Leadership
Consistent, strong leadership ensures our staff, students and families receive the same level of support that is central to our impact and tied to our long-term success.
Akosua Watts
Joan K. Richards Head of School / CEO
Lisa Wilson
Director of Non-Academic Operations
Lisa is the founding Reading Specialist at CCSA and is chiefly responsible for developing the school’s reading intervention program and many of the school's structures. She has over twenty years of experience at urban schools in the Philadelphia area. As a teacher she has employed high-engagement, student-centered strategies in elementary and middle school classrooms.
Mindy Nguyen
Director of Curriculum & Arts Integration
Mindy is one of the founding teachers of CCSA. She has taught first grade in Brooklyn, New York and in Chester, Pa., and worked as a public school liaison at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. She has provided History/Critical Thinking instruction to the high school bass cohort of the Chester Children’s Chorus.
Nicole DeRitis
Director of Elementary (K-4) & 21st Century Programs
Nicole has taught in Chester for over sixteen years, and since 2010 has led the summer reading program at the Chester Children’s Chorus. Nicole has completed the Principal Certification and Special Education Certification programs at Neumann University.
Dana DeMinico
Director of Middle School (5-8)
Dana has been an educator for over 25 years. She has held a variety of roles in education, including elementary and middle school teacher, college professor, and instructional coach. She received her Masters Degree from University of California Santa Cruz, her Doctorate from Widener University and most recently completed the Transformative Principalship program at West Chester University. Dana is very happy to be part of the CCSA community and to have the opportunity to work in partnership with our students and families.
Samuel C. Evans
Director of High School
Samuel has been serving families and communities throughout Philadelphia and the surrounding areas as an educator since 2009. While earning his undergraduate degree in History at Endicott College, he played varsity basketball. He earned a Master of Science in Education and Principal Certification from the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to joining CCSA, Samuel served as the Assistant Principal of Toby Farms Intermediate School.
Brian Holm
Dean of High School Academics
Brian taught high school-level mathematics for six years in Philadelphia before coming to CCSA in 2014. He has served as the Associate Director for Project Forward Leap Inc., a summer and school year enrichment program for middle school students. He has been instrumental in developing the high school program.
Ryan Fisher
Director of Athletics & Character Development
Ryan previously served as CCSA’s Athletic Director, Assistant Athletic Director and was the Founding Physical Education Teacher. He has been working with the students of Chester since 2012. He was also the head coach of the Girls’ Varsity Volleyball team.
Martina Hussein
Student Support Services Coordinator
Martina is passionate about special education and has over twenty years of experience working with both adults and children with special needs in a variety of roles. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and Human Services at Springfield College and her Master’s Degree in Special Education at Eastern University before pursing her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Gwynedd Mercy University. Martina joined CCSA in 2015 as a high school Special Education Teacher and Case Manager and has been leading student support efforts at CCSA since 2019.
Tara Park
Strategic & Special Projects Manager
Tara worked for ten years with the Pennsylvania Virtual Charter School before joining CCSA in 2014 as a middle-school Social Studies and English teacher. She became the Director of Middle School in 2019 and served in that role for four years. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from West Chester University, and a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership.