FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 1, 2022
CONTACT: Kimberly Aguilar, (805) 341-4689
THOUSAND OAKS, CA – Compass Charter Schools (Compass) Board of Directors announces the election of two new board members, Dr. Isaac Olvera and Dr. William Stinde, and the appointment of parent representative, Samantha Herrod, following their Annual Meeting on Saturday, June 25.
“We are honored to have Dr. Olvera and Dr. Stinde join our Board of Directors, and Mrs. Herrod join as our parent representative,” shares Compass Superintendent & CEO J.J. Lewis. “Dr. Olvera brings his many years of dedication to education, passion for charter schools, and expertise as a changemaker to the Compass board. Dr. Stinde brings years of business expertise, serving as a CFO, working as a university professor, and his continual pursuit of education, earning an Executive MBA and Ph.D. And Mrs. Herrod brings her creativity, fine art background, expertise as a Compass learning coach, and experience in education and marketing. We look forward to their unique contributions in supporting the operation and growth of the educational opportunities we provide scholars at Compass.”
Dr. Olvera has been an educational leader in Southern California for the past nine years. He currently serves as an instructional coach at Environmental Charter Middle Schools in Inglewood. His primary responsibility includes ensuring high-quality instruction occurs within the classroom setting on a schoolwide basis.
Olvera frequently facilitates professional development for teachers related to supporting all students and identifying additional resources required for English language learners and students with special needs. Additionally, Isaac runs “Achievement Academy” as a tier 2/3 support for students who require more assistance outside the classroom setting.
Before his role at Environmental Charter Schools, Isaac served as a course lead for 10-grade English language arts and dance director at Centinela Valley Unified School District. He has also worked in different administrative capacities, such as a data lead for the American Sign Language Academy, a teacher representative on the school site council, and an administrative designee for summer school at Lawndale High School.
Olvera is part of the Long Beach District’s Future Administrators Program, which supports equity-focused educational leaders who hope to improve the quality of schools for all students and aims to increase capacity within educational leaders to continue supporting student academic achievement. Olvera completed his doctoral coursework at the University of Southern California for the Ed.D program in K-12 Educational Leadership in May of 2022.
Olvera shares, “I’m both honored and thrilled to support the positive and transformative work of Compass Charter Schools. Their mission and vision of creativity, innovation, and fostering self-directed learners are just some of the incredible facets that comprise Compass Charter Schools. I look forward to bringing my knowledge of scholar-centered instruction to assist with the work ahead.”
Dr. Stinde has worked as controller and chief financial officer as well as university professor (associate, assistant, and adjunct) of accounting and business to undergraduate and MBA students. He has held senior corporate management positions in construction, consumer products, advertising, transportation, manufacturing, mining, home building, real estate development, and portfolio management in the states and internationally.
Stinde has additionally served on start-up boards in manufacturing and entertainment, as well as CFO and corporate secretary attending all board meetings of a mature public corporation originally formed in 1906. He has also served on non-profit boards, including the Alumni Association of Pepperdine University and the Executive Planning Board of the 60,000 strong Institute of Management Accountants.
Stinde is an active member of the Institute of Certified Management Accountants (ICMA) Planning Committee. This special committee was responsible for developing the plan for growth which changed the Institute from a domestic institute to a worldwide “brand.” The IMA now has a significant presence in China, the Middle East and Europe. Stinde’s educational background includes an Executive MBA and a Ph.D. in business and public policy.
Stinde shares, “I have spent more than a dozen years on the front lines of education, teaching highly motivated and occasionally less motivated students. In my research and experience with Compass Charter Schools, I am looking forward to serving on the board. I believe that I can add something unique to the organization and learn from Compass’ gold standard in virtual and personalized education.”
Ms. Herrod is a proud parent of a scholar at Compass. She holds two bachelor’s degrees in fine arts from the University of San Francisco and the California College of the Arts. She has had the pleasure of being a paraprofessional and instructional aide for the Los Angeles Unified School District. Also during that time, Herrod had the honor of being an individualized tutor for a South Los Angeles school, Locke High School, in their math program called Mother of Many.
For the past eight years, Herrod has dedicated her time to educating her son, who is a Compass scholar and is on his way to high school. They are very loud and proud! Herrod also teaches a variety of art classes, one being art therapy, in which she instructs those experiencing homelessness and/or suffering from mental illness for a non-profit in South Los Angeles. Herrod also has experience in marketing and customer service.
Herrod grew up in Los Angeles, where she got her love for art and education from her family. Her first experience in education was at her grandmother’s daycare, where she was guided to instruct young children in primary learning. This led her to teach her first art class for the Star Program at Fairburn Elementary.
Herrod shares, “It has always been important for me to represent children and always to allow them to have their own voice. I have been privileged to continue this service as a member of the Parent Advisory Council for the past four years. I am honored and proud to represent my Compass Family.”
To learn more about the Board of Directors, visit https://www.compasscharters.org/about-us/board-of-directors/.
About Compass Charter Schools
Compass Charter Schools is a WASC-accredited virtual personalized learning public charter school serving thousands of scholars throughout California. Catering to TK-12 grade scholars, Compass offers two personalized learning programs. Compass is committed to creating a collaborative virtual learning community, inspiring scholars to appreciate the ways in which arts and sciences nurture a curiosity for lifelong learning and preparing scholars to take responsibility for their future successes.
For more information, visit About Compass, and follow us on social media via Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.