HOW TO APPLY FOR THE 2025-2026 SCHOOL YEAR
The Apply Philly Charter website will be inaccessible from January 22 through February 25 for school year 2025-2026 applicants. If you’d like to consult with one of our enrollment specialists about options for your student during this period and be reminded via email, call, or text when the website reopens so that you can complete an application, please complete the form linked below.
If you are looking for a seat for your child for the current school year you can still apply via Apply Philly Charter by selecting school year 2024-2025 on your application during the January 22 through February 25 shutdown. Please note: Applications for school year 2025-2026 will not be accepted via the 2024-2025 pathway as they must be submitted for the correct school year in order to be eligible.
Your Neighborhood School in East Germantown
Welcome to John Wister Elementary, serving students in kindergarten through fifth grade in the East Germantown community of North Philadelphia.
Wister Elementary offers academic excellence in a joyful environment. From math and art to reading and field trips, students receive a rigorous and well-rounded education from highly-qualified and passionate teachers and leaders.
We focus on approaching everything with equity, excellence, and love at the center.
Wister students have the opportunity to automatically attend our Pickett Campus for 6th – 12th grade, giving them a full K-12 Mastery experience.
500
K-5
Our School
Academic instruction includes small-group sessions that allow teachers to create a personalized learning experience for each student as they explore the concepts of language arts, math, science, and social studies. Students also receive instruction in art, physical education, and dance as part of our commitment to educating the whole child.
We believe in a holistic approach to education, which helps foster academic excellence, critical thinking, and a lifelong passion for knowledge.
For more information about the academics at Mastery Schools, visit our Academic Program page.
Wister Elementary students can enjoy:
- Free breakfast and lunch
- Enthusiastic greetings from teachers and staff
- Morning meetings that set the tone for the day
- Free play and structured recess
Wister offers a variety of after school activities and clubs. Aftercare is available through local providers.
Some examples include:
- Art Club
- Basketball
- Book Club
- Cheerleading
- Games Club
- Girls Mentoring Group
- Homework/Tutoring Club
- Lego Club
- Performing Arts
- Reading Enrichment
- Step Club
John Wister Elementary serves students in the East Germantown community who live in the school’s attendance zone within the 19144 zip code.
The school cannot enroll students living outside of its attendance zone, even if they reside within the listed 19144 zip code.
Life at Wister
View GalleryOur Principal

Erica Smith
School Leadership
Aaron Rhock, Assistant Principal of Instruction
Ewura-Aba Hartley, Assistant Principal of School Culture
Laura Agosto, Assistant Principal of Specialized Services
Lauren Carter, Assistant Principal of Instruction
Marquise Reynolds, Assistant Principal/Director of Operations
Who to Contact
If you have questions about: | School Contact Person | Contact Information (email and phone number) |
---|---|---|
Fax number | 215-951-2011 | |
My child’s academic performance | APs of Instruction K-2 - Lauren Carter 3-5 - Aaron Rhock | 267-908-1556 Lauren[dot]Carter[at]masterycharter[dot]org Aaron[dot]Rhock[at]masterycharter[dot]org |
Attendance, Early Dismissals, Lateness | Ashay Johnson-Saunders, Specialized Services Classroom Assistant | Ashay[dot]Johnson-Saunders[at]masterycharter[dot]org |
