Team

Dr. Louise Waters, Superintendent and CEO

Louise Waters comes to LPS from the Stupski Foundation where she headed research on districts that have accelerated the performance of students of color and poverty. Her work at Stupski built off of her experience in the Oakland Unified School District. As Associate Superintendent of Student Achievement in Oakland, Dr. Waters led the instructional reforms from 2001 – 2004 that resulted in district achievement gains that out-paced the State. She was also responsible for Oakland’s exit from two long-standing Office of Civil Rights oversight decrees related to bilingual education and disparate academic opportunities for African American students. As a principal in the New Haven district (Union City), she designed award-winning assessment and extended day programs. Prior to her career in district administration, Dr. Waters led the state’s first new teacher program, a partnership between Oakland and the California State University, East Bay. As a professor of Teacher Education at the university, she was head of a number of urban teacher preparation programs.

Jonathan Faustine, Chief Operating Officer

Mr. Faustine serves as the Chief Operating Officer for Leadership Public Schools. Prior to joining LPS, Mr. Faustine spent five years as a strategic consultant and executive coach. He was one of the Founding Trustees of the Bay School of San Francisco and is active in many community groups. Mr. Faustine spent 20 years in the technology field as a senior executive in a software company, a CTO of a Fortune 500 company and as an Associate Partner at Accenture where he founded and led the internet practice known as ICE.

Edie Hoffman, Vice President of Human Resources

Edie Hoffman is the Vice President of Human Resources for Leadership Public Schools. She has worked as Human Resources Director for various organizations including Jewish Community Federation, more.com, and Peet's Coffee & Tea. She has internet and retail business start-up experience along with Peet's successful expansion. At Edgewood Children's Center, she managed hiring, credentialing and compliance. She began her career as a high school teacher on a path to school leadership. Ms. Hoffman has a Master of Educational Administration from San Francisco State University. She is Treasurer for East Bay Labyrinth Project, a member of Berkeley Partners for Parks, an avid gardener and photographer.

Joe H. Pacheco, Director of Special Education & Student Services

Prior to coming to LPS, Joe worked for Partners In School Innovation serving as a principal coach and school reform consultant for two downtown San Jose schools. Joe served as Principal of Campbell Middle School in the Campbell Union School District for 10 years until 2003. Joe has worked for the Santa Clara County Office of Education as a Program Specialist for Special Education and more recently as a Program Evaluator for IIUSP schools. Joe's career in public education began in the Oak Grove School District where he worked for 12 years in Special Education. He received his undergraduate degree from San Jose State University and his Master's in School Administration from the University of San Francisco.

Shawn Benjamin, Principal, LPS Richmond Campus

Shawn Benjamin is the Principal of LPS Richmond. Ms. Benjamin has been with LPS for three years. In 2006, Ms. Benjamin was Assistant Principal at LPS Hayward and in 2005, the Principal Elect at LPS Richmond. Ms. Benjamin has been a Resident Principal with New Leaders for New Schools, a national Urban Principal Training Program. Prior to joining LPS, Shawn obtained a Principal License while completing her Master's work at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. During her year at Harvard, Shawn was a Principal Intern at both a Boston Public High School and a K-12 Charter School in Cambridge, MA . Shawn has taught for over 13 years in experiential and outdoor settings. She was with the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) for over ten years leading glacier mountaineering courses in Alaska, India, Wyoming, Mexico, and Chile. She also worked as Lead Educator at the Shackleton School, an expeditionary learning high school. Ms. Benjamin earned a Masters in Education degree from the University of Pennsylvania and her BA in Psychology and Sociology from the University of California at Berkeley.

Brian Greenberg, Principal, LPS Hayward Campus

Mr. Greenberg is the founding principal of LPS Hayward and previously served as principal of LPS Richmond. He has worked in the education and non-profit sector for the last eleven years. An English teacher at heart, Mr. Greenberg taught all grades of high school English during several years working for the Los Angeles Unified School District. In addition to teaching, Mr. Greenberg worked in politics on several statewide campaigns, in higher education at Carnegie Mellon University, and in the non-profit sector as the Vice President of Development for a community development organization in Trenton, New Jersey. Mr. Greenberg earned his Bachelor of Arts in English from Dartmouth College and his Master of Education degree from Harvard University. While at Harvard, he worked as the principal intern at two high schools in Boston, Massachusetts. Mr. Greenberg is extremely proud of his students at LPS Hayward and the school's focus on academic excellence.

Lisa Haynes, Principal, LPS College Park Campus

Ms. Haynes, the principal of LPS College Park, brings her experience in the field of secondary educational leadership for literacy strategic planning, student achievement analysis, curriculum innovation and instructional leadership. Prior to becoming principal, Ms. Haynes served as Academic Intervention Coordinator for LPS College Park. Ms. Haynes' began her working career as an accountant and then a behavioral science counselor for juvenile offenders. She identified her true passion, as helping children improve their odds for success, which led her to further her education. Ms. Haynes was a teacher for the California Department of Corrections and then went on to become a literacy coach and English teacher, for the past 15 years. She holds a BA in Behavioral Science and Business Administration; a MA in English and is currently a PhD candidate pursuing her doctorate in Human Services Administration as it relates to Family Services and Educational Interventions. Ms. Haynes believes that it is an honor to work at LPS. It is her mission to make each and every individual who walks through the building feel safe foremost, and also valued and appreciated.
She adds: “I am extremely thankful for this community which has been very welcoming, accepting, and appreciating of all that we have to offer to the students, staff, and families affiliated with LPS. I have a tremendous passion for the field of education and the limitless opportunities it provides for our students and I take great pride in the work that we do".


