Our Instructors
Classes are taught by high-caliber educators and business professionals.
Every instructor in The 21 Gaps Program is highly credentialed in his or her field of study, and possess extensive experience working with young people. Better Than Yesterday has carefully screened each instructor to assemble a most prestigious team of educators.
Additionally, each course instructor will have a certified teaching professional as classroom support, helping to ensure that your child is safe and actively participating.
We invite you to review the credentials of our team of educators below:
Deon Candia,
“Leadership Development”
In my discussion with the youth, I plan on examining this whole craze of being “different.” I will engage students in interactions that will challenge individualism as well as their leadership. Students will learn to be confident in who they are as well as understanding the power of influence. My expectation is for students to be encouraged and excited about responsible leadership.
My name is Deon Candia and I am an advocate for the youth. I am an educator and have been teaching for nearly 20 years. Aside from teaching, I have a passion for coaching and training student athletes and have had the opportunity to win a high school football state championship as head coach in my hometown of Linden. I believe in leading by example and I take great pride in being a family man. I enjoy spending quality time with my wife, Michelle, and two sons, Travis and Keon. I am very involved in my community and I am a part of several organizations. I desire to bridge the gaps that still exist in our society.
June D. McIntyre
“Building Note-Taking and Study Skills” and "Parent Support"
If you take notes but don’t find them helpful when it’s time to study, this session is for you. Note-taking is an important skill for all students. It’s a tool that helps students remember information, compare and contrast learning concepts and most importantly commit information to long-term memory. However, notes are only valuable if they help you study. In this session, we’ll cover tips on “note-taking skills” and how to use the notes to study.
June D. McIntyre is an educator and life-long learner who is dedicated to helping students realize their fullest potential. Currently, she teaches math in the Linden Public School District and volunteers to support various school clubs and extracurricular activities. June holds a M.A. in Math Education from New Jersey City University.
Additionally, Mrs. McIntyre will co-host a special “Parent Support”evening get-together for parents/guardians of attending students. She’ll offer ideas on how parents can support their children's learning at home and throughout the school year.
Studies show that when parents and families are involved in their children's schools, the children do better and have better feelings about going to school.
Ethan Chazin
“Ace Your HS Career by Investing Your Time” and "Public Speaking Tips for Students"
“Time management” is the process of organizing and planning how students divide their time between specific activities. Good time management will enable them to work smarter – not harder – so students get more done in less time. This session will provide tools to increase student effectiveness, efficiency and productivity.
“Public Speaking Tips for Students” will aim to reduce anxiety that can interfere with giving presentations or speeches in class. These tips can also be helpful for students who have difficulty speaking in front of a group or telling a story among friends.
Drawing from Mr. Chazin’s established “Communicating for Success” programs, he will offer strategies students can use to reduce anxiety and fight the urge to stay home with a fake illness.
Ethan is an Associate Professor at New York University teaching courses in Organizational Behavior and is a Corporate Trainer with Rutgers University in the Office of Continuing and Professional Education. As the Founder and President of The Chazin Group LLC, he gives motivational talks, delivers training and professional development programs, provides one-on one and group-based executive coaching, strategic consulting, HR, staffing, and recruiting guidance to benefit start-ups, established firms, non-profits, and NGOs. Ethan received his BA in Communications from California State University and holds an MBA in Marketing from George Washington University.
Christina Frescki
"Nutrition: Be Your Best All Day By Eating Right"
Come learn about heart-healthy nutrition, weight loss, gain and management. We’ll also talk about what it means to eat healthy, address eating gluten-free, organic foods and big meals vs. little ones. Whether it's our heart, our teeth, or our ability to move, what we choose to eat impacts alertness and productivity.