Health and medical concerns | Marquise Reynolds - AP of Operations | 267-414-4597 Marquise[dot]Reynolds[at]masterycharter[dot]org |
Arrival or dismissal/Lunch | Ewura-Aba (Idun) Hartley, AP of School Culture | 215-429-5426 Ewura-Aba[dot]Idun[at]masterycharter[dot]org |
Discipline concerns/Uniforms | Ewura-Aba (Idun) Hartley, AP of School Culture | 215-429-5426 Ewura-Aba[dot]Idun[at]masterycharter[dot]org |
Wellness/social work supports | I'Donia Pope, School Social Worker Kelley Cunningham, School Social Worker | Idonia[dot]Pope[at]masterycharter[dot]org Kelley[dot]Cunningham[at]masterycharter[dot]org |
Events and trips | Ewura-Aba (Idun) Hartley, AP of School Culture | 215-429-5426 Ewura-Aba[dot]Idun[at]masterycharter[dot]org |
Transportation | Laura Agosto, AP of Specialized Services | 215-514-7201 Laura[dot]Agosto[at]masterycharter[dot]org |
Supports for a student with an IEP | Laura Agosto, AP of Specialized Services | 215-514-7201 Laura[dot]Agosto[at]masterycharter[dot]org |
Scheduling | Marquise Reynolds, AP of Operations | 267-414-4597 Marquise[dot]Reynolds[at]masterycharter[dot]org |
Registration | Marquise Reynolds, AP of Operations | 267-414-4597 Marquise[dot]Reynolds[at]masterycharter[dot]org |
Enrollment support | Melissa (Nikoi) Petty, Enrollment Coordinatir | 267-761-2331 Melissa[dot]Nikoi[at]masterycharter[dot]org |
Athletics and After-School Programs | Ewura-Aba (Idun) Hartley, AP of School Culture | 215-429-5426 Ewura-Aba[dot]Idun[at]masterycharter[dot]org |
Staff directory
Our staff is available to support you and your child throughout their school experience. We are available to meet with families and answer questions via the email addresses listed here.
First Name | Last Name | Job Title | Email - Primary Work |
---|---|---|---|
Aaron | Rhock | Assistant Principal of Instruction - Elementary School | aaron[dot]rhock[at]masterycharter[dot]org |
Aeryn | Gilmore | Support Teacher - Elementary School | [email protected] |
Anita | Wood | Support Teacher - Elementary School | [email protected] |
Angel | Murray | History Teacher - Elementary School | Angel[dot]Murray[at]masterycharter[dot]org |
Ashay | Johnson-Saunders | Attendance Coordinator (Part-Time) | Ashay[dot]Johnson-Saunders[at]masterycharter[dot]org |
Ashley | Douglas | Support Teacher - Elementary School | Ashley[dot]Douglas[at]masterycharter[dot]org |
Brianna | Fowler | Teacher - Early Elementary | [email protected] |
Bridget | Dixson | Support Teacher - Elementary School | bridget[dot]dixson[at]masterycharter[dot]org |
Brittany | Lashley | Math Teacher - Elementary School | Brittany[dot]Lashley[at]masterycharter[dot]org |
Carla | Ceralde | English Teacher - Elementary School | Carla[dot]Ceralde[at]masterycharter[dot]org |
Cassandra | Bissett | Specialized Services Teacher - Elementary School | cassandra[dot]bissett[at]masterycharter[dot]org |
Charlotte | Klass | Specialized Services Teacher - Elementary School | Charlotte[dot]Klass[at]masterycharter[dot]org |
Charmaine | Singleton | Support Teacher - Elementary School | charmaine[dot]singleton[at]masterycharter[dot]org |
Colleen | Shannon | Specialized Services Teacher - Elementary School | Colleen[dot]Shannon[at]masterycharter[dot]org |
Danielle | Hackney | Science Teacher - Elementary School | danielle[dot]hackney[at]masterycharter[dot]org |
DeAndre | Jackson | Building Engineer | DeAndre[dot]Jackson[at]masterycharter[dot]org |
Elizabeth | Craig | Teacher - Early Elementary | elizabeth[dot]hoenigke[at]masterycharter[dot]org |
Erica | Smith | Principal - Elementary School | erica[dot]smith[at]masterycharter[dot]org |
Ewura-Aba | Hartley | Assistant Principal of School Culture - Elementary School | ewura-aba[dot]idun[at]masterycharter[dot]org |
