Home Office

The Chavez Home Office, headed by Irasema Salcido as Chief Executive Officer, was developed to plan and implement the expansion of Chavez into a network of schools. The Home Office has four primary functions:

• Ensuring each school implements the key components of the Chavez model.
• Ensuring that academic performance of each school meets and exceeds expectations by setting measurable achievement goals with respect to academics and operations; providing support and training to help schools attain those goals; measuring progress toward those goals.
• Providing operational support to existing schools in the areas of finance and accounting, data management, marketing and recruiting, contracted services, and compliance.
• Managing the launch of new schools by securing facilities, preparing staffing and financial models, developing a student and teacher recruitment plan, identifying new principals, and outreaching to new community.

Home Office Staff Biographies

Irasema Salcido is the founder and CEO of the Chavez Schools. Before founding the first Chavez school in 1998, Irasema Salcido worked for nine years in the DC public school system. She is considered an expert on charter schools and a leader in the charter school movement in DC. She received an award from the Caring Institute, designating her as one of the “Six Most Caring Citizens in the U.S of 1999,” and in February 2001, she was awarded the “Use Your Life Award” from Oprah Winfrey’s Angel Network© for her dedication to the students of Cesar Chavez. Also, in 2004 she received a “Hero” award from Hispanic CREO and, in 2005, was honored as a Distinguished Alumna from her alma mater, California State University at Fullerton, from which she received a BA in Business Administration. She also holds a MA in Education, Administration, and Social Planning from Harvard University.

Email:irasema.salcido@chavezschools.org

Bryan Patten is Ch&accutea;vez’s Chief Financial Officer. He joined Chavez in March of 2004, after briefly serving on the school’s Board of Directors. Prior to joining Chavez, Mr. Patten worked in the School Management division of K12, a company in Northern Virginia that develops curriculum and runs a nationwide network of virtual charter schools. He has an MBA and an MA in education policy from Stanford University and a BA in Economics from Yale University.

Email:bryan.patten@chavezschools.org

Robert Rickenbrode taught mathematics and computer science at Chavez for three years before he joined the Home Office as the Chief Academic and Information Officer. Mr. Rickenbrode worked previously as a computer systems specialist and VISTA volunteer for the San Juan school district in Utah. For seven summers, he was a computer science teacher, curriculum developer, and technical support for the ‘Nda’hoo’aah Summer Program, bringing students and elders together around traditional and modern technologies on the Navajo Nation. He is pursuing a MA in Educational Leadership and Administration at Georgetown University and holds a MA in applied economics from the Johns Hopkins University and a BS in economics from the California Institute of Technology.

Email:robert.rickenbrode@chavezschools.org

David Robinson recently joined Chavez as Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Robinson brings over forty years of experience in operations and management. Most recently, Mr. Robinson was senior vice president and chief operating officer of the Freddie Mac Foundation, one of the DC area’s largest philanthropies, where he was responsible for overseeing day to day operations of the foundation, including grant-making, financial management, procurement and contract administration, and operational policies. Over his forty plus year career, Mr. Robinson has consulted with a wide variety of public, private, and non-profit organizations. He holds a BS (with merit) from the U.S. Naval Academy with majors in both engineering and management, and a MS in Management from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California.

Email:david.robinson@chavezschools.org

Mitzi Burby is Chavez’s Director of Human Resources. Ms. Burby provides comprehensive human resources support to Chavez’s three geographically diverse campuses that employ in excess of 250 staff. Ms. Burby brings over fifteen years of human resources experience and a strong background in education. She was the human resources director at the Falls Church City Public Schools, as well as for a range of private firms, including Charles River Associates. Ms. Burby holds a BA in education from the University of South Carolina and a MA in education from the University of South Florida. Additionally, Ms. Burby recently completed the Certified Employee Benefit Specialist Program at the Wharton Business School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Email:mitzi.burby@chavezschools.org

Kate McGreevy Crisham rejoined Chavez as the interim development director. She is responsible for fundraising, grant writing, communications, media, and strategic partnerships. Ms. Crisham began her career at Chavez in 2000, serving as an AmeriCorps Public Ally charged with Chavez’s after school and volunteer programs, and moving on to become the school’s first development director. In the last few years she has worked in development for the University of Notre Dame, and as the development director for the New Mexico Coalition for Literacy. Ms. Crisham is pursuing a master in public administration from American University and holds a BA in Liberal Studies from the University of Notre Dame.

Dr. David Heiber is Chavez’s Director of Student Support Services. Dr. Heiber comes to Chavez after six years as an assistant principal with the Baltimore City Public Schools, where he gained experience facilitating collaboration among service providers, while providing instructional and curriculum support for instructors of Math, English, Science and Social Studies. Additionally, Dr. Heiber served as an Adjunct History Professor at Baltimore City Community College, teaching history as well as advising students. He holds a BS in History and Black Studies from Lincoln University, an MA in African American Studies from Temple University, and Ed.D. from Morgan State University in Urban Education and Leadership.

Email:david.heiber@chavezschools.org

Roc Blakeney joined the Chavez Home Office as the system’s first Director of Vendor and Service Management. Mr. Blakeney brings a wide variety of expertise in the management of commercial and corporate property, as well as budgeting and capital projects. He has served as a facilities manager of several DC-area organizations, and he is skilled in preventive maintenance. Mr. Blakeney is a retired Navy Helicopter Combat Air Crewman who served in Desert Storm. He holds a BS in Military Science from Old Dominion University.

Email: roc.blakeney@chavezschools.org

Ernesto Natera is Chavez’s Athletic Director, overseeing athletics at all three campuses. Mr. Natera has taught Spanish and Physical Education, as well as served as head basketball coach for several local varsity teams. He brings experience with the development of school-based intramural programs, tournament planning, coaches’ training, athletic fundraising, and working with inner-city youth. Mr. Natera has a BA from Milligan College, where he served as the student assistant for the men’s varsity basketball team.

Email: ernesto.natera@chavezschools.org

Walter Gonzalez is Chavez’s Technology Director. Mr. Gonzalez oversees all information technology at the campuses. Mr. Gonzalez is bi-lingual in English and Spanish, and provides hardware, software, and network administration services to Chavez. He has over fifteen years experience as a technical support representative for Ingetra, in Paraguay, and as a system administrator. Mr. Gonzalez holds a BS in electronic engineering from Catholic University, in Asuncion, Paraguay.

Email: walter.gonzalez@chavezschools.org

Teia Collier serves Chavez as the Recruitment and Enrollment Coordinator. She is responsible for student recruitment and other enrollment related activities. Mrs. Collier has a background in education and public policy as a former high school teacher and congressional aide. She also brings experience in community relations as the owner of Capitol Moms, an area motherhood resource service and event planning company. Mrs. Collier holds a BA in Political Science and International Studies from Midwestern State University.

Email: teia.collier@chavezschools.org

Devin Murphy recently joined Chavez as the Home Office Executive Assistant. Mr. Murphy handles scheduling, reporting and compliance, Spanish translation, and overall Home Office business operations. He served as an AmeriCorps Volunteer in Easton, Maryland, at a family center where he was responsible for supervising volunteers, developing a resource manual for constituents, and communications. As a former interim executive director, Mr. Murphy is skilled in board relations, development, public relations and finances. Fluent in Spanish, he holds a BA in International Relations from Washington College.

Email: devin.murphy@chavezschools.org