Members
Dr. Elaine Ruiz-Lopez
International Leadership Charter High School
Dr. Elaine Ruiz- Lopez is the Founder and the Chief Executive Officer of the International Leadership Charter High School. Dr. Ruiz- Lopez was born and raised in the South Bronx and is first generation Puerto Rican and first in her family to graduate from college. She has worked in the field of education since 1980. During her career, she has held various leadership positions in public schools, universities and educational software companies. She earned her Doctorate in Special Education/Administration and second Masters of Education from the Teachers College at Columbia University, a Master’s of Science in Bilingual Special Education from Bank Street College of Education, and a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from The City College of New York. She founded the International Leadership Charter High School in 2005 with the goals of creating a performance-based charter high school and developing a professional learning community to deliver instruction in an academically rigorous college preparatory environment that has over 95% of its scholars graduating within four years and enrolling in the college of their choice. The International Leadership CHS is in its 16th year of operation and has received numerous accolades as one of the best NYC High Schools and #1 Charter High School in the Bronx. Over the past 4 years, the charter school has received national recognition by US NEWS & WORLD Report Best High Schools national and local rankings list.
Dr. Ruiz-Lopez' vision has expanded to include a middle school to open in the Fall of 2024 and the tracking of 500 Alumni and Post college graduates who will take on leadership positions within their communities and institutions. Dr. Elaine Ruiz Lopez' successfully pursued 22 million dollars in municipal bond financing through Build NYC that led the completion of a ground up construction of a 29,000 Square Foot three story school building in the Kingsbridge/Riverdale section of Bronx. Inspired by the life and work of her childhood Pediatrician, Dr. Richard Izquierdo, Dr. Ruiz-Lopez collaborated with Urban Health, to establish an Adolescent Health and Wellness Center at the charter school to support students with mental health issues. In 2017, Dr. Ruiz-Lopez was one of the recipients of the Distinguished Women Award (Mujeres Destacadas) presented by El Diario, the largest Spanish daily newspaper organization in the country. In 2022, she was recognized by the Honorable Leticia James and Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, at a Bronx Power Women event. She is a founding member of the Latino Charter Leaders Roundtable and its current Chair.
Dr. Vasthi Acosta, CEO Amber Charter
Amber Charter Schools
Dr. Vasthi Reyes Acosta is the Executive Director of Amber Charter Schools. Dr. Acosta was hired at Amber in 2007 as the Director of Curriculum and Instruction. In 2008 she was appointed Head of School/Principal, a position she held until 2014 when she became Executive Director.
Dr. Acosta has worked in the NYC Department of Education as Assistant Principal, Consultant and teacher. She was a college professor at Hostos Community College in the Early Childhood Education department, a curriculum developer and teacher trainer at Teachers College. She is the founding convener of the Latino Charter Leaders Roundtable.
Dr. Acosta is a graduate of Columbia University’s Teachers College where she was awarded both a Doctor of Education and Master of Arts degrees. She also holds a Master of Science degree from Bank Street College of Education and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Fordham University. She is the wife of Appellate Justice Rolando T. Acosta, and mother to son, Lucas, daughter Zila, and son in law Brian.
Veronica Almedina, Co-Chief Executive Officer
Amber Charter Schools
As one of the Co-Chief Executive officers at Amber Charter Schools, Ms. Veronica Almedina prioritizes the oversight of the instructional leadership of our schools. This includes, but is not limited to, providing supervision, direction and creating opportunities for the ongoing development of the instructional practitioners in the network. Ms. Almedina also works closely with all schools to ensure that the policies, practices and relationships that have supported the legacy of Amber Charter Schools remain in place for years to come.
While working as an elementary school teacher at ACS, she also honed her leadership skills as a grade team leader and mentor to novice teachers. After teaching for several years, Ms. Almedina was recognized for her efforts in the classroom and beyond leading to an acceptance into the Emerging Leaders Fellowship Program. This program is sponsored by the New York City Charter Center and she completed this program with distinction. Committed to lifelong learning, she later participated in the Achievement First Accelerator Leadership Program which she completed during the Spring of 2022.
Her commitment to the communities of ACS, have led Ms. Almedina to become recognized by the community as well. She is one of the founding members of the Latino Charter Leaders Roundtable and in 2013 was honored by El Diario/ La Prensa as a Mujer Destacada. This award placed her as a Latina leader making outstanding changes in her community.
Ms. Almedina is a graduate of Lehman College where she was awarded a Master’s of Science degree in Childhood Education. She also holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Fordham University.
Marilyn Calo, Chief Executive Officer
Family Life Academy Charter School I (FLACS I)
Marilyn Calo joined Family Life Academy Charter School I (FLACS I) in September of 2003 in the role of Principal until 2011. Dr. Calo has been an educator for over 40 years, receiving her Bachelor’s Degree and a Master’s Degree in Reading Difficulties and an Administration and Supervision Degree from Hunter College.In May 2022 Dr. Calo was awarded an honorary doctorate degree from NYACK/Alliance University.
She is also a member of various professional organizations such as; Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, the Black Latinx Asian Charter Collaborative (BLACC), the Leadership Institute for Faith and Education at Harvard (L.I.F.E),and serving as one of the founding members of the Latino Charter Leaders Roundtable (LCLR).
