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Mr. Paul and Dr. Carol Stockman are a dedicated and philanthropic couple, whose monthly donations to The Neighborhood Academy (TNA) ensure that young minds have the resources and support they need to thrive.

Paul, a lawyer in private practice, specializes in energy and environmental litigation. Carol, originally from Texas, moved to Pittsburgh for her Ph.D. and spent years in academia, teaching at California University of Pennsylvania (now PennWest California) and the University of Pittsburgh. She is also actively involved, at the local and national level, with the ARCS Foundation. The two are proud parents of two young men (ages 31 and 28), and reside in Serenbe, a biophilic community in Georgia, during Pittsburgh’s gray winter months.

The Stockmans were introduced to TNA in 2015 through co-founder Jodie Moore and long-time TNA supporter Francine Abraham. After attending an event and touring the school, they were immediately drawn to its education model.

“It was so easy to get behind the school’s mission,” said Paul. “There are lots of worthy causes to support, but the impact feels indirect or distant. Being donors of TNA, you can see very directly the impact that your support makes. The power of a good education as a driver of future success means so much to us.”

Understanding the importance of consistent funding for nonprofits, Paul and Carol set up a recurring monthly donation to The Neighborhood Academy.

“Automatic donations make giving seamless. We don’t have to think about it until we do our taxes,” said Paul.

“There are other times when you intend to make a donation to a cause, but things get busy, and you just simply forget!” added Carol. “We both have worked on nonprofit boards in the past, so we know it’s so helpful to know there is a contribution that comes through the door every month that you can count on.”

TNA thanks the Stockmans for their extraordinary generosity and unwavering commitment to our school community.

To learn more about reoccurring gifts, simply visit givetna.org, click Donate Now and select “Recurring Donation” at the top of the donation page.

Try our new Donor Portal! Set up recurring gifts, easily update your payment and contact information, view your giving history, and more. givetna.blackbaudportal.com

A 2015 graduate of The Neighborhood Academy, Jerico Berlin’s has turned his high school passion for real estate into a thriving career. He credits his eagerness and determination to go above and beyond to what he calls his ‘willingness to do what others won’t.’

“At TNA, I was a student ambassador and would give tours to school visitors. One day, I was giving a tour to Keith B. Key, President and CEO of KBK Enterprises, and he introduced me to the world of real estate development,” said Jerico. “After the tour, I went to Jodie Moore (TNA Co-Founder,) and expressed my interest in real estate. She quickly put me in contact with JC Pelusi, Market Director with Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL). JC was a mentor and fueled my passion for real estate all through my college career.”

A week after graduating high school, Jerico completed a two-month internship in marketing and sales at SFMADE in San Francisco, CA. Returning to Pittsburgh to answer his calling for real estate, Jerico continued gaining experience at agencies such as JLL and RE360 during his college journey.

In 2019, Jerico joined the United States Air Force as a federal reservist stationed at the 911 Airlift Wing in Coraopolis.

His career path took a pivotal turn at a career fair in 2020, where he connected with Jeffrey Ackerman, Executive Vice President at CBRE. Despite the pandemic delaying his internship with the real estate and investment firm, Jerico maintained contact with Ackerman through monthly check-ins.

“In 2021, I joined CBRE as a brokerage intern gaining experience across asset classes like office, retail, and capital markets,” said Jerico. “A year later, after I received my degree in business marketing from the University of Pittsburgh, I was offered a full-time position with CBRE… Soon after I was hired, Jeffery unexpectedly passed away. I’m thankful for him taking me under his wing and believing in me.”

Today at CBRE, Jerico manages over 1.5 million square feet of office space in Pittsburgh, completing more than 100,000 square feet in transactions and generating $12.3 million in lease revenue for clients.

Pittsburgh is a ‘small world,’ and Jerico recently brushed shoulders with TNA alumnus and current board member, Micah Arnold ‘18, who is a Project Coordinator at Beam Collaborative. 
“I’ve run into Jerico a few times downtown. After a discussion with him, I had Beam Collaborative’s Chief Strategy Officer and former Board Chair of The Neighborhood Academy, Joe Massaro, reach out to him as we were looking for a space to house a Controlled Environment Agriculture facility…  we quickly hired him on to help with Beam’s search.”

Jerico is highly motivated and prides himself on relationships over transactions. He recently enrolled into the Bridgeway Capital’s Emerging Developer Accelerator program to equip himself with necessary knowledge and resources to fund his dream of becoming a local housing developer.