Christina Frescki, MBA, RD, helps workers and students by providing nutritional counseling and services to the community. She is a Clinical Dietitian at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Rahway performing nutrition assessments for inpatients and outpatients with varying medical conditions. She also provides educational instruction and materials for patients, team members and the community and offers nutrition counseling and presentations to members of the RWJ Fitness Centers. Christina holds a Bachelor's degree in Dietetics/Dietitian from Rutgers New Brunswick and a Master's degree in Business Administration and Management from Georgian Court College.
Nya Patel
"Career Planning"
The essential ingredients to “Career Planning” include being aware that important decisions need to be made. This session covers the important topic of the “‘do’s and don’ts on social media,” as well as building your first resume, writing a cover letter (or not) and interview tips.
Nya is Assistant Vice President at Robert Half Management Resources where she trains recruiters and develops and delivers training for new hires. She also represents Robert Half in community networks, career panels and recruiting seminars. In addition, Nya participates in diversity and inclusion focus groups, networking, and initiatives for the company. She holds a BA in Economics from Brandeis University and a Boston College MBA.
Don Franco
“Spirituality In Purpose”
This session demonstrates the role that spirituality plays in achieving goals and life’s purpose. This class will also give insight into how one’s spiritual foundation adds to their commitment of serving a team, company or community.
Don, a Linden product, earned a basketball scholarship to Oak Hill Academy in Va. and later returned to finish his career in Linden as New Jersey's “Player of the Year.” Don attended Virginia Commonwealth University on an athletic scholarship, graduating with a BS in Business Administration. Following a distinguished career in pharmaceutical sales, Don spends his time as a spiritual book author, substitute teacher and using life experiences and business skills to provide empowerment to the African-American community. Don married his best friend and love, Twyla, and the couple lives with their four children.
Dr. Sharon Thomas-Parker
"Methods for Self-Motivation" and "Building Self Confidence"
The "Methods for Self Motivation" session delves into proven techniques students can use to do what needs to be done, without influence from other people or situations.
"Building Self Confidence" focuses on this extremely important facet of almost every aspect of life, yet so many students struggle to find it. Sadly, this can be a vicious circle: students who lack self-confidence can find it difficult to become successful.
Dr. Thomas-Parker will conduct both of these sessions, discussing steps that can be taken to contribute to self-confidence, how to develop your abilities to maintain self motivation.
Dr. Thomas-Parker has an extensive background in educational and career counseling. She is currently Program Director for a Baltimore-area behavioral health clinic. She has served as Director of Student Development at Savannah State University, Savannah, Ga., where she provided individual and group counseling, outreach programming, psychological assessment, crisis intervention and consultation to the university community. She holds a Doctorate of Education degree, Master of Education and B.S. in Psychology.
Roslyn Rolan, C.I.P.
“Image, Etiquette & Communications”
In our highly competitive society, the ability to succeed, in any endeavor, depends on having good social skills and a polished presence. People make judgments about you in less than 30 seconds, without your saying one word. Making a great first impression is vital, because you never get a second chance to make one. This session offers intense training in personal and image development, verbal and nonverbal communications, as well as social, business and table etiquette/dining skills.
Ms. Rolan brings over 30 years of experience in Fashion and Communications to her work as an Image and Etiquette Coach through her training company, The Image & Etiquette Institute of New Jersey. In 2000, she introduced several programs for children and teens (ages 8-18) including Charm, Etiquette and Beauty Pageant Training. Ms. Rolan is a recognized leader in the image and etiquette professions, and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts, certifications from the Association of Image Consultants International as well as The Protocol School of Washington D.C., as has professional status with the National Speaker’s Association.
Nicole Scott-Harris
"Environmental Justice"
Students will learn about issues and resulting public policies that result in a cleaner, healthier, and safer ecological environment (air, water, and land) for all Newark-area residents.
