Our Leadership

The GJA community is led by an esteemed and committed Board of Trustees and Head of School Ramón Javier.

Ramón brings to us nearly two decades of leadership experience at some of the most pre-eminent independent schools and educational access programs in New York City. Since 2016 he has been Director of Equity and Inclusion at Trinity School, where he acted as the senior administrator responsible for creating an inclusive environment grounded in academic rigor and equitable practices, while working closely with the Board of Trustees. Prior to Trinity, Ramón was Director of Diversity and Equity at Packer Collegiate Institute in Brooklyn from 2012-2016.

A graduate of Williams College, Ramón earned a Masters of Education (Ed.M.) and M.A. in Psychological Counseling from Teachers College, Columbia University, and served as one of two founding mental health counselors at KIPP NYC College Prep from 2009-2012. Before that he worked at The TEAK Fellowship and Prep for Prep, both of which are premier education access programs that help to prepare underserved, high achieving students for acceptance to, and success in, the nation’s most select secondary schools and colleges.

As a native New Yorker and Prep for Prep alumnus himself, Ramón comes to GJA with an intimate knowledge of the enormous potential of middle school boys as well as a deep understanding of their needs and the challenges they and their families face.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Steve Lipman, Board Chair

Elisabeth Hutchins, Vice Chair

Nate Norstrud, Treasurer

Michael Carroll, Secretary

Brother Brian Carty, FSC

Founder, De La Salle Academy & George Jackson Academy

Marjorie Croes Silverman, PHD

Timothy Croak

Lauren Glant

Phineas Lambert

John Lechner

Jon Lindsey

Walfrido Martinez

Sabina McMahon

David O’Halloran, PhD

Rafael Padilla, MD

Oliver Ramin

Holly Raub

Eric Rothfeld

Paul Williams

Ramón Javier

Ex-officio

Head of School, GJA

New Board Member Spotlight

John Lechner leads a team of experienced professionals dedicated to helping families develop comprehensive, multigenerational wealth management strategies. With over three decades of experience, he specializes in designing and implementing customized investment plans, including strategies for managing concentrated equity positions. A Harvard College graduate with a A.B. in economics and All-American lacrosse honors, John began his career at Kidder Peabody before moving to Alex Brown & Sons and later joining Morgan Stanley in 2009. He has served as a trustee of St. Paul’s School and remains active in educational philanthropy. John was also recognized on Forbes’ Best In-State Advisor list for his excellence in wealth management.

Sabina McMahon is a lifelong educator with experience at the Nightingale-Bamford School, Northfield Mount Hermon School, and the Thacher School. Over her career, she has served as a mathematics teacher, residential life specialist, dean of students, and assistant head of school. She is currently engaged year-round with Camp Moosilauke in scenic Orford, New Hampshire, continuing her commitment to student development and educational excellence.

Holly Rayna Raub serves as the Chief Administrative Officer of Keewaydin Investments, LLC, the family office of Thomas L. Kempner, Jr. She also oversees the Thomas L. Kempner, Jr., Foundation, Inc. Before assisting in the formation of the family office, Holly worked at Davidson Kempner Capital Management LP. She has served in various roles in the investment management industry and began her career in New York at Neuberger Berman and Lazard Freres.

Holly is a dedicated advocate for arts education programming in disadvantaged and disabled communities. She has worked as a teaching artist for such organizations as Lincoln Center, Children’s Museum of Manhattan, FotoFest, KIPP Schools, NYChildren and the Museum of Modern Art.

She holds an MPA from the New York University Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service and a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from New York University.