Larry Vilaubi, Principal, LPS San Jose Campus

Mr. Vilaubi, the Principal of LPS San Jose, brings a unique combination of qualifications and a broad range of experiences to the position. In his thirty-five years as a classroom teacher and administrator in both the Mountain View /Los Altos District and Fremont Union High School District , his instructional leadership has left a lasting and significant positive impact on both districts. At the core of Mr. Vilaubi's personal philosophy is a commitment to creating equity for all students and opportunities for those students so often left behind by most educational institutions. Born and raised in East Los Angeles, the child of immigrants, Mr. Vilaubi spoke no English when he started school and has a deep understanding of the issues of growing up as an outsider in a mainstream school system. Mr. Vilaubi earned his Bachelors degree in English Literature from California State University , Long Beach , his Masters Degree in Administration and Policy Analysis from Stanford University and is an alumnus of Stanford's Prospective Principals Program. Additionally, he was later appointed as Interim Director and Coordinator of the Prospective Principals Program. Mr. Vilaubi is truly excited to be leading LPS San Jose and he and the staff at LPS San Jose share the common goal of creating the highest performing school in East San Jose.

Julie Christensen, Reading Curriculum Specialist

Julie Christensen is the English/Language Arts Coach for Leadership Public Schools. She recently completed a Master's degree in Education with an emphasis in Reading through Santa Clara University , and will soon be a certified Reading Specialist. Julie has taught English, Language Arts, and Social Studies at both the middle and high school levels since she earned her Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of California , Davis . At the core of her educational philosophy is the belief that literacy creates self-efficacy, opportunity and equity for all students, and she feels proud to be part of a team that is committed to developing the literacy of all LPS students.

Jennifer Cole, Advisory Curriculum Specialist

Jennifer Cole serves as the Curriculum and Instruction Coordinator and BTSA Coach for LPS. She has a Bachelor's degree in Sociology with an emphasis in Social Change, a Master's Degree in Education with a focus on urban leadership, and an administrative credential, all from San Jose State University . Originally a social worker for Santa Clara County , her passion for equity and education lead her to become a high school English teacher and ELL Coordinator. She has previously served as a Literacy Liaison, Understanding by Design site mentor, WASC Visitation Coordinator, and Professional Development Coordinator. She is excited to be a part of the LPS family.

Amy Epstein, Director of Assesment & Intervention

Amy Epstein is the Director of Data, Assessment and Intervention for Leadership Public Schools. Amy has worked as an administrator and consultant with many school districts, schools, foundations, and other non-profit organizations to advance evidence-based dialogue and decision-making. She worked for 8 years with the Oakland Unified School District , serving as Data Systems Designer, Coordinator of Data Analysis and Support, and Manager of Performance Culture. Amy's passion for data was first sparked when as the director of a school-based family resource center she experienced the need to better tell an evidence-based story of what was working, what needed improvement, and what was being learned. She began developing her data-related skills “on the job” while serving as a school-based social worker and center director from 1992-1998. Areas of expertise include data systems, assessment of student learning, inquiry processes and tools, stakeholder surveys, and program evaluation. Amy's life interests include meditation, spending time outdoors, and playing the drums. She holds a Master's in Social Work degree from San Francisco State University (1992) and a B.A. from Wesleyan University (1986).

Ruth Herring, Major Gifts Officer

Ruth Herring joined LPS in April 2009 as Major Gifts Officer. Over 24 years, she has served as a staff fundraiser for Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Lambda Legal, and NARAL Pro-Choice California, and has consulted with dozens of small and mid-sized organizations on how to build strong and diverse fundraising programs. Her most recent staff position was as Development Director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, where she helped to expand the budget six-fold by deepening volunteer involvement in fundraising. Herring’s first career was as a classical violinist, and she had the privilege of studying with Itzhak Perlman for several years. She brings a violinist’s creativity and passion to her non-profit work. Herring shares a San Francisco home with her partner Pamela Peniston and their cat Grigio.

Todd McPeak, Mathematics Curriculum Specialist

Mr. McPeak came to LPS from the SEED Public Charter School in Washington DC , with a B.A. in Economics from the University of Washington , and CA teaching credentials in Mathematics and Economics from Chapman University . As a math teacher and intervention specialist for the past nine years, Mr. McPeak has had the opportunity to work with students, coach teachers, and develop curriculum targeting traditionally underserved populations. Specializing in CAHSEE preparation and the strengthening of foundation skills, the focus of Mr. McPeak's work is on quickly closing the achievement gap that separates students entering LPS from the goal of rigorous college-level mathematics.

