2009 Cohort Bios
Leighangela Brady
Born and raised in New England, Leighangela Brady received both her B.S. and M.A. degrees from the University of Connecticut. Now living in San Diego, Mrs. Brady has taught in various teaching assignments from kindergarten through fifth grade including a bilingual placement and specialized pull out instruction for English Learners. After leaving the classroom, Leighangela became an academic literacy coach for teachers. This position ignited an already sparked passion for curriculum and instruction and helped to further develop her strength as a curriculum leader. Within a few years, Leighangela became a vice principal in a unique K-8 setting. She is currently serving as a principal of a K-6 elementary school.
As a site administrator, educational consultant, and instructional leader, Mrs. Brady is passionate about quality teaching. She continually participates in and presents timely professional development. Leighangela has presented at conferences such as CTA, CRA, WCLC and ASCD. This fall, she and a colleague released a book through Eye on Education called Test Less Assess More: A K-8 Guide to Formative Assessment. Leighangela is a wife and mother and co-founder of a small company called Teaching Simply. She plans to retire one day at her home in the Fiji Islands.
Marian Phelps
Marian Kim-Phelps is currently Principal at Zamorano Fine Arts Academy in the San Diego Unified School District. Prior to Zamorano she was the Principal at Dailard Elementary School. Marian has served as an administrator for SDUSD for over 10 years and as an educator for both elementary and secondary levels for 20 years. She serves as a District Mentor for new and aspiring administrators. Marian was named the 2009 National Distinguished Principal Finalist for the State of California.
Marian graduated from the University of California San Diego with a B.A. in Psychology and a double minor in Biology and Theatre. She earned her M.A. in Educational Leadership from Point Loma Nazarene University, graduated Magna Cum Laude. Prior to entering education Marian worked in hospital business administration with Scripps Health for 10 years.
Marian is actively involved with various community organizations, and serves as a choir member and deaconess for her church. She is married and has a beautiful three year old daughter. Marian’s hobbies and interests include cooking, scrapbooking, photography, traveling, singing, and spending time with her husband, daughter, family and friends.
Jacqueline Kotas
Jacqueline Kotas, M.A., CCC-SLP, is a bilingual Speech Language Pathologist. Ms. Kotas is the clinical coordinator of bilingual pediatric programs and a lecturer in the School of Speech Language and Hearing Sciences at San Diego State University. She previously worked for the Cajon Valley Union School District and provided speech/language services to preschool, elementary, and middle-school students. She also has clinical experiences serving culturally diverse speakers in medical and out-patient settings.
Ms. Kotas has conducted research with colleagues from SDSU and the Salk Institute for Biological Studies. She has presented at International, National, State, and local conferences and/or published research articles on topics related to leadership in clinical supervision, child advocacy, dynamic assessment, language use in bilinguals, the efficacy of graduate-level courses in bilingual/multicultural issues, parental questionnaires for multicultural children and narrative development for children with Williams and Down Syndrome. She is the former chairperson of the California Speech Language Hearing Association Diversity Committee.
Ms. Kotas earned her B.S. in Communicative Disorders from Appalachian State University, and her M.A. in Communication Disorders from San Diego State University. She is the recipient of the 2009 Outstanding Achievement Award for District 9 of the California Speech Language Hearing Association.
Dale Sheehan
Mrs. Sheehan is currently a Vice-Principal at El Capitan High School in Lakeside, California. Her responsibilities include involvement with Professional Learning Communities, District Literacy Committee, Career and Technical Education Pathways, Advanced Placement and GATE, attendance monitoring, and state assessments. Prior to becoming a vice-principal, Dale taught ROP Culinary Arts, Food Discoveries, and AVID at Santana High School in Santee, California. She worked with other district teachers to align elective state standards with those of core subjects. Dale was the head coach for cross country coach and track and field and served as a class advisor and remains fervent about extracurricular activities as a means of engaging students in the most beneficial high school experience. She has been recognized as Outstanding Teacher by ROP and as Outstanding Administrator by the California FFA.
Mrs. Sheehan completed her undergraduate work at the University of Arizona earning a Bachelor of Science in Clothing and Textiles and Fashion Design. She returned to school and earned a post-baccalaureate in Family and Consumer Resources Education and a Master of Science in Vocational Education. She is passionate about Career and Technical Education and is motivated to earn her doctorate as a means of improving her practice and having a meaningful impact on educational leadership.
Carol Barry
Carol Barry has been a member of San Diego Unified School District’s educational team for twenty-five years. During that time she has been a teacher at both elementary and middle-level schools, principal of an elementary school and middle-level school, assistant superintendent, and Chief Elementary School Improvement Officer. During this time she received various awards and recognition including Gifted Teacher of the Year 1997, and San Diego Magazine’s “50 People to Watch in 2009.” She has worked as a consultant for the Council for Basic Education, Seattle and Jackson. Her publications include Putting Standards in Their Own Words: Voices from the Middle in collaboration with other educators; With Equity and Excellence for All: Middle School Journal with Dennie Wolfe, et. al.; and More than the Truth: Teaching Nonfiction Writing Through Journalism.