Since July 2014, Dr. Calo has been serving as the Chief Executive Officer for the FLACS Network. She is responsible for driving educational excellence across all network schools, establishing a clear vision and strategic direction for instructional leadership, school culture and school improvement initiatives, with the goal of creating a high-performing learning organization that ensures students will graduate ready for success in high school, college, future career and in life. From 2011- 2014, Dr. Calo worked in collaboration with the FLACS Network Executive Team, principals and assistant principals of FLACS II and III during each school’s planning phase. She has also been instrumental in FLACS’s expansion and growth plan which includes charter school authorizer SUNY-CSI approving the opening of FLACS High School, serving 9-12, which held first classes in September 2022. FLACS has been recognized for their groundbreaking work at the national level with support for expansion from the US Department of Education and the Charter School Growth Fund (Emerging CMO Fund Initiative). This honor is given to the country’s best charter school organizations led by leaders of color, to fund their expansion, and help each organization increase their impact on behalf of students.
Kirsys Gomez, Co-Chief Executive Officer
Amber Charter Schools
Ms. Kirsys Gomez oversees the fiscal and operations management of Amber Charter Schools. She ensures responsible and timely management of all accounting systems and processes as well as fiscal compliance documentation and reporting.
She is a graduate of Lehman College, where she was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting with a concentration in Business Practice and a minor in computer applications. Ms. Gomez completed Rutgers University, Advance Graduate Certificate in Government Financial Management program in the Spring of 2020. Ms.
Gomez received a scholarship to Columbia University’s Business School Executive Education Developing Leaders program and completed it in 2017, and recently completed the Executive Education Senior Leaders Program in May 2022.
Ms. Gomez was honored as a Mujer Destacada in 2018 by El Diario/ La Prensa. This award acknowledged her as a Latina leader who, through her hard work and determination, made a difference in her community.
Cindy V. Lopez - Superintendent
Charter School of Educational Excellence
Ms. Lopez is the Superintendent of the Charter School of Educational Excellence and has served in that capacity since 2019. Ms. Lopez joined the School in August 2007 as a 4th grade teacher, in 2011 became the Assistant Principal, and then moved on to leading the school as a Principal in 2014. As Principal, Ms. Lopez helped to lead the efforts in the expansion of the School’s academic program and school building. As Superintendent she has led the school to expanding to a high school. Under Ms. Lopez’s leadership, the School has been designated as a Reward School and Recognition School for consecutive years by the New York State Education Department; closing the achievement gap for high risk students. She has also lead CSEE in obtaining a maximum five year charter renewal approved by the New York State Board of Regents in January 2018 for the School. Cindy is an experienced Latina educator with diverse experience in administration of business and not-for-profit organizations. Phi Delta Kappa recognized Ms. Lopez’ many innovations and contributions to the field of education by presenting Ms. Lopez with the Principal’s award. This award was in recognition of the many years of providing graduate opportunities, mentorship, and support for student teachers and leadership interns. She has also received from the Yonkers Mexican American Chamber of Commerce the Educator of the Year award; the Entre Nosotras Award for her commitment to improving the lives of children through education; and the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) recognized her talents and commitment, and awarded her an award as a Visionary of Hope for the students she serves. She received her Master of Science Degree in School Building Leadership and Masters in School District Leadership from Mercy College. She also holds a Master’s Degree in Childhood Education and a Bachelor’s Degree in Behavioral Science. Cindy Lopez currently resides in Yonkers with her husband, Paul Lopez. They have two children, daughter Kristina, and their son Paul Lopez Jr., a United States Marine Corp veteran, who have continued in their mother’s footsteps, and are currently public school teachers.
Melissa Melkonian
The American Dream School
Melissa Melkonian has been a New York City educator for 20 years. She began her career as a bilingual special education teacher in Inwood with the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE), where she taught students in grades 5-8 in both English and Spanish.
Melissa then joined a charter school in the Bronx where she continued to teach before becoming the middle school's assistant principal. In 2014, Melissa founded The American Dream School, a dual-language (English/Spanish) middle and high school in the South Bronx- a school focused on supporting immigrant families, developing students' English language skills through maintaining their heritage language.
Melissa earned a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and Public Policy from Trinity College, Master's in Bilingual and Special Education from Mercy College, Ed.M. in Educational Leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University, and is currently pursuing her doctorate in Educational and Policy Leadership from Hofstra University.
Charlie Ortiz
WHIN Music Community Charter School
Charles Ortiz joined the founding team of WHIN in late 2015 and wrote the final version of the WHIN charter application approved by NYSED in Spring 2016. Prior to WHIN he served as the Director of Academics at the Harlem Children’s Zone for three years where he oversaw HCZ’s afterschool elementary, middle, and high school academic programs.
Prior to HCZ Charles spent seven years teaching in public and charter schools in Brooklyn, Harlem, and his hometown of Philadelphia. While teaching Charles was asked to be Village Lead, served on school leadership teams working on such things as creating policies for a restorative school culture, interdisciplinary curriculum development, conducted Professional Development sessions for fellow teachers, and was a teacher mentor. Additionally, he created and maintained a contemporary band program growing it from serving twenty students in one grade to serving over 100 students in 6th-12th grade. The program enjoyed large parental involvement, performances at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, and provided scholarships to students for additional study.
Charles completed the Leadership New York fellowship at Coro in 2016 where he received training in Adaptive Leadership, Intersectionality, and group leadership and uses these skills to fulfill his commitment to create educational equity for the students and families of New York City. Reporting directly to the WHIN Board of Directors, Charles is responsible for establishing and maintaining all aspects of WHIN Music Community Charter School.