Our Vision
One hundred percent of CCSA students will graduate and be prepared for college, conservatory, technical school, the military or gainful employment. This means that students will demonstrate four essential qualities.
Scholarship
Meet or exceed the CCSA standards in all academic areas.
Strong Character
Demonstrate scholarly habits and the CCSA core values.
Craftsmanship
Possess the 21st-century skills to create academic and artistic works with high-quality craftsmanship.
Purpose
Have a clear goal and action plan for their future academic/career pursuits.
Leadership Team
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 Operations and Reading Intervention
Lisa is the founding Reading Specialist at CCSA and is chiefly responsible for developing the school’s comprehensive reading intervention program. 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.
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.
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. Since 2008 she has taught History/Critical Thinking to the high school bass cohort of the Chester Children’s Chorus.
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 Coach.
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.
Tara Park
Director of Middle School
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.
Teaching Faculty and Staff
Secretary/Receptionist
College & Career Readiness Coordinator
Data & Human Resources Coordinator
Registrar & Attendance Coordinator
Community Safety Liaison
P/T Occupational Therapist
Nurse
21st Century Program Coordinator
6th Grade Team
Ben Emmons Math & Science
Jacqueline Westermann English & Social Studies
Traceyangela Kelsey Teaching Asst.
7th/8th Grade Team
Cherron Hamm Social Studies
Leanne Heffelfinger Math
Jeorgina Smith Science
Tracie Horkan English
Vandric Broadard Teaching Asst.
Chris Howard Teaching Asst.
High School Team
Becca Beachy Science
Christine Ellis Science & HSEP Coordinator
Lia Simon Science, Assoc. Teacher
Virginia Waters History
Albert Esposito History
Kourtney Kukowski Math
Stephanie Powers Math
Vincent Deery English
Jessica Coulter English
Lender Vega Spanish, Assoc. Teacher
Dejuana Mosley Assoc. Teacher
Daniel Spangler Assoc. Teacher
Physical Ed. Teacher
Math Lab & Intervention
Theresa Cummings Math Lab Teacher
Tiffany Flamer Math Instructor
Chantele Thompson Teaching Asst.
Arts Team
Alyssa Franklin Theatre
Frank Hosking Music
Lamarr Todd Theatre Improv
Michael Nguyen Dance
Kelly Nicholson Visual Art
Desire Grover Visual Art P/T
Special Education Team
Ciera Stovall Assoc. Teacher
Candice Earnest Teaching Asst.
Shauna Edwards Teaching Asst.
Dominic Merlino Teaching Asst.
Earl Graves Teaching Asst.
Board of Trustees
President
Barbara Klock M.D.
Retired, Pediatrician at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Vice President
Ellen Milgrim Ed.D.
Retired Principal, Wallingford School District
Treasurer
Alice Turbiville
Assistant Vice President of Finance & Controller at Swarthmore College
Secretary
Ramona Jones
CCSA Parent & Assistant Director of West Chester Area Day Care Center
Donald Delson
Retired, Managing Director, Investment Banking Division, Keefe, Bruynette & Woods, Inc. Former member of Wallingford-Swarthmore Board of School Directors and Swarthmore Borough Council
Dion Lewis
Dean of the Junior Class & Director of the Black Cultural Center at Swarthmore College
Marilyn Henkelman
Retired, Director of Phebe Anna Thorne School, Bryn Mawr College’s Developmental Lab School
Ian Wilcox
Managing Partner of Cogitari Partners, LLC
Joan Richards
Retired, Chief Executive Officer and President of the Crozer‑Keystone Health System
Ben Berger
Associate Professor of Political Science & Executive Director, Lang Center
Judith Owen, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus of Biology; Visiting Professor of Biology at Haverford College