Casey Mirch, Technology Manager

Casey Mirch is the Technology Manager for Leadership Public Schools. He spent five years as an information technologies and database specialist for Junior Achievement of the Bay Area, where he received the Frances Hesselbein “How to Be” award and participated in the Center for Excellence in Nonprofits' Wired for Good program. Mr. Mirch holds a Bachelor of Arts from New College of Florida.

Joyce L. Montgomery, Director of Finance

Joyce L. Montgomery, Director of Finance comes to LPS from a successful career in both for-profit and non-profit financial leadership roles. Ms. Montgomery has finance and operations management experience in education, advertising, high tech and banking. As a school executive she has served as the Chief Financial Officer at Crystal Springs Uplands School where she was responsible for managing all operations units: business and finance, physical plant and deferred maintenance plans, food service operations, legal affairs, human resources, and construction. She was also the Chief Financial Officer at the Howard School in Atlanta , Georgia. Ms. Montgomery is active in many community organizations and serves as the Chair of the Finance Commission for the City of Belmont.

 

Soo Zee Park, Director of Operations

Prior to comng to LPS, Ms. Park previously worked with the non-profit Unity Council and Fruitvale Development Corporation. While there she served as the project manager for the $68MM mixed-use Fruitvale Transit Village adjacent to the Fruitvale BART Station. She also worked on a $2MM Fruitvale Streetscape Project with the City of Oakland. Ms. Park has over seven years of experience in architecture and construction administration working on a variety of residential, mixed-use, university and museum projects including the award winning Tenderloin Elementary School in San Francisco. Ms. Park holds a Master of Business Administration from John E. Anderson Graduate School of Management at UCLA, as well as a Bachelor degree in architecture from North Carolina State University . She is a board member and facilities committee chair of Lighthouse Community Public Schools in Oakland and a mother of two.

Vishal Sood, Staff Accountant


Ann Reidy, Development Director

Ann Reidy is the Development Director for Leadership Public Schools. Prior to joining LPS, Dr. Reidy worked as a fundraising officer in the External Resources Department of the secretariat of Transparency International, a global NGO located in Berlin, Germany. She brings extensive education experience to LPS, having served as the History Department Chair at the Branson School in Ross, CA, and as an Assistant Professor at Wellesley College. Her commitment to quality public education led her to LPS as a volunteer in 2003. Dr. Reidy received her PhD from Harvard University, where she received numerous teaching distinctions and awards, and a BA from the University of California at Santa Cruz. In addition, she has studied extensively in Europe and Latin America. She is passionate about the LPS mission of promoting academic excellence and high expectations among so many deserving and committed students.

Diana Schneider, Communications Manager

Diana Schneider is the Communications Manager for Leadership Public Schools. She has over 10 years of experience in communications and strategy roles in the private, public and nonprofit sectors. Prior to coming to LPS, she managed the D.C. Government City Administrator's strategic planning and performance measurement program. She has also held communications and outreach positions at The George Lucas Educational Foundation and Stanford University . In addition, she is a member-volunteer with Full Circle Fund and serves on the steering committees of several community groups and parent organizations. She received a BA from the University of California at Santa Cruz and a Masters in Public Administration with a concentration in Nonprofit Management from The George Washington University.

Jill Schepmann, Operations Coordinator

Jill Schepmann is the Operations Coordinator at the Home Office of Leadership Public Schools. Jill brings three years of teaching experience into her role at LPS. Most recently, Jill taught 8 th grade English Language Arts at KIPP Summit Academy in San Lorenzo . Prior to that, she taught 9 th , 10 th , & 11 th grade English literature and composition classes and was the Assistant Debate & Forensics coach at Shawnee Heights High School in Topeka , Kansas . Jill worked her way through her teaching credentialing program at Washburn University as a legal assistant in an attorney's office in Lawrence , Kansas . Before returning to school, Jill worked as a Marketing Manager promoting scientific and scholarly journals at a small, family-owned publishing company. Jill graduated with a B.A. in English and a B.A. in Psychology, receiving Honors from the English department at the University of Kansas for her senior thesis on the history plays of Shakespeare and Marlowe. When she's not at LPS, Jill enjoys writing poems and short stories, cooking feasts for fun people, playing defense on her soccer team, and walking her dog through the streets of San Francisco.

Marvella Smith, Human Resources Manager

Marvella Smith is the Human Resources Specialist for Leadership Public Schools. Prior to joining LPS, Ms. Smith spent over three years in various corporate and start-up staffing departments, including PG&E Corporation and United Parcel Service. While at PG&E, Ms. Smith worked with senior executives and board members recruiting MBA candidates from across the country (at Wharton, Tuck, University of Chicago, MIT and Berkeley) for the Leadership MBA program. She holds a Master of Industrial / Organizational Psychology from Golden Gate University, as well as a graduate certificate in Conflict Resolution. She also holds a Bachelor in Psychology from the University of Toledo. Ms. Smith is a volunteer massage therapist at hospitals and East Bay high schools for teen mothers, and mother to a magnanimus 5 year old son and newborn daughter.