About the founders
The Aviation Prep Academy was born out of a couple's shared professional expertise and vision: to bring aviation to a new generation of flight enthusiasts.
Michael A.N. Winkler has been involved in aviation since the early 1980s. On the ground, he has held leadership positions in marketing, finance, and operations for large international carriers (Lufthansa and JetBlue Airways) on two continents; in the air, he flew business jets in Canada, the USA, and the Caribbean. For over a dozen years he also co-owned, managed, and taught at a flight school at Farmingdale, New York's Republic Airport, with many of his graduates now in senior pilot positions themselves.
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Sara Hill, Ed.D., has many years of experience writing standards-based curriculum for youth and adults. She was a curriculum developer for a career and college ready curriculum for the National Urban League. She has designed and delivered professional development and training for staff and youth professionals via the National Institute on Out-of-School Time, the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development, and SCO Family of Services. She has published several articles and written book chapters in the areas of best practices in professional development and the youth development field.
About our instructors:
Brandon Baptiste is a seasoned leader in youth services, restorative practices, and nonprofit management, with over a decade of experience supporting young people and building impactful programs. Currently serving as the Assistant Director of Training and Program Development at the New York Center for Interpersonal Development (NYCID), Brandon designs and leads conflict resolution trainings across NYC schools, equipping students and educators with tools for peer mediation and restorative justice. His background spans roles from executive team leadership to case planning and adoption recruitment, earning recognition such as the Excellence in Practice award from the Administration for Children’s Services. Brandon brings a trauma-informed, equity-focused lens to all his work, driven by a deep commitment to creating safe, supportive environments for youth to thrive.
About the founders