Jerico can be contacted at jerico.berlin@gmial.com. He is open to expanding his network! 
 

For most high school seniors, life is a whirlwind of classes, extracurriculars, and the ever-looming question: “What’s next?” But for TNA senior Jalise, the path forward is as clear as it is intriguing. Fueled by a passion for understanding the intricacies of human behavior and a curiosity about the darker corners of the mind, Jalise has set her sights on pursuing a degree that will allow her to study criminal behavior. At 18 years old, the Penn Hills resident has been accepted to Slippery Rock University, Morgan State University, Robert Morris University, Southern University at New Orleans, Duquesne University, Clark Atlanta University, PennWest Clarion, and Lincoln University.

“Wherever I go, I want to study either psychology or psychiatry. Mental health really interests me and I’m curious what triggers people and makes them act certain ways,” said Jalise. “My brother would always watch shows like ‘Criminal Minds,’ ‘CSI,’ and 'How to Get Away with Murder,’ so criminal psychology really piqued my interest.”

As the fifth member of her family to attend TNA, Jalise continues a legacy of excellence and Bulldog pride. She is very involved in Mock Trial and Moot Court, and she competed on a national level  at the Marshall-Brennan Moot Court Competition in Washington, D.C. with fellow classmate Nathaniel.

“Nate and I reviewed a case for a few months and had to make an oral argument while judges scored us,” Jalise said. “I’m proud of how well we did, and the courses at TNA made learning fun and really prepared us… We once debated on whether hotdogs should be considered a sandwich!”

Jalise is also a talented Bulldog Track & Field athlete having made it to the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL) competitions twice in her high school career for the 200m.

“Track is definitely a mental game! I have to constantly push myself and push myself,” said Jalise. “To relax, I also enjoy reading autobiographies with my mom – it’s a way we bond. We just finished two good ones on Cicely Tyson and Viola Davis. Our love of reading the same books all started when I was younger. I would read to her and make up words in the book that I thought should be in there but weren’t,” laughed Jalise.
 

Dr. Stan Marks has been a committed supporter of The Neighborhood Academy (TNA) since 2008. His involvement grew even stronger when his son, Jordan Marks, took on the role of basketball coach in 2019.

Together, they have made a profound impact on TNA students, not only by supporting their athletic development but also serving as mentors, helping shape the character, discipline, and leadership skills of the young people with whom they work.

Dr. Marks was initially impressed by the students’ enthusiasm and work ethic, describing them as “very special” and calling TNA a “hidden gem” that provides invaluable opportunities for both personal and academic growth.

As a staunch advocate of the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program, Dr. Marks is deeply committed to TNA’s mission. He underscores the unique educational opportunities TNA provides to students who might otherwise lack access to such resources. He is always encouraging others to support TNA, highlighting that donors and volunteers help create life-changing paths from academic excellence to graduate support programs designed to ensure their continued success after high school.

“It is a no-brainer,” he says, emphasizing that the return on even a small financial commitment is immense, helping to shape the futures of these students. “No other school can prepare students the way TNA does—there’s something truly special about each graduate, and they continue to inspire me to stay involved.”

In addition to his financial support, Dr. Marks actively engages with TNA students by connecting them to internships and providing career coaching. He invites others to visit the campus, meet the students, and experience the profound impact TNA has on their lives.

“Your life will change forever,” he promises.

We are so grateful for Tara Monaco, who spent the summer tending to The Neighborhood Academy’s community garden.

As a student in the Master Gardener Program at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, Tara’s efforts in beautifying the space benefited both her class and her own gardening skills!

Tara worked with Kristin Rubin’s science students to plant marigolds in class. “The students watched the seeds germinate in peat moss right there in the classroom, and when they were ready, I planted them outside,” said Tara. “I love working in the community, and this project gave me pure joy. My two-year-old grandson joined me a few times to help water the plants!”

Tara is a native Pittsburgher and lives in Edgewood. She spent 15 years with UPMC Health Plan during which time she had the opportunity to explore several areas of philanthropic interest. That led her to a career at Northwestern Mutual which is a significant donor to The Neighborhood Academy. Tara has historically volunteered with charities that focus on food insecurity, and we are grateful that she has found The Neighborhood Academy!

“Volunteering with The Neighborhood Academy is inspirational,” she said. “Schools like The Neighborhood Academy can change the world. There should be one in every community. The students are our future, and that’s what really matters.”

Joy Simpson ’19 is an X-ray Technologist with Express Mobile Diagnostic Services (EMDS). She has a clear picture of what it takes to be successful.

