OUR MISSION
MCPSA’s mission is to create and protect the conditions that will enable the charter public school sector to thrive, and advance the larger goal of ensuring all Massachusetts children and families have equitable access to high-quality schools.
To achieve our Mission, MCPSA:
Advocates for public policy that supports equitable educational opportunities and supports member schools across Massachusetts.
Provides best practice sharing and professional development for leaders, educators, and board members to support strong educational practices, governance, and advocacy engagement.
Amplifies the stories and voices of the charter public school community.
MCPSA’S equity vision
Since its inception, the K-12 public education system has been utilized as a tool to advance and protect systemic racism. From withholding education from enslaved peoples, to separate and unequal segregated schools, to the use of local property taxes and manipulated municipal boundaries as the basis for public education funding, systemic racism has and continues to impact children’s K-12 educational opportunities.
MCPSA will work to build a more just and equitable K-12 public education system in Massachusetts — in short, one in which every child receives a high-quality public education that enables them to thrive and to reach their full potential.
Equity VisionMEET OUR TEAM
Tim Nicolette
Executive Director
Tim provides strategic and operational leadership for all of MCPSA’s staff, programs, and advocacy work. Tim joined the Association having worked in both the charter and district public school sectors, with specific experience in education policy and management. Prior to joining MCPSA, Tim served as President of UP Education Network. He also served as Chief of Staff to former Superintendent of Boston Public Schools (BPS) Carol Johnson as well as Deputy Chief Financial Officer for BPS. Prior to working at BPS, he was an education advisor to former Boston Mayor Tom Menino. He began his career as a strategy consultant with L.E.K. Consulting where he was elected Executive Director of Inspire, Inc. Tim holds a B.A. from Columbia University and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.
Erica Brown
Chief of Policy & School Supports
Erica bridges education policy and practice by advocating on behalf of the charter sector to drive state education policies while serving as the MCPSA’s programmatic leader. Prior to joining MCPSA, Erica served as a charter school teacher and leader of City on a Hill Charter Public Schools, and was a founding steering committee member of the Boston Compact. Erica holds a B.A. in English and American Literature and Language from Harvard University, and an M.A. in English Language Arts Education from Tufts University.
Oona Cook
Chief Operating Officer
Oona is responsible for managing the financial, data, talent, and board governance systems needed to sustain MCPSA’s growth and strategic initiatives. Prior to joining the Association, Oona served as managing partner providing legal services to families and children, and as COO for a national harm reduction treatment center. Oona holds a B.A from Mount Holyoke College and a Juris Doctor Degree from the University of Connecticut School of Law.
Danielle Pape
Chief of Public Affairs
Danielle is responsible for developing, integrating, and overseeing the execution of MCPSA’s advocacy and communications strategies, designed to cultivate strong public and political support for the charter public school sector. Before joining MCPSA as its first Director of Communications, Danielle spent over a decade at Boston Prep Charter Public School in a variety of roles, most recently as the Director of Grants and Communications. Danielle holds a B.S. and an M.A. in Education from Vanderbilt University.
Robert Carpenter
Director of School Supports, Governance
Robert is responsible for expanding MCPSA’s existing board governance statewide programming, designing and implementing new programs to meet board members’ needs, and providing technical support to board members in order to build their capacity and ensure that charter public school governance is high quality. Before joining MCPSA, Robert supported board members and teams at Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY) chapters across the nation with organizational compliance, board and volunteer recruitment, development, succession planning and operational support. He also serves as a board member for his local school district. Robert holds a B.A. from State University of New York at Albany and an M.A. from Crown College.
Derya Deane
Operations Manager
As a member of the Operations Team, Derya provides administrative, technical, and project management support throughout the organization. Prior to joining the Association, Derya spent five years at Worcester Polytechnic Institute planning events, coordinating alumni and industry outreach efforts, and assisting with social media and communications campaigns.
