Curtis Warren, Director of School Leadership for Urban Education

Curtis Warren currently serves as the Director of School Leadership for Urban Education for CS Partners. He also served as the Director of Village of Hope Academies and Director of Curriculum and Instruction. Curtis has thirty three years of professional experience, including K-12 educational leadership, higher education administration, and human services management. In addition to classroom teaching, he has held positions that include: dean of student services, director of an educational opportunity center, director of an educational talent search program, director of a court-appointed special advocate program, supervision of home-based programs for disadvantaged families, senior juvenile probation officer, evening coordinator for adult education, director/principal consultant for research and evaluation, and director of student employment services and workforce development programs. Curtis completed his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees at Kalamazoo College and Western Michigan University, respectively. In addition, he has completed postgraduate and doctoral studies at Western Michigan University and Olivet Nazarene University (IL).

Jim Perry, Director of School Leadership

Jim Perry earned his Bachelor’s of Arts in Psychology and Master’s of Arts in Education from the University of Michigan. He has over 18 years of experience in education with 12 years as a school leader. Jim has particular interest incorporating experiential education into the small high school model. Mr. Perry has developed a comprehensive model to use the community as an educational resource for high school students to earn credits through internships, community based courses and dual enrollment with a local university. Most recently he led a development team in researching, planning and ultimately successfully opening a new charter high school, FlexTech High School (FTHS), in Brighton Michigan. FTHS is an innovative school that offers highly engaging project based learning, online course work and flexible scheduling to offer students a unique and personalized high school education. He has been a member of the Kensington Woods High School faculty since its first year in 1995/96. Jim served as a Social Studies instructor and assistant principal at the Academy before beginning as principal in July 1999. In addition to leading Kensington Woods, Jim also serves as the Director of School Leadership for CS Partners.

Laura Moellering, Director of Curriculum and Instruction

Laura Moellering earned her Bachelor´s of Science in Secondary Education and her MA in Curriculum and Instruction from Eastern Michigan University and holds a professional teaching certificate from the State of Michigan in English and Psychology. Ms. Moellering began her career with CSP as a teacher and then curriculum director at Kensington Woods High School where she aided in developing and implementing an advisory program, AP courses, and various unique learning opportunities for students. Ms. Moellering has also been a part of expanding and growing the educational mission of the Charyl Stockwell Academy to include the secondary campus, the Charyl Stockwell Preparatory Academy. As a member of the School Services Team, Ms. Moellering provides curriculum and instruction services, staff development and reporting services to schools.

Diane Vance Director of Special Projects

Diane Vance, MA has over twenty years experience in education. She began her career as a special education teacher in Illinois working with blind and visually impaired children in rural and urban settings. In 1997 she began working at Charyl Stockwell Academy serving as assistant principal and principal from 1997 through 2003 where she and the staff laid the foundational work for what would become Smart Character Choices. Ms. Vance has served as Director of Smart Character Choices since its inception and oversees all aspects of the program. She is certified in Reality Therapy and Choice Theory through the William Glasser Institute in California and has been a faculty member since 2000. While principal at Charyl Stockwell Academy, Ms. Vance led the school to become Dr. Glasser’s eleventh Glasser Quality School in the fall of 2001. Ms. Vance also works with CS Partners schools as a consultant for public relations, marketing and communications.

Dawn Marshall, Chief Compliance Officer

Dawn Marshall monitors all compliance matters for schools under full service agreements with CS Partners. Ms. Marshall graduated with a B.S. in Communications from the University of Illinois and graduated cum laude with a J.D. from Seattle University School of Law. In addition to working in a small law office, she has also sat on the Executive Boards of Seattle University´s Moot Court, the American Bar Association/Law Student Division of Washington, and the International Law Society of Seattle University. After relocating to Michigan in 2002, she has worked with Michigan charter schools in various capacities. Ms. Marshall is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, the Oakland County Bar Association, and the American Bar Association. As Chief Compliance Officer, Ms. Marshall provides the support necessary to keep CS Partners and their schools compliant with all federal, state, local and authorizer requirements

Amey Dryer, Consultant for Elementary Curriculum and Instruction

Amey Dryer earned her Teaching Certificate from Eastern Michigan University in 2003 and began substitute teaching in the Oakland County area. She then was offered a teaching position with American Montessori Academy in Livonia. Amey spent 6 years at AMA moving from classroom teacher to Program Coordinator, to Assistant Principal, and Principal. While at AMA Amey earned her 6-9 and 9-12 Montessori training and certificates and then received a Masters through Chaminade University. Amey joined CS Partners in July 2011. Amey grew up in Hartland and now lives in Brighton with her husband Todd, son Cole, and dog Ruby.