Nicole currently serves as Education Coordinator & Organizer in the Greater Newark region for the NJ Environmental Justice Alliance (NJEJA). She has completed a B.A. in Sociology and African American Studies, and a M.A. in Political Science from Rutgers University in Newark, NJ. Nicole was also a Class of 2010 Fellow at the Rutgers Eagleton Institute of Politics and a Class of 2009 Rutgers Environmental Steward. She is an Executive Committee Member for the League of Women Voters NJ's Young People's Network, and formerly served as Executive Committee Chair of Environmental Climate Justice with Newark NAACP. In 2016, Nicole completed the Environmental Leadership Program Fellowship and was recognized by New Jersey Work Environment Council with their Rising Star Award. She also recently completed her B.S. in Nutrition with a concentration in Dietetics at Montclair State University, with plans to continue training and education to obtain Registered Dietitian credentials. Nicole is also a Yoga Alliance 200-hour registered yoga teacher, with an additional 30-hour training in Yin. In 2017, she launched a small business, EcoEmpress Nutrition, Yoga & Wellness, LLC, integrating interests and professional expertise in nutrition, yoga, and environmental literacy.
Gus Heningburg II
“Black History through a Musical Lens”
This session highlights how the roots of African-American music can be traced from the slave songs of the 1700s through hip-hop music of today and demonstrates how this music has influenced and shaped cultures of the world. In an incredible way, students are provided self-learning techniques to spur intellectual curiosity through this great American art form. Presented in a format that translates to children in a world that is heavily influenced by a hip-hop culture, students learn the impact of black Americans on society today.
Gus II has been immersed in civil rights activism since birth. His father, of the same name, is one of Newark’s most influential figures of the 60s, 70s and 80s. He is largely credited with integrating New Jersey’s construction trade and breaking down racial barriers. He went on to host the long running, Emmy Award-winning television program Positively Black. Gus II’s professional career as Road and Tour Manager for some of the biggest and most well-known R&B, Rock and Rap artists gives him a unique insight into the world of music. As a self-taught historian, he is uniquely qualified to lead this discussion.
Dare Thompson
Entrepreneurship: Chasing the Dream
Dr. Demond T. Hargrove
“Bend Don’t Break: Overcoming Barriers”
Resilience is a person’s mental ability to recover quickly from misfortune. Like adults, life sometimes throws students a curve ball. When faced with disappointments and failures, this interactive workshop will discuss traits and attitudes young people can develop to persevere, survive and then thrive. Resilient students develop a mental capacity that allows them to adapt with ease during adversity, bending like bamboo instead of breaking—or giving up.
Dr. Demond T. Hargrove currently serves as vice president for student development at Union County College (UCC). Dr. Hargrove holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration & Leadership from Seton Hall University, a M.A. in Counseling Psychology from NJCU, and earned his B.S. in Political Science at Jersey City State College. He is a published author who has made presentations to professional organizations and student leadership programs regarding student retention, goal setting, leadership development, and emergency management. He has also developed minority male empowerment programs designed to promote the healthy development, persistence, academic achievement, and attainment of college men. Dr. Hargrove’s research interests include retention, persistence, and collegiate experiences of minority and underrepresented populations.
At an early age, some students begin to consider a career track that does not include college or the conventional work world. Their desire is to leap into a world of innovation and possibility through starting their own company. This session will leave students with an understanding of the pros and cons of entrepreneurship.
Thompson was admitted into Kean University in 2007 and became involved in several activities that would challenge him while aiding those in need of faithful words. He became a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. and was a two-year chapter president. He was also voted into the Student Government as well as president of the University Activities board and senior student body president. In his spare time, he had the opportunity to mentor children in the Newark Public School System—with aspirations of giving them the tools to have faith and constitute future life goals. Dare is co-founder of CANNNY a digital agency, constantly seeking new ways to implement new strategies and becoming a more resourceful leader. As DareToJourney co-founder, Thompson aims to educate others on their unique gifts that they have yet to discover. With his life experiences and triumphant anecdotes, Thompson aspires to ignite the flame of success within all individuals, one speech at a time.
We'll be adding more bios as instructors are confirmed. Check back soon!