Adkeem Jackson
Director of Community Mobilization
Adkeem is responsible for designing and implementing programming to support engagement of our charter public school community members as part of our shared advocacy and communication efforts. Adkeem came to MCPSA from UP Education Network where he spent a decade leading family and community engagement at both the school and network level, as well as leading the development and execution of the network’s equity strategy. Adkeem holds a B.A. from Framingham State University.
Lina Musayev
Senior Director of School Supports
Lina is responsible for overseeing statewide school support initiatives. Prior to joining the Association, she served as the Associate Director of Strategy and Growth at Blackstone Valley Prep Mayoral Academy in Rhode Island where she led the opening of a high school and the replication of an elementary school. She also served as a Manager at Deloitte Consulting. Lina holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Communication from George Washington University, a Master in Public Administration from George Washington University, and a Master in Education from the Broad Center for the Management of School Systems.
Sara Nelson
Director of School Supports
Sara provides capacity building support for charter schools in Massachusetts by creating professional development trainings and managing key strategic initiatives of the MCPSA’s regional alliances. Before joining the Association, she served as the Director of Student Support at Academy of the Pacific Rim Charter Public School and as a Special Educator in NYC and Newton public schools. Sara has a Bachelor’s Degree in English from Amherst College and a Masters of Science Education from Brooklyn College.
Tracey Perkins
Director of Operations
Tracey works across the organization to provide operational support and manage projects for new and existing initiatives. Prior to rejoining MCPSA, Tracey was Chief of Staff at a globally distributed technology consulting firm. She was previously the Director of Administration & Project Management at MCPSA and Chief of Staff at the Institute of Contemporary Art/ Boston. Tracey has a B.A. in Art History from Colby College, an M.A. in Art History from George Washington University, and an M.B.A. with a concentration in Public & Nonprofit Management from the Boston University Questrom School of Business.
Sophie Vale
Digital Advocacy & Communications Manager
Sophie leads strategies to strengthen MCPSA’s digital presence and digital engagement with charter public school supporters in support of our advocacy initiatives. Before joining MCPSA, Sophie managed digital communications in the higher education sector, at both Simmons University and Wellesley College. Sophie holds a B.A. in Japanese Language and Literature & Comparative Literature from Wellesley College.
Jennie Williamson
Director of Government Affairs
Jennie is responsible for furthering MCPSA’s advocacy agenda and strengthening bipartisan and progressive political support. Before joining MCPSA, Jennie spent 7 years working for the Massachusetts State Legislature’s Joint Committee on Education and served as chief advisor to the Committee on statewide education policy issues and legislation. She also served as a Legislative Aide to Representative Alicea and as a Legislative Intern in Senator Jehlen’s office. Jennie has a Bachelor’s Degree in English from Tufts University and a Masters of Public Administration from Harvard University Kennedy School of Government.
MEET OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Thabiti Brown
President
Thabiti joined Codman Academy Charter Public School in 2001 as the founding Humanities teacher and now serves as the Head of School. Prior to joining Codman, Thabiti taught at the Beacon School in New York and the International School of Panama. He is a recipient of the 2005 Milken Educator Award, the 2011 Lynch Fellowship for Boston school leaders, the 2014 inaugural Silverberg Leadership Award, and the 2019 Barr Fellowship. Thabiti holds a Bachelor of Arts from Brown University and a Master of Arts from Teachers College Columbia University. Thabiti joined the MCPSA Board in 2014.
Beth Anderson
Vice President
Beth is the Chief Executive Officer at Phoenix Charter Academy Network. Beth previously served on the transition team as Co-Chair of Governor Baker’s Education Advisory Committee, and currently serves on the advisory boards of Mass Development, the Rennie Center, and Greater Boston Teach For America Alumni. Beth holds a Bachelor of Arts from Brandeis University and a Master’s of Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Beth joined the MCPSA Board in 2010.
Greg Orpen
Treasurer
Greg is the Head of School at Innovation Academy and previously taught math and science and acted as the High School Principal. Greg earned his Bachelor of Science from Trinity College, his Master’s in Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and is currently completing his Doctor of Education at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Greg joined the MCPSA Board in 2016.
