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
Head of School / CEO
Akosua has been an educator for twenty years and has spent the majority of that time serving Chester children and families. She was part of the founding group for CCSA and has helped to lead the school’s development at every stage. Akosua came to Chester after serving as Assistant Principal at the Russell Byers Charter School in Philadelphia. She completed her Principal Certification program at Eastern University, and holds degrees from George Washington University and Columbia University’s Teachers College.
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.
Martina Hussein
Director of Special Education
Martina joined CCSA in 2015, after working as a high school Special Education Teacher and Case Manager at Mastery Charter Schools in Philadelphia, and as an Autistic Support Teacher at DCIU. She received her Master’s degree in Special Education at Eastern University and her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership at Gwynedd Mercy University.
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.
Tara Park
Director of Middle School (5-8)
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 has a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from West Chester University, and a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership.
Brian Holm
Director of High School
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 is currently pursuing a Principal Certification at Eastern University.
Ryan Fisher
Athletic Director
Ryan previously served as CCSA’s Assistant Athletic Director and is the Founding Physical Education Teacher. He has been working with the students of Chester for nearly ten years as a teacher. He is also the head coach of the Girls’ Varsity Volleyball team.