Our Administrative Team

The Morningside office buzzes with activity, acting as the hub for our school. In the Director’s Office, you’ll find a sympathetic ear and a wealth of experience.

In the Main Office, a parent can get information about the school, inquire about parent participation or begin a school visit. This is also where teachers can locate student files, make copies of classroom work or order materials. Our Assistant Director is on-hand here to help you in whatever way you need.

If you are looking for information on Admissions, click here.

Jorinda Silverstein Moorhead

Executive Director

Jorinda grew up between NY and Boston until returning permanently to NYC to attend NYU, where she completed a degree in psychology.

While raising two boys she attended Teachers College two times to obtaining MA degrees in Developmental Psychology and Special Education. She has a dual certification NYS teacher in early childhood and special education. She is also a certified yoga teacher.

Jorinda began working with children in daycare centers when she was 18. After college, Jorinda began working as a Special Education teacher in Brooklyn. Her work experience with children includes working with children with special needs in therapeutic nurseries and conducting educational evaluations. She was a literacy specialist with K-5 kids in the Department of Education for two years before coming here. Jorinda has also been involved in community organizing roles. In those positions, she reached out to marginalized groups of women and their children and managed large grants from the federal government.

Jorinda has been part of the MMS community since 1997. Initially, she was a a parent and board member. After a few years, she returned as a parent for the second time and also began teaching here. She was a teacher at MMS for seven years. During the last two of those years, she was also the Program Director.   In the spring of 2010, she became the Executive Director.

Jorinda has two boys, Jarobi and Mekhi, both of whom are Morningside alumni. She enjoys yoga, dancing and horseback riding.  Jorinda speaks Spanish and is re-learning Italian.

Debbie Gonzalez

Assistant Director

Debbie has been the Assistant Director since 1989 and was an MMS teacher for a number of years prior to assuming her present position.

Her common sense and ability to get things done keeps the Office moving along smoothly.

Debbie and her husband, Sal, have two sons, Carlos and Raymond. Both boys-now men- are MMS graduates.

Astry Wells De Jesus

Administrative Assistant

Astry was born in the Dominican Republic and is fluent in Spanish. When she was nine years old, she moved with her immediate family to the Upper West Side of Manhattan, leaving most of her extended family behind in the Dominican Republic.

MMS first met Astry in 1994 when she came to work as an Assistant Teacher in the West Classroom. Her warmth with children and families was immediately noteworthy.

After seven years at Morningside, Astry left for 3 years to spread her wings in other directions, first as a teacher at another nursery school and then as an Administrative Assistant for a firm in the garment district. When Astry learned that MMS had an opening for a summer camp counselor, she was eager to return and MMS was eager to hire her back. When summer ended, MMS was reluctant to lose Astry again and offered her a full-time Administrative Assistant position in the office.

Astry is married to Jimmy De Jesus. Their infant daughter Luna is a prospective Morningside student.