Ms. Velia Navarro is founding parent of CSCE, who began work with Dr. Oberman in 2008. At the time Ms Navarro was an OCO Leader in a Leadership Training Class with OCO Organizer Emma Paulino. Now, 11 years on, she is the mother of a CSCE gradaute, Justin Navarro, and has over the past 8 years served as Family Liaison at ARISE High School, an Oakland High School and key CSCE partner school and feeder school.
Ms. Martha Candido has been a CSCE parent for 4 years, is a member of the Mills Waldorf Professional Development Certificate Program and an avid learner. Ms. Candido is self employed and currently going to school, which is an inspiration to her son and all surrounding.
Ms. Rachael Bishop, a cum laude postgraduate in psychology, is trained in Montessori teaching techniques, Piagetian cognitive psychology and child development. Rachael holds a nursing degree and a California State Teaching Credential from Sonoma State University. She became a co-founder of the Sonoma Valley Waldorf School and served as its lead teacher and board member developing the elementary grades’ program and coordinating administrative functions. Thereafter, Rachael completed her Masters in Education and acquired Waldorf certification. She served for seven years as faculty chair while teaching grades 1-4 at a private school.
In 1996, Rachael was hired to lead the Novato Charter School. As the school’s director for 16 years, Rachael implemented effective administrative systems, recruited a seasoned teaching staff, developed effective curriculum aligned with state standards, rewrote three charters, and led the efforts for three successful renewals. She coordinated fundraising efforts, secured interim facility funding to move the campus, and built a new facility while ensuring the continued successful operation of the school. Under Rachael’s direction, the Novato Charter School became a high-ranking model charter school in California and is currently operating in Marin County.
In addition, Ms. Bishop’s achievements included facilitating district agreements, negotiating a reimbursement model for Special Education services and a Proposition 39 Settlement, outstanding fiscal understanding and management, detailed and thorough evaluation of staff, attracting and retaining qualified staff and faculty, understanding charter school law and regulations, and guiding the healthy growth and development of the K-8 school.
Currently Rachael owns and operates Reimagining Education, an educational consulting firm specializing in Charter School Development and blending the Arts with best practices in schools.