Lorraine Cook, Coordinator of Grant Funding/Compliance Assistant

Lorraine Cook  joined CS Partners in April 2010. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Management from Albion College and a law degree from Wayne State University. As a member of the School Services Team, her duties include compliance support and coordinating grant funding. Her prior work experience includes purchasing and subcontracting for a Tier I supplier to the automotive industry. She resides in Brighton with her husband and two children.

Yolanda Nesbitt, Assistant Director for Urban Education

Yolanda Nesbitt serves as the Assistant Director for Urban Education. Prior to her promotion, she was the Records and Assessment Coordinator for the Village of Hope Academies. Mrs. Nesbitt has 10+ years of experience working with Wayne State University´s Educational Talent Search and GEAR-UP Federal TRiO programs, of which she worked closely with 25+ middle and high schools in the city of Detroit. She has a strong passion for working with inner-city, at-risk and troubled youth and their families. In addition, she has served as a Detroit Public School Compact Coordinator and has developed and implemented numerous youth mentoring programs and summits. Mrs. Nesbitt assists the Director of School Leadership for Urban Education in all aspects of development and implementation of the CS Partners Urban Education Group Model. She and her husband live in Detroit with their two boys, Kenye and Keon.

Mike Vance, Facilities Director

Mike Vance has an Associates Degree in Welding and Metallurgy from Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo, CA and a degree from Clearfield Welding Technical College in Clearfield, Utah. Mr. Vance has over 30 years of experience in Welding, Quality Assurance, Quality Control and Heavy Construction Inspection. He also has 15 years experience in workplace safety (OSHA) and has extensive experience in contracting and contract negotiations for the construction and automotive assembly industry. Mr. Vance has been certified by the American Welding Society as a QC1 (Level One Welding Inspector) and has also been certified by CAL OSHA and ASME for welding inspection and workplace safety. He has also held certifications for concrete, power piping, mechanical equipment / systems, painting and coating, as well as electrical inspection on projects worldwide. Mr. Vance is certified by EPA and the State of Michigan as an Asbestos Inspector and Management Planner for AHERA compliance. He is currently involved in the complete facilities management and compliance of Charter Schools.

Teri Pettit, Director of Educational Services

Teri Pettit serves as the Director of Educational Services for CS Partners and oversees Special Education Services. With over 25 years experience working in education, Teri has experience in traditional and charter school education. She additionally works for the Michigan Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Early Intervention Services as a PSA consultant/liaison. She has served as a special education director, elementary school principal and teacher in both regular and special education. (K-12). Teri is the co-founder of, and assists schools statewide in the implementation of, the Teacher Support Team program initiative designed to prevent learning failure for all students. She additionally has extensive experience in curriculum development, school improvement and compliance, working closely with Michigan and national organizations to insure the delivery of quality programming. Her degrees include a BA in visual impairment and English, a MA in special education and learning disabilities, and an Ed Specialist in Educational Administration and Special Education Administration.

Nir Saar, Assistant Director of Educational Services

Nir Saar is currently serving as the Assistant Director of Educational Services for CS Partners. He graduated from the University of Michigan in 2004 with a B.S. in biopsychology and history. After graduation, he was selected to join Teach for America (Philadelphia), a not-for-profit organization that recruits high performing college graduates to teach in our nation’s lowest performing schools. While continuing to teach Special Education in the inner city for six years, he received his Master’s degree in Special Education from Chestnut Hill College and founded a not-for-profit organization called STAY TRUE. As the President and Executive Director of the organization for 4 years, he helped provide service-learning programs for at-risk youth. He still serves as a board member and consultant for the organization. Recently, he has decided to move back to his home state of Michigan to be closer to his family and friends. He is currently pursuing an Ed. Specialist degree at Oakland University.

Phyllis Lewis –