Robert Beatty
Clerk
Robert Beatty has been the Executive Director of Atlantis Charter School since 2009. Prior to joining Atlantis Charter School, Robert spent seven years at Trailblazers Academy in Connecticut, first as a teacher and then as the Director. Robert holds a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Wesleyan University. Robert joined the MCPSA Board in 2020.
Rhonda "Nikki" Barnes
Member
Nikki is the Executive Director at KIPP Massachusetts where she has served in school-based at KIPP Boston prior to taking on district wide leadership responsibilities. She holds a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Virginia Commonwealth University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education. An avid supporter of MA Charter public schools and proud parent of Charter Public School scholars herself, Nikki joined the MCPSA Board of Directors in 2022.
Barish Icin
Member
Barish joined PCSS in 2010 as the Executive Director and now serves as the Chief Executive Officer. In 2011, Barish was named as a Lynch Leadership Academy Fellow. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Koc University, a Master of Arts from Princeton University, and Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) from Boston College. Barish joined the MCPSA Board in 2016.
Paul Niles
Member
Paul is the Executive Director at Cape Cod Lighthouse Charter School, and previously acted as Founding Teacher and later Associate Director at the school. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from the College of Holy Cross, and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He earned his Master of Education from the University of Massachusetts Amherst as well. Paul previously served on the MCPSA Board of Directors in 2017, and has been a current Board member since 2021.
Rachel Romano
Member
Rachel is the founding Executive Director of Veritas Preparatory Charter School and previously served as the Principal and Executive Director of the Christa McAuliffe Regional Charter School. A certified Principal and English teacher, Rachel spent six years working in the Springfield Public Schools as a teacher and school leader. Rachel earned a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from Syracuse University and a Master’s degree in Education Administration from the University of Massachusetts. Rachel joined the MCPSA Board in 2017.
Nnenna Ude
Member
Nnenna Ude serves as President and CEO of Match Education, overseeing all organizational programs including Match Charter Public School (as Executive Director), The Charles Sposato Graduate School of Education, Inc. and Match Export. Nnenna holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychological and Brain Sciences from Dartmouth College. Nnenna joined the MCPSA Board in 2020.
Jeff Wulfson
MemberJeff Wulfson
Member
Jeff retired from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in 2020 after a 25-year career, most recently serving as Deputy Commissioner and Acting Commissioner. He played a major role in the design of the state’s school funding formulas and in developing the statutes, regulations, and policies governing charter school authorizing. He also served for twelve years as the chair of the Massachusetts Teachers’ Retirement Board. Prior to joining DESE, he was a senior manager at the Department of Revenue’s Division of Local Services. Jeff received Bachelor of Arts and Master of Business Administration degrees from Dartmouth College, and a Master of Public Administration degree from New York University. He joined the MCPSA Board in 2022 as its first at-large member.
Heather Zolnowski
Member
Heather has been the Executive Director of the Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter School since 2018, and has been with the school since 2007. She has worked in education for the past 20 years in a variety of capacities. Heather is currently working on her EdD from Northeastern University, and holds an MA from The College of William and Mary and a BA from Western New England College. Heather joined the MCPSA Board in 2021.
START A CHARTER PUBLIC SCHOOL
If you’re looking to start a charter public school in Massachusetts, we’ve got you covered. All of the necessary information, including a schedule for key deadlines, is available on the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education website.
To learn more, please reach out to Erica Brown, MCPSA’s Chief of Policy & School Supports.
Join Our Team
Director of Communications
The Director of Communications (DoC) will play an integral leadership role within MCPSA’s Public Affairs department, and is...
YOU ARE NOW LEAVING MASSCHARTERSCHOOLS.ORG
By clicking “visit website” below, you will be directed to a website operated by a 501(c)(4) entity called Advocates for Massachusetts Charter Public Schools.