EMDS is a 24/7 traveling imaging service operating in eight states and provides X-ray and ultrasound results to patients in only a matter of minutes. Joy works three 12-hour shifts and travels 800 miles around Western PA each week.

“It’s a lot of travel, and I love it. It’s taught me how to work in all different settings – from people’s houses to nursing homes to jails,” said Joy. “As a mobile service, we do all the setup, calculations, and radiation factoring right on the spot. This experience has made me a better technologist.”

Joy credits her passion for radiology to her outstanding professors at Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC), and she credits one particular TNA teacher for her drive for excellence: Gary Shawley.

“Mr. Shawley proved to me that I was capable of more in the academic setting. Whether calling on me in class to discuss my perspectives, highlighting my writing capabilities, or simply affirming me as a student, his teaching helped cultivate me into who I am today,” said Joy.

Joy’s grandmother has played an important role in her life and continues to be an inspiration for her.

“My grandmother is brilliant, and she’s an inspiration to me as a Black woman. Where I come from, you don’t see many African American women going to college, getting their master’s or doctorates,” said Joy. “My grandmother got her master’s in theology in her 60s, and to see her continuing to excel amazes me.”

Joy and her husband Darren were married in late August and currently reside in Forest Hills. She recently completed her clinical rotation and plans on taking her board exams in the next few months. Joy then has plans to go into Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) or teaching! Whatever she chooses to do, she will know the field of radiology inside and out!

Over the summer, TNA senior Nathaniel completed The UPMC Hillman Cancer Center Academy – an immersive mentored research program for high school students. During this eight-week program, he engaged in cutting edge cancer research working in laboratories directed by dedicated University of Pittsburgh faculty.

The program consists of eight different mini programs and Nathaniel was assigned to women’s cancer research. “The Hillman Academy was an amazing opportunity,” he said. “I was able to study the concept of DNA Methylation – a form of epigenetics that is still very new in the world of science and cancer research.”

Epigenetics does not affect the nucleotide sequence in DNA, but still affects DNA in a different process. Nathaniel said that he hopes they will use his research someday to expand upon DNA Methylation. “It’s inspiring that something I worked on for eight weeks could possibly change the world of medicine,” he said.

Nathaniel aspires to major in neuroscience or biology, studying to become a surgeon. He has a strong list of college options including University of Pennsylvania, Penn State University, Temple University, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, or The University of Pittsburgh.

Nathaniel isn’t just all brains. He has a passion for biking and has been riding with Pittsburgh Youth Leadership (PYL) since the sixth grade. He has completed some epic trips riding to North Carolina, Wyoming, and the Cumberland to Washington D.C. trip. When he started at The Neighborhood Academy, he didn’t know how to ride a bike. He said that Mr. Ron Snyder took the time to teach him.

From that point, he earned his 1,000-mile jacket, and today has completed more than 4,000 miles with the group. Through everything Nathaniel does, his inspiration is his family, and making them proud is his motivation. “It is almost instinctual for me to make my family proud,” he said. “I have great parents, a younger sister, and an older brother with special needs that are my driving force.”

Lisa Ross from McKees Rocks is a mother of two TNA graduates. Having been deeply involved in the TNA community for years, she realized she was learning alongside her children the entire time. In 2015, Lisa didn’t have a degree, a driver’s license, or even a car. She had clear aspirations for her family but lacked direction on how to achieve them. Despite working full-time, she dedicated countless hours to TNA and remained actively engaged in the lives of her children and their school peers.

“At the time, I was part of a TNA parent committee where I would volunteer for different school activities and attend sporting events,” said Lisa. “The information from the programs was fueling me…I was learning with the students how to achieve my own goals.”

Since then, Lisa has obtained a bachelor’s and master’s degree in education. She currently teaches at Propel Schools in Pittsburgh and works as an educator in TNA’s Summer Academy.

“While my kids have graduated, I still want to be a part of TNA’s continued blessings,” said Lisa. “The faculty and staff truly care. At the end of the day, they’re always discussing how they can make things better for the next day, the next week, the next year."

Having watched her own daughter grow and graduate from TNA (now a Robert Morris University student studying finance), Lisa was ecstatic when TNA opened its Middle School for Girls in fall 2023.

Lisa said that when one experiences TNA, it has a positive effect on the entire family. She said she was so excited when TNA opened its Middle School for Boys in 2017. “I watched the students grow into intelligent, artistic, athletic, capable, young men attending the colleges of their choice,” she said. “I cannot wait to see the young ladies graduate in six years.”