PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

Career Experience

Foundation Academies Charter Schools, Trenton, NJ 2009 – 2022

Chief Executive Officer (2014 - 2022)

Managing Director K-8 & Founding Intermediate School Principal (2012 - 2014)

Middle School Principal & Associate Head of School (2009 - 2012)

Casted and implemented the vision of and the daily operations of Foundation Academies ($16M annual budget & 140 staff members), a Title I public charter school that has grown to serve 1,092 students in kindergarten through 12th grade.

  • Ranked in the 92nd percentile by the NJDOE amongst all public schools in New Jersey and the 4th highest ranked charter school in New Jersey (most recent rankings)

  • Ranked as a “Tier 1” school by the NJDOE, every year since the start of the rankings in 2013-14

  • Led organization from the verge of financial distress to an exceedingly strong current financial position with $6.3M in cash reserves plus $4.5M of federal funds (American Rescue Plan) available

  • Scaled the organization to match student enrollment growth of nearly 550%

  • Ensured that 100% of our high school graduates gained admission to 4-year colleges/universities for all of the school’s eight graduating classes (~350 alums)

  • Ensured perfect audits with no recommendations during my entire tenure as CEO

  • Developed the 501c3, The Friends of FA, Inc. into a multi-million dollar support organization

  • Secured financing and oversaw the development and ownership of state-of-the-art school facilities, at less than 6% of annual operating budget

Cap Cana Heritage School, Cap Cana, Dominican Republic 2007 – 2009

Founding Middle & High School Principal

Marketed the vision and led daily operations for 4th to 12th grades of a private, English-immersion startup school in the Dominican Republic.

  • Communicated school vision and secured student enrollment of 400+ students in first two years

  • Recruited, supervised and supported 25 staff members; managed housing and transportation arrangements for staff

  • Established systems to comply with Dominican Republic laws and regulations

  • Ensured 100% of 8th graders passed the D.R.’s “Prueba Nacional” for two consecutive years

  • Led initial steps towards accreditation through the Southern Assoc. of Colleges & Schools (SACS)


International - MC School, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 2005 - 2007

Middle & High School Math and Science Teacher

Taught middle and high school math and science courses at English-immersion private school in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

  • Awarded “2006-2007 Middle / High School Teacher of the Year” by school administration

  • Asked by school administration to lead professional development for classroom management skills

Teach For America (NYC ’03) – I.S. 313, Bronx, NY 2003 - 2005

Middle School Math and Science Teacher

Taught middle school math and science to middle school students at a NYC district public school in the South Bronx, New York.

  • Trained and prepared to teach through the highly selective Teach For America program

  • Secured increases in student performance – 78% of students improved at least one level on 2005 NY State Math Exam

  • Created and led an afterschool sports program, targeted at improving the classroom performance of at-risk students

Cambridge Associates LLC, Boston, MA 2000 - 2003

Senior Investment Consulting Associate (2001 – 2003)

Investment Consulting Associate (2000 – 2001)

Worked collaboratively with managing directors to provide investment consulting services to non-profit organizations, university endowments, and high net-worth families. Conducted financial analysis and research. Monitored investment performance of client portfolios with $75 million to $26 billion in assets.

  • Promoted to Senior Consulting Associate after 1.5 years, the min. required tenure for promotion

  • Served as the Alternative Asset Specialist to the Consulting Associate group

EDUCATION

University of Scranton

Masters of Science in Educational Administration, 2008

Overall GPA: 3.94/4.00

Fordham University

Masters of Science in Teaching, 2005

Overall GPA: 3.78/4.00

University of Pittsburgh

Bachelors of Science in Business Administration, 2000

Overall GPA: 3.67/4.00 – Finance & Accounting double major (Magna Cum Laude)

  • Honors & Activities: Dean’s List, Pi Kappa Alpha International Fraternity, Freshmen Peer Counselor

  • Professional Internship: Greycourt & Co., Inc. (1999 – 2000)

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS, CERTIFICATIONS & INTERESTS

  • Interests and hobbies: Keeping active with my wife and three children (ages 10, 6, and 1), travelling, skiing, Pitt football and basketball, and volunteering

  • KIPP School Leadership Program, Partner School Leader (Summer 2009)

  • Advanced proficient in oral and written Spanish language

  • New Jersey Certified as Principal and School Business Administrator

  • Passed Levels I & II of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) program and Broker Licenses: Series 7, 24, & 65

  • Lectures / Workshops:

    • “Growth-Focused Schools” to Princeton University’s TPP 301 Teacher Prep Students

    • “Educational Inequity in Trenton” to Princeton University students’ Community Action Group