Her credentials and degrees include a Masters of Arts in Public School Administration, a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Liberal Studies, a California Administrative Credential, California Multiple Subjects Credential, and a Gifted and Talented Education Certification.
David Sciaretta
A native of New York, Mr. Sciarretta earned a BA in History and Government (Cum Laude) from Bowdoin College, a Masters of Education from National University, and a California preliminary Administrative Services Credential from San Diego State University's department of Educational Leadership.
The recipient of a prestigious Thomas J. Watson fellowship, Mr. Sciarretta has worked in Central America and Mexico. Mr. Sciarretta has over fifteen years of experience in California public charter schools as a teacher and leader; he is currently in his fourth year as Principal of Albert Einstein Academy Charter Middle School, a public charter school located in urban San Diego.
Eileen Moreno
Eileen Moreno was born and raised in Los Angeles until 1987 when she came to San Diego to attend the university. She is first generation Mexican-American as well as being the first in her family to go to college. Ms. Moreno has worked with San Diego Unified for approximately 18 years having begun as a teacher's aide and later as a bilingual elementary teacher, resource teacher, literacy staff developer, vice principal, and principal. Currently she is principal of Mary Lanyon Fay Elementary in City Heights. Ms. Moreno is particularly committed to the effective instruction of students in urban communities who face a variety of challenges. She hopes to use the knowledge gained from the doctoral program to further this work and to help close the achievement gap.
In 1992, Ms. Moreno earned her B.A. in sociology from the University of California in San Diego. In 1999, she completed her M.A. in educational leadership. In addition to these degrees, Ms. Moreno holds a California Administrative Credential, California Multiple Subjects Credential, Bilingual Bi-cultural Specialist Credential, and GATE certification.
Stanley Munro
Stanley Jefferey Munro is currently Vice Principal at Correia Middle School in the San Diego Unified School District. Prior to Correia Middle School he was the Vice Principal at Scott Montgomery Elementary School, Washington, DC. Stanley has served as an administrator in schools for the last 3 years and as an educator for both elementary and secondary levels for 8 years. He has also served on a School Board, Job Embedded Mathematics Professional Developer, and as a Special Education Teacher .
Stanley graduated from University of Toronto, in Toronto, Canada with a Major in Mathematics and Physics and a Minor in Sociology. He earned his MS Education Major: Reading Specialist, MA in Teaching Major: Secondary Education (Mathematics) and MS Education: School Administration and Supervision from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD. He also received a Certificate in Business Administration and a certificate in International Business Management from Georgetown University in Washington, DC. Prior to entering education Stanley worked as a cost analysis in the business sector. Stanley is actively involved with various community organizations, and in his church. He is happily married to his beautiful wife of 1 year. Stanley’s hobbies and interests include spending time with his wife, family and friends, cheering on his beloved Miami Hurricanes football team, working out, reading political and autobiographical books, as well as traveling to warm climates.
Grace Cortez-Jiminez
I have worked in education for the past 18 years as a teacher, in various grade levels and as a school administrator for the last 13 years. After teaching for a few years, I was eager to learn how I could maximize my learning and positively affect more students. I wanted to have the opportunity to share research-based strategies with other teachers. I then continued my studies and joined the SDSU administrative credential program. I am currently the principal of the first charter school in the Imperial Valley which is Southeast of San Diego County. I am also working as an instructor and coordinator for the Educational Leadership Program for San Diego State University.
My work at San Diego State University has intrigued me to become more interested in working with future leaders in preparing them to effectively lead schools and become instructional leaders. Therefore, I have decided to pursue doctoral studies in education reforms that focus on academic achievement for all students.
Shirley Wilson
Shirley A. Wilson earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, San Diego. Continuing her education, she enrolled in Pepperdine University’s College of Education to obtain a masters degree, and administrative credential from San Diego State University.
Ms. Wilson has received many honors during her educational career. In 2008, as principal, she received the prestigious award as Title I Achieving School by the State Department of California for Oak Park Elementary Music Conservatory Magnet School. During her tenure as principal, the Academic Performance Index (API) improved 150 points. Selected because of her exemplary teaching pedagogy and excellence in teaching, Ms. Wilson was awarded Coca-Cola Teacher of the Year, honored as Language Arts Teacher of the year by the San Diego Unified School District’s English Department, and was designated a Mentor Teacher.
Ms. Wilson has worked as a teacher, school administrator, and Middle School Improvement Officer in San Diego Unified School District. In 2010, she was appointed Assistant Area Superintendent for Area I. Ms. Wilson is responsible for the development of the instructional leadership for principals to improve achievement, the development of clusters in support of community-based reform to strengthen the parent and community to support impacting the academic success of the 20,000 students in Area I.
Amy Perreault
Helen Griffith
Jennifer Roberson
Reashon Villery