Hopkins School

Michael Van Leesten

Director of Breakthrough New Haven / Teacher

203.397.1001 x361

Michael is the Director of Breakthrough New Haven and a math teacher at Hopkins. Before joining the Hopkins community, Michael taught for two years as an associate teacher in mixed age group and third grade at Foote School in New Haven, CT. Prior to teaching at Foote School, he received his certification in 4th-8th grade math through the State of Connecticut's Alternate Route to Certification.

Prior to his teaching career, Michael served in a variety of capacities, including the Chief Financial Officer of the Construction Division, at Travelers Property Casualty Corp. Before joining Travelers, Michael served in several capacities at Goldman, Sachs & Co. ultimately serving as a Vice President within the Fixed Income Division where he structured and marketed a variety of financial instruments.

Michael currently sits on the Board of Directors of the Clifford Beers Guidance Clinic and he is a former member of the board of trustees of Foote School.

Michael graduated from Dartmouth College with majors in English and Economics and received his M.B.A. from Columbia University Graduate School of Business with Honors.

Errol Saunders

Assistant Director of Breakthrough / Teacher

203.397.1001 x381

Errol is the Assistant Director of Breakthrough New Haven and a history teacher at Hopkins. He graduated from Yale University with a B.A. in Political Science.

While at Yale, he was a Ron Brown Scholar and was awarded a Yale President’s Public Service Fellowship. It was during his years at Yale that Errol became a history teacher for Breakthrough New Haven. He taught for two years in Breakthrough’s after school program and summer school, helped write the program’s code of conduct, and served as dean of students.

Errol serves as the regional social chair for the Yale chapter of the Ron Brown Scholar Alumni Association. He is an active member of the Council on African-American Affairs and he is a City of New Haven tour guide for the Greater New Haven/Connecticut Convention and Visitors Bureau.