
Hana Arafa is a senior at Townsend Harris High School. She is a Managing Editor of the Classic. Hana loves rollercoasters, bike riding, and iced coffee.
Writing Tutor
Michael Babayev
Michael is a junior at Townsend Harris. He is the Opinion Editor of The Classic. Michael loves lemon tea, playing his guitar, and writing papers to defend a thesis.
Writing Tutor
Madeline Cannon
Madeline is a senior at Townsend Harris High School and a Sports Editor for The Classic. She loves dance, her dog, creative writing, poetry, and research essays.
Writing Tutor
Janna Habibulla
Janna Habibulla is a senior at Townsend Harris High School. She is an Editor-in-Chief of The Classic. Janna loves dance and the show Gilmore Girls. She enjoys writing informative research reports and argumentative pieces.
Writing Tutor
Elliot Heath
Elliot Heath is a senior at Townsend Harris High School. He is a current Editor-in-Chief of The Classic. Elliot enjoys debating, watching/analyzing movies, and working on both nonfiction and creative writing.
Writing Tutor
Emma Joa
Emma is a senior at Townsend Harris High School and an Arts & Entertainment Editor for The Classic.
Writing Tutor
Faiza Tasnim
Faiza Tasnim is a junior at Townsend Harris High School. She is a News Editor for The Classic. Faiza loves reading, watching House, and writing narrative pieces on vague topics with a number of creative avenues.
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT
Zoom Sessions
To book an appointment with one of these tutors, view this appointments page. You must be signed in to your DOE Google Drive account in order to access the document and make an appointment.
meet the managers
Writing Center Manager
Jasmine Deonandan
Jasmine is a senior at Townsend Harris High School. She is an Editor-in-Chief of The Classic Critic. Jasmine enjoys acting, traveling, and puzzles. She also hopes to go into broadcast journalism and write a screenplay someday.
Writing Center Manager
Kate Estevez
Kate Estevez is a senior at THHS and an Editor-in-Chief of The Classic. In her free time, she enjoys watching movies, completing word puzzles, and trying new iced coffee flavors.
Writing Center Manager
Jessica Sandoval
Jessica is a senior at Townsend Harris High School. She is an Editor-in-Chief of The Classic Critic. Jessica loves iced coffee, reading The New York Times, and writing argumentative pieces on topics she feels passionate about.
meet the teachers
Writing Center Director/Journalism Program Advisor
Brian Sweeney
Mr. Sweeney has been teaching in the Humanities Department at Townsend Harris High School for nine years. He is also the advisor to The Classic.
Drama Program Advisor / Writing Center Advisor
Ryan Dunbar
Mr. Dunbar has been teaching in the Humanities Department at Townsend Harris High School for six years. He is also the director of the school play.
Creative Writing Program Advisor / Writing Center Advisor
Katherine Lipinski
Ms. Lipinski has been teaching in the Humanities Department at Townsend Harris High School for the past three years. She teaches Writing Process, Freshman English, and AP English Language and Composition.
Creative Writing Program Advisor / Writing Center Advisor
Sarah Levine
Ms. Levine has been teaching in the Humanities Department at Townsend Harris High School for the past two years. She teaches Writing Process and the Humanities Seminar at Queens College.
Writing Center Advisor
Aseefa Rasool
Ms. Rasool has been teaching in the Humanities Department at Townsend Harris High School for the past three years. She teaches Writing Process and Freshman English.