Brooklyn Urban Garden Charter School (BUGS) is excited to announce
the appointment of Recy Benjamin Dunn as our next Executive Director,
effective July 1, 2026

Recy joins BUGS with an impressive background in both the NYC Department of Education and the charter sector, most recently serving as CEO at Ascend Charter Schools. His deep commitment to community-centered education and experience in operations, fundraising, and strategic planning makes him the ideal leader to guide BUGS into its next chapter. (Click here to see his bio).

“BUGS commitment to educate students to build a sustainable, fairer, and greener future resonates deeply with me,” said Dunn. “I am honored to join this community where strong academics take place in a wonderfully warm, supportive environment. Spending time with teachers and students I got to see how BUGS nurtures curiosity and energizes big picture thinking by connecting learning to real world problem solving. I look forward to getting started, further getting to know the community, and building on the incredible work underway.”

*BUGS 6th graders welcome Recy to BUGS.*

“After an extensive and thoughtful search, we are thrilled to welcome Recy to BUGS,” said Felice Ekelman, Chair of the BUGS Board of Trustees. “He brings a powerful combination of strategic leadership experience, deep alignment to our mission, and a clear commitment to Educating for Sustainability and our community. We are confident he is the right leader to serve our students, staff, and families and guide BUGS into its next chapter. Recy is the candidate we dreamed of when Susan let us know that she was leaving to pursue her next adventures.”

Recy will begin engaging with our community soon to ensure a smooth transition alongside co-founder Susan Tenner, who will support the leadership handover through the summer.

Please join us in welcoming Recy to the BUGS family!

For more information, contact Susan Bakst at susan.bakst@BUGSbrooklyn.org or call 929-487-9927.