Meet the Staff

Karen Les Pierre, Director of Path to College

With a wealth of experience and expertise, Karen partnered with First Tee of Metropolitan New York and her business, Ms. Karen's A+ Tutoring Center, providing quality tutoring services to participants.  First Tee's Nine Core Values are what attracted Karen to the program and she firmly believes these values address the holistic principles that are valuable and determine a child's future. Prior to joining First Tee of Met New York she was a TASC/HSE Prep Instructor with the Mosholu Montefiore Community Center (MMCC) and helped prepare adults 18-21 in five main subjects areas in order to achieve their High School Equivalency (HSE) Diploma.Karen received her B.A. in English Literature from the University of Pennsylvania and is currently a candidate for a Master's in Education from the The City College of New York.

Mark Cognata, Director of Curriculum and Evaluation

Mark has been a licensed teacher since 2010, with certifications ranging from Pre-K through 8th grade. He is also a certified special education instructor for grades K-12.   He has experience writing and following individualized education plans (IEPs) and regularly creates and modifies curricula targeted towards students’ individual needs. Before becoming a teacher, Mark served for six years in the United States Air Force, and is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Mark is the Director of Curriculum & Evaluation at First Tee of Metropolitan New York.

Joshua Sanchez, Editorial Development & Marketing Consultant

Joshua currently serves as the editor for the Path to College program and First Tee of Metropolitan New York. Joshua is an alum of First Tee at Mosholu Golf Course and one of the original participants to join the program when it first launched in 2001. Throughout his time with First Tee he has managed to provide leadership, advice and guidance to parents and participants in The First Tee program. From 2010-2014 he served as the Program Manager and Instructor for First Tee at The Golf Club of Chelsea Piers. Most recently he has helped develop various editorial and marketing strategies for The First Tee’s Path to College program as well as First Tee of Met NY chapter.  Joshua is a recognized Posse Scholar and received a B.A. in theatre and government from Franklin & Marshall College. He is currently a Corporate Legal Assistant at Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP.