Mission & About Us

Our Mission

About Us: Board of Trustees

Paul O’Neill

Chair of the Board of Trustees

As a founding board member at MCS, Paul T. O’Neill is an attorney who focuses his practice and scholarship on education law.  He currently serves as Chief Regulatory Officer & Senior Vice President of Edison Schools, the educational management and services company, with previous positions at Brustein & Manasevit, the national, Washington D.C.-based education law firm and  as the General Counsel of the Charter Schools Institute of the State University of New York, one of the leading charter school authorizers in the nation. Additionally, for seven years Mr. O’Neill has served on the adjunct faculty of Teachers College, Columbia University, where he teaches education law and policy courses. Recently, he led Edison’s efforts to become engaged in the post-Katrina revitalization of public schooling in New Orleans, and oversaw the opening of a new school there.

Mr. O’Neill received a B.A. from Oberlin College, an M.Ed. in Educational Administration from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a J.D from the University of Virginia School of Law, and is the author of numerous scholarly and professional publications. Paul’s favorite children’s book is To Think That I Saw it On Mulberry Street, by Dr. Suess.

William Colavito

Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees

As a founding board member at MCS, Bill currently works at the Center for Educational Innovation-Public Education Association with work focusing on the organization’s Partnership Support initiative. With more than thirty years as a teacher, principal and district administrator, he helped to found and later led the Harbor JHS for Performing Arts, one of the first small schools of choice in East Harlem's District 4 that began the district's renaissance. Additionally, he went on to supervise the district's network of thirty small schools of choice. Bill served as a middle school principal on the Upper West Side of Manhattan and as a high school principal in White Plains, NY.  His favorite children’s book is What Do People Do All Day by Richard Scarry.

Susan Miller Barker

Chair of the Education Committee

Joining MCS in 2006, Susie Miller Barker is currently the Vice President for Research & Evaluation at NACSA, the National Association of Charter School Authorizers. Her impressive expertise in charter schools includes serving as the Chief Program Officer for the New York Charter Schools Association, the Senior Vice President and Senior Fellow at the State University of New York’s Charter Schools Institute, and the Associate Commissioner of Education for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Ms. Miller Barker began her career as a teacher and technology director responsible for curriculum development and integration of technology and curriculum in Indiana.

Ms. Miller Barker holds a Masters and has completed all doctoral coursework in Administration, Planning, and Social Policy at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education. Her favorite children’s book is A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’engle.

Ira Greenberg

Chair of the Finance Committee

As a founding board member of MCS, Ira Greenberg is the Managing Director of Northwinds Advisors LLC, a Broker Dealer specializing in Renewable Energy.  Mr. Greenberg is also with the Presidium Group of Companies, a NJ financial service firm. From 1991 - 2001 Mr. Greenberg was Managing Director of Institutional Sales for private New York and Florida boutique firms specializing in tax advantaged investments and hedging strategies.  From 1986-1991 Mr. Greenberg was Chief Financial Officer of Richardson & Associates, a privately owned investment & merchant banking organization.  Previously, from 1981-1986 Mr. Greenberg was a senior tax manager at various public accounting firms.

Mr. Greenberg received a Bachelor’s degree in accounting from the City University of New York- Baruch College, and became a certified public accountant in the state of New York in 1982. His favorite series of books is The Hardy Boys by Franklin W. Dixon.

Jessica Aronin

Joining MCS in 2009, Jessica Aronin brings a strong background in fundraising and development to the Board of Trustees. Currently the Campaign Director at Baruch College of the City University of New York, Ms. Aronin solicits major gifts and stewards relationship with a vast roster of donors. Furthermore, as the former Director of Development at the East Harlem School, Ms. Aronin is well versed in the development of educational institutions.

Joy Elaine Daley

Joining MCS in 2009, Joy Elaine Daley contributes years of experience as a teacher, principal and now oversees a network of NYC public school leaders. From Jamaica to the Bronx, primary school to college, Ms. Daley has served diverse student populations. In addition to her passion for education, Ms. Daley has been an active member of the community service-oriented Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority since 1985.

Derri Gantt

As the proud mother of one of Manhattan Charter School’s very own, Derri Gant is the parent representative on the Board of Trustees. In addition to a busy job as a mother, Derri is the records administrator for Linklaters, LLP with extensive experience in handling complicated legal requests and database maintenance. Derri’s favorite children’s book is Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak.

Rick Larios

Educational leader Rick Larios joined MCS in 2009 with 24 years experience in instruction, team-building, staff development, curriculum development, data analysis, and leadership. Always seeking new challenges in education related fields, Mr. Larios is currently the Senior Product Manager at Edison Learning’s education division.

Michelle Lewis

Michelle Lewis joined the board in 2007 with extensive experience in finance working 15 years in the industry.  She currently works as a solutions consultant for Advent Software, Inc. implementing mission-critical technology solutions for some of the largest money managers in the world. Prior to this role, Michelle was a Vice President with HSBC working as a Senior Market Risk professional in their capital markets group. She has worked for money management firms in San Francisco, Moscow and New York. Michelle has been active in volunteering her time in New York City with various education and mentoring programs. In 2004 she received the President of the United State’s Bronze Volunteer Service Award for five years of involvement with tutoring New York City public high school students for the SAT college entrance exam in conjunction with New York Cares and Kaplan.

Michelle has also worked with iMentor.org for a number of years as a mentor and continues to be involved with her alma mater’s undergraduate mentoring programs. Michelle received a BA in Economics from University of California at Berkeley. Her favorite children’s book is Nancy Drew: Secret of the Old Clock.

Sonia C. Park

Sonia Park joined the board of trustees in 2007, with experience building relationships with school leaders and boards, and developing infrastructure and compliance systems. Currently the program director at the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship, Sonia oversees program implementation in 100+ sites and promotes and develops new sites across the metro area. Ms. Park’s strong academic background includes graduate work at Columbia University and George Washington University. Her favorite children’s book is A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’engle.