Florette | Wilkerson | Support Teacher - Elementary School | Florette[dot]Wilkerson[at]masterycharter[dot]org |
Genevieve | Hilliard | Science Teacher - Elementary School | Genevieve[dot]Hilliard[at]masterycharter[dot]org |
G'Tayah | Archie | Dance Teacher - Elementary School | [email protected] |
Gwendolyn | Dickerson | Support Teacher - Elementary School | Gwendolyn[dot]Dickerson[at]masterycharter[dot]org |
I'Donia-Danielle | Pope | Social Worker | IDonia[dot]Pope[at]masterycharter[dot]org |
Isaac | Leonard | Dean | isaac[dot]leonard[at]masterycharter[dot]org |
Jada | Russell | English Teacher - Elementary School | Jada[dot]Russell[at]masterycharter[dot]org |
Jaleya | Martin | Specialized Services Classroom Assistant (Part-Time) | [email protected] |
Jaymi | Ragin | Support Teacher - Elementary School | [email protected] |
Jordan | Tapp | Math Teacher - Elementary School | Jordan[dot]Tapp[at]masterycharter[dot]org |
Kashia | Larke | Administrative Assistant (Part-Time) | Kashia[dot]Larke[at]masterycharter[dot]org |
Katherine | Trott | Teacher - Early Elementary | katherine[dot]trott[at]masterycharter[dot]org |
Kelley | Cunningham | Social Worker | Kelley[dot]Cunningham[at]masterycharter[dot]org |
Keohn | Davis | Culture Assistant (Part-Time) | [email protected] |
Khadija | Bowens | Dean | Khadija[dot]Bowens[at]masterycharter[dot]org |
Kristina | Labold | Specialized Services Teacher - Elementary School | kristina[dot]labold[at]masterycharter[dot]org |
Latifah | Sunkett | Support Teacher - Resident | [email protected] |
Laura | Agosto | Assistant Principal of Specialized Services - Elementary School | laura[dot]agosto[at]masterycharter[dot]org |
Lauren | Carter | Assistant Principal of Instruction - Elementary School | lauren[dot]carter[at]masterycharter[dot]org |
Lisa | Goodall | Specialized Services Teacher - Elementary School | Lisa[dot]Goodall[at]masterycharter[dot]org |
Liyah | Williams | Support Teacher - Resident | [email protected] |
Mariah | Bankemper | Teacher - Elementary School | Mariah[dot]Bankemper[at]masterycharter[dot]org |
Marisa | Banks | Support Teacher - Elementary School | [email protected] |
Marquise | Reynolds | Assistant Principal/Director of Operations - Elementary School | Marquise[dot]Reynolds[at]masterycharter[dot]org |
Melissa | Nikoi | Enrollment Coordinator (Part-Time) | Melissa[dot]Nikoi[at]masterycharter[dot]org |
Naima | Williams | History Teacher - Elementary School | Naima[dot]Williams[at]masterycharter[dot]org |
Najah | Hooks | Administrative Assistant (Part-Time) | [email protected] |
Nana-Mbra | Idun | Art Teacher - Elementary School | Nana-mbra[dot]idun[at]masterycharter[dot]org |
Patrice | Michael | Teacher - Early Elementary | patrice[dot]michael[at]masterycharter[dot]org |
Rachel | Foley | Teacher - Elementary School | Rachel[dot]Foley[at]masterycharter[dot]org |
Rafiq | Williams | Physical Education Teacher - Elementary School | Rafiq[dot]Williams[at]masterycharter[dot]org |
Raven | Washington | Specialized Services Teacher - Elementary School | [email protected] |
Sakinah | Hobbs-Jones | Teacher - Elementary School | Sakinah[dot]Hobbs-Jones[at]masterycharter[dot]org |
Shanasia | Shelton | Intervention Teacher - Elementary School | Shanasia[dot]Shelton[at]masterycharter[dot]org |
Sharae | Goldston | Teacher - Early Elementary | Sharae[dot]Goldston[at]masterycharter[dot]org |
Taylor | Hargrove | Specialized Services Classroom Assistant (Part-Time) | [email protected] |
Tiffany | Camps | Specialized Services Teacher - Elementary School | [email protected] |
Trent | Petty | Teacher - Early Elementary | [email protected] |
Tyneisha | Mcneil | Teacher - Early Elementary | [email protected] |