Andrea DiMola, Community Schools Coordinator Supervisor

img_5273_edit2Andrea began her career as a high school math teacher and has coached high school soccer, lacrosse, and track. She has a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from The College of William and Mary and a master’s degree in Education Policy from the University of Pennsylvania. Before joining the Community Schools team, Andrea directed the Southeast Philadelphia Collaborative at United Communities for two years, overseeing a school partnership coordination project and a federal Drug Free Communities program grant. She is incredibly excited about Community Schools and the potential to provide coordinated support to children, families, and neighborhoods throughout the city. Andrea is a member of Philly Core Leaders, a founding member Public Health Young Leaders Association’s steering committee, and on the board of the Philadelphia Chapter of William and Mary Alumni Association.

Connie Grier, Community Schools Coordinator Supervisor

Connie was born and raised in North Philadelphia, and is a proud product of Philadelphia public schools. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education from Temple University and a Master’s of Education in Educational Administration from Arcadia University.  As a career educator, Connie has served as a classroom teacher, Assistant Principal, educational consultant and an adjunct professor. Connie serves on several community boards and heads The RESPECT Alliance, a non-profit organization devoted to effective collaboration and support in the areas of mentoring, parental engagement, and social justice. She is excited to serve on the Community Schools team, as she believes the collaborative and holistic support model will broaden the pathways to success for our youth and communities.

Cohort 2

Samuel Gompers School

Rennie Parker, Community Schools Coordinator
Rennie Parker is a West Philadelphia native and a proud product of the public school system. Upon graduating from Overbrook High School, Rennie attended The Pennsylvania State University receiving his bachelor’s degree in Administration of Justice.  Over the course of 19 years, Rennie has worked with various organizations and programs serving children in the public and private sectors. Rennie is an active advocate in his community and served as a Block Captain, volunteers for Wynnefield Overbrook Revitalization Corp (WORC) and Wynnefield Business Association (WBA). He is also a proud member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.

Alain Locke School

Pamela Evans, Community Schools Coordinator
Pam has spent the past 15+ years working in the West Philadelphia school system as a Community Engagement Officer.  She enjoys working closely with families and educational and community leaders to augment students’ opportunities for success. Pam attended University of Phoenix and Lincoln University where she graduated with her Master’s in Human Services. She is a member of the Community Advisory Board for the Please Touch Museum, the West Philadelphia Public Safety Awareness Committee and the Business Association of West Philadelphia. She is excited to join the community schools team and looks forward to continuing to build bridges between the families, schools and communities of Philadelphia.

George Washington High School

Caitlyn Boyle, Community Schools Coordinator
Caitlyn Boyle is a proud Philadelphia native. She graduated in 2009 from the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. She worked as a legislative aide for State Representative Brendan F. Boyle before joining Mastery Charter Pickett Campus in 2011. Caitlyn taught ninth and tenth grade English and helped oversee Mastery’s extracurricular sports teams, acting as head coach for the Mastery North Cross Country team as well as head coach for Mastery North’s indoor and outdoor track and field teams. Caitlyn continued her teaching career with Freire Charter Middle School as a seventh grade Student Services teacher for Math and English. It was in this position, working with students and families to implement IEPs, where she discovered her passion for special education services. She joined the Mayor’s Office of Education in 2016 as an in-office program coordinator for the Community Schools initiative before becoming the community school coordinator for George Washington High School in 2017.

 

Cohort 1

William Cramp Elementary

img_5207_edit2William Fewer Reed, Community Schools Coordinator
William graduated from The College of New Jersey with a degree in Latin American studies. He worked in advocacy with Amnesty International, and taught English with the Latin American Legal Defense League. Last year, he was the Community Partnerships Coordinator at Cramp School through the AmeriCorps VISTA program. There he helped raise $10,000 in funds for the school, helped to obtain a green science learning playground, and used community input to develop a strategic plan for the school. He is thrilled to be a part of the community schools initiative because he thinks it’s an exciting moment for Philadelphia, and the best chance the city has to reverse the cycle of poverty, and positively affect the lives of our young people while building the next generation of leaders.

Murrell Dobbins CTE High School

Charles Reyes, Community Schools Coordinator
Charles is a graduate and proud alum of Murrell Dobbins CTE High School, where he is now working as the Community Schools Coordinator. Charles has worked in the field of behavioral health for 14 years. His experience includes working in schools and in a partial hospitalization program. He is excited to be a Community Schools Coordinator and to have the opportunity to be part of an initiative that will impact people’s lives in a positive way. He is an active volunteer and the parent baseball coach of the ENON Stars.

 

F.S. Edmonds Elementary School

img_5174_edit2Robin M. Torrence 
Over the last 20 plus years Robin has enjoyed working with youth in various capacities. She has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology/Human Service from Lincoln University, and a M. Ed from Cheyney University. She has worked as a Foster Care Social Worker, Early Intervention Case Manager, Children’s/Residential Case Manager, Elementary School Teacher, Emotional Support Teacher, and Director of Educational Programs /OST Provider. Robin is a 30-year Diamond Lifetime Paid in full member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated, which is a Public Service Sorority. She currently holds the position of Sergeant of Arms for the Philadelphia Alumnae chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and is a member of the Alumni Association of Lincoln University-Philadelphia Chapter where she completed her 4-year term as Chapter President from June 2012-June 2016.

