Sarah Weeks

Executive Director/ Owner

Sarah Weeks has spent over 20 years in education—not just observing from the sidelines, but deeply immersed in teaching, learning, leadership and advocacy. She started as a 1:1 aide working with students on the Autism Spectrum while still in college, then moved through classroom teaching, special education, and school leadership across New York City.

After Yale and master's degrees in Educational Policy and School Administration from Stanford and Pace, Sarah became the Founding Principal of a new public high school Brooklyn and led it for four years. She then scaled up to support 27 NYC secondary schools as Deputy Network Leader. Missing the daily work with students, teachers, and families, she returned to found a successful middle school program at an inclusive Brooklyn charter school.

Ready for a change of pace, and more time with her own young children, Sarah shifted to educational consulting and began a PhD at Teachers College, Columbia, focusing on inclusive educational leadership and equity-driven decision making. A one-year pause in her program to serve as an Interim Head of School reminded her where her heart really is: working directly with children, adolescents and parents, especially those who aren't thriving in conventional school settings.

After two decades championing families inside the system—fighting for the students traditional schools weren't built to serve—and years searching and fighting for services for her own children, Sarah knows too many children require something different from what’s typically available. She's been the advocate in IEP meetings, the principal pushing to meet the needs of all students, the leader helping teachers see students' potential instead of deficits, and the parent calling for attention to her child’s strengths and needs. She's seen too many brilliant kids struggle not because they can't learn, but because their schools weren’t ready to support how they learn. Opening Brain Balance of Brooklyn is her next act of advocacy: offering families an evidence-based, individualized approach that meets each person where they actually are. It's about giving parents and children, as well as adult learners, the tools and support they need to thrive.

On the weekends, Sarah can be found cheering for her older son’s travel baseball team or slowly trying to learn D&D and MTG from her younger son. With her free time she enjoys spending time with her husband hiking and traveling, reading everything from neuroscience research to romance novels, attempting to cook meals everyone in the family will enjoy, and aspiring to take up gardening.

Denise Garcia

Program Director

Born and raised in the South Bronx to proud Caribbean parents, Denise brings a deep understanding of community, resilience, and connection to her work at Brain Balance. She earned her degree in Behavioral Science from Mercy University, and for over a decade, has dedicated her career to empowering children, teens, and young adults through education, mentorship, and holistic development.

Following more than a decade in the classroom as a dual-language educator, Denise carried her commitment to education and equity into the nonprofit sector, spearheading programs that uplifted youth and families. Most notably serving as Program Coordinator and then transitioning to a Camp Director for The Fresh Air Fund, where she helped thousands of youth build confidence, leadership, and create lifelong memories. She has collaborated with school leaders, administrators, and families to strengthen literacy, personalize learning, enhance curriculum mapping, and drive strategic performance outcomes.

A skilled communicator and dynamic facilitator, Denise shines when leading training sessions, hosting community events, and engaging with families in her community, where she finds joy in building meaningful connections and creating pathways for growth. She uses data-driven strategies to support individualized goals and continuous improvement.

Now, through her new endeavor with Brain Balance, Denise is proud to serve children and families from across New York City, helping them find a holistic approach to growth, learning, and thriving both inside and outside the center regardless of background, language, abilities or learning style. Outside of Brain Balance, Denise enjoys playing tennis, reading, traveling, and spending time with her family and pets.

Mehrin Chowdhury

Family Engagement, Digital Marketing and Office Coordinator

Mehrin leads social media, content, and marketing for the center’s launch and community outreach, while supporting daily operations. With experience in communications, events, and admin, she blends creativity and organization to keep things running smoothly.

In her time away from Brain Balance, Mehrin enjoys exploring New York City’s hole-in-the-wall food spots, exploring art galleries, and volunteering for a non-profit.

Alice Haefeli-Burch

Lead Coach

Alice Haefeli-Burch has always believed in the power of play, movement, nature, collaborative learning and limited screen time as keys to health development. She joins the Brain Balance team after years applying these principles as a summer camp director, where she was able to support the growth of campers and counselors - and have fun while doing it! She has worked with many populations as a summer camp educator, including children with cognitive disabilities, physical disabilities, HIV-AIDS, and cancer, and has seen the power of exercise, nature, and balanced nutrition first-hand.

In her spare time, Alice enjoys playing music, exercising, and spending time with her husband, son, and dog exploring all that New York has to offer. She is thrilled to be working at Brain Balance to continue helping people become the best versions of themselves.