Paul O’Neill
Board Member, Chair of the Board of Trustees
Paul T. O’Neill is an attorney who focuses his practice and scholarship on education law. He is President and Founder of Tugboat Education Services, which provides advice and regulatory assistance to education organizations across the nation. Mr. O’Neill previously served as Senior Vice President and Chief Regulatory Officer at EdisonLearning, the national school services and management organization, and as an attorney with Brustein & Manasevit, the Washington D.C.-based education law firm. He is also a former 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 ten years Mr. O’Neill has served on the adjunct faculty of Teachers College, Columbia University, where he teaches education law and policy courses, including “Designing Charter Schools” and “Special Education Law and Policy.” 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. He is the author of numerous scholarly and professional publications, including the Charter School Law Deskbook (Lexis Nexis Publishers, 2nd Ed.), and the No Child Left Behind Compliance Manual (LRP Publications, 2nd Ed.). He lectures widely on a range of education reform topics.
Joy Elaine Daley
Board Member, Chair of the Education Committee
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.
Ira Greenberg
Founding Board Member, Chair of the Finance Committee
As a founding board member of MCS, Ira Greenberg is a Managing Director of Northwinds Advisors LLC, an Investment Bank/Advisory Firm specializing in the Renewable Energy space. 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.
Tom Alwood
Board Member
Tom Alwood joined the board in 2011 with seventeen years experience in production and technology management for the translation divisions of the top three international financial communication companies. As a collaborative manager working with corporate stakeholders and geographically distributed staff, Tom possesses strong skills in technology training, client relations, analytical problem solving, and business development. He has also served as a lecturer at Columbia University, his alma mater.
Jessica Aronin
Board Member
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.
Benjamin Breen
Board Member
A member of the Manhattan Charter School I board since 2009 and is a founding member of Manhattan Charter School II. Benjamin Breen is an Australian born violinist and made his New York recital debut at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in 1993. He has since toured in Australia, Europe, the United States and Japan, receiving critical acclaim as soloist with orchestra, in recital as chamber musician and recording artist.
Jim Ford
Board Member
Joining MCS in 2011, Jim Ford is an independent education and strategic planning consultant. Among his current clients is the New York City Charter School Center (Center), for which he is serving as Project Manager for a Charter School Replication Readiness and Training Program the Center plans to launch in the upcoming months. Jim has been involved in more than 150 charter schools and school projects nationally in various roles including project manager, Board member and officer, fundraiser, grantor and lender, in addition to being a frequent reviewer for charter school authorizers throughout the country. Jim also has experience as a Finance Director, business and financial management consultant, and Board member of various local and national non-profit social services and advocacy organizations.