 

Edward Gideon Elementary/Middle School

img_5082_edit2Gregory Wright, Community Schools Coordinator

Gregory was born and raised in West Philadelphia. As a product of the Philadelphia public school system he is excited for this opportunity to serve the communities that helped his educational development. Gregory attained his Bachelor of Science in Public Health from Temple University in 2011. For the last five years he has worked in youth development and food access issues in Philadelphia, and is eager to bring this knowledge to community schools.

 

 

Kensington Health Sciences Academy

img_5299_edit2Antonio Romero, Community Schools Coordinator
Antonio is a proud graduate of Temple University with a background in teaching, college access and community development. He is committed to impacting the quality of life in his Eastern North Philadelphia community. He has worked with youth in schools since he was 19 and serves on the 26th Police District Advisory Council in addition to working with various community organizations. Antonio is honored to be a part of the Community Schools team, a driving force in a movement that will positively change the trajectory of education in our city.

 

 

James Logan Elementary

img_5224_edit2Richard Washington, Community Schools Coordinator
Richard graduated from Temple University with a bachelor’s degree in Communication and Arcadia University with a master’s degree in Education and Educational Leadership. He has worked as an Education and Training Specialist, Principal, Teacher, and Facilitator. He has served on several community service organizations including: Bringing Everybody Together, Police Athletic League, Support Community Outreach Program, and Mt. Tabor AME Church. He is excited about joining the Community Schools Initiative because it provides an opportunity to assist in servicing, nurturing and advocating for youth by increasing community partnerships involving all aspects of effective childhood development.

 

South Philadelphia High School

img_5346_edit2Janelle Harper, Community Schools Coordinator
Janelle is a Philadelphia public school graduate. She has a bachelor’s degree in Human Service and a master’s degree in Psychology. Over the years she has worked with children, families and communities in different capacities, including as a therapist for children and families. She was also a Student Advisor with the School District of Philadelphia. Before becoming the community school coordinator, Janelle worked at South Philadelphia High School as a Mental and Behavior Health Therapist. She is excited about continuing to work in South Philadelphia and the opportunity to continue supporting that community.

 

Southwark Elementary School

img_5358_edit2Beth Dougherty, Community Schools Coordinator
Beth Dougherty has worked as a lawyer representing nonprofit organizations and most recently as a development consultant for Public Citizens for Children and Youth (PCCY) in Philadelphia. She received her BA from New York University and her JD from the Temple University Beasley School of Law. Beth currently serves on the Board of the East Passyunk Crossing Civic Association (EPX) and is Chair of its Education Committee, and also served as Chair of its “Friends of Southwark” subcommittee. She is a member of the Philadelphia group Friends of Neighborhood Education (FONE), a network of more than forty groups in Philadelphia established to support neighborhood public schools. She is excited to join the community schools initiative because she believes it is time to start focusing on the positive and transformative things that can and do happen every day in our neighborhood schools.

William T. Tilden Middle School

img_5113_edit2Regina Young, Community Schools Coordinator
Regina completed her bachelor’s degree in Communications at Central Connecticut State University. She completed her graduate work at Eastern University in Urban Studies with a focus on Community Development. She is excited to be a part of community schools, an initiative that speaks to progression and community building with the necessary stakeholders. She believes conversations build communities and is humbled to be a part of the discussion. She has worked with the Mercy Philadelphia Hospital Safety Advisory Board, the Police District Advisory Board, and the Board of Empowered Community Development Corporation.

 

 

Technical Assistance and Capacity Coordinators

img_5284_edit2Saxon Nelson

Before joining the Mayor’s Office of Education, Saxon was an Education Manager for United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey and a Quality Assurance Officer for the Philadelphia Youth Network. Saxon has served as the local and national lead on developing and implementing Early Warning Response Systems as well as creating older youth education investment strategies. Saxon is the Board Chair of Youth United for Change and a Board member of United Communities Southeast Philadelphia. Saxon is a Philadelphia native, a product of Philadelphia public schools.

 

img_5121_edit2Kelly Sheard

Kelly’s background is in higher education and working with universities to develop strong community partnership. She attended the University of Michigan, where she graduated with an MSW and is currently pursuing a MS in Education at Drexel University. She has also worked in the nonprofit sector, working with youth in college access programming. Kelly enjoys volunteering, most recently with Philadelphia Futures as a mentor. She is a member of Philly CORE and enjoys keeping updated on the latest developments in the education sector. She is thrilled to be working alongside her talented, passionate team members and takes seriously her role in serving the youth and families of Philadelphia through the Community Schools Initiative.

img_5102_edit2Miguel Garces, Data Analyst

Miguel will be guiding the data-driven process of needs assessment and evaluation of the program. Beginning his work in political science and complexity theory at the University of Pennsylvania, Miguel most recently worked as a modeler and analyst at Lustick Consulting, Inc., a small-business that specializes in advanced political modeling and forecasting. He straddles the social science and computer science worlds by connecting his knowledge of data and programming with community engagement and social science theory. He is excited to join the Community Schools Initiative in order to find creative ways that the city can support Philadelphia