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Camden & Philadelphia Team

Acelero Learning recruits the highest quality staff possible.

Our team is the best equipped to serve your children, your family, and your community. We are proud to say that all of our teachers have an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or equivalent and our senior leadership team is comprised of experts in education, health, finance, and operations. Our board of directors is made up of respected community leaders, educators, attorneys, financial managers, and Head Start parents.

Senior Leadership Team

Curtis Saxton is the Vice President, Acelero Learning Head Start. Curtis joined Acelero in 2014. He brings to Acelero Learning a wealth of analytic experience honed in several private sector firms as well as at the School District of Philadelphia. He holds an AB Degree from Princeton’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, and an M.Div from Westminster Theological Seminary.

 

Khristina Barnes joined Acelero Learning in September 2023 as the Director of Finance.  She obtained her Masters of Science in Accounting 2010. In 2022, she obtained her Certification as a Non-Profit Accountant. For 17 years, she was an Auditor for the City of Philadelphia Office of City Controllers and a Budget Analyst Supervisor for Philadelphia Health Department.  From 2020 to 2023, Khristina worked as a Controller for Gwynedd Mercy University and Caring People Alliance.  During her tenure at Caring People Alliance, Khristina prepared and monitored grant activity for Head Start, Pre-K Counts, and the Child and Adult Food Program in addition to providing fiscal oversight of the finance department. She is committed to helping young children achieve their potential.

Joelle Fyke joined Acelero Learning Camden/Philadelphia (ALCP)  in November of 2012 as a Center Director in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The following year, Joelle transferred to our largest center in Camden, New Jersey to manage and coach additional classrooms as well as collaborate with the Camden City School District. From there Joelle continued to grow with the organization and was promoted to an Early Learning Inclusion Specialist, directly overseeing three Center Directors. In this dual role position Joelle was able to coach and support the professional development of each Center Director and the education team under them, as well as support the teachers, children and families in an inclusive setting. In continuing to grow with the organization, Joelle accepted the Director of Education position for Camden, New Jersey in September of 2023. In her current role, Joelle assists to expand the support, development, and services of nine centers across Camden City, Lindenwold, Clementon and Berlin in collaboration with respective school districts in New Jersey. Prior to working with ALCP, Joelle worked as a Head Start Education Coordinator and Head Start Teacher. She was also a School Based Behavioral Health Worker and Therapeutic Staff Support for children with autism, behavioral and mental health disorders.

Annette Lewis is Acelero Learning Camden/Philadelphia’s Human Resources Business Partner. She has worked in Education in Philadelphia for over 15 years, starting as an Administrative Assistant. She has an Associate of Science degree in Business Administration and a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Human Resource Management. She is Certified Professional through SHRM (Society for Human Resources). Annette began her career at Acelero Learning as a Recruiter/Human Resources Generalist in 2015. She has moved into successive roles through the organization and transitioned into the HRBP role in 2021.

Luz Padilla  joined Acelero Learning in  January of 2014 as a Center Director in Philadelphia. Four years later, in 2017  Luz became an Early Learning Inclusion Specialist directly overseeing 3 Center Directors in Camden. In 2022 Luz transition from Camden to Philadelphia as a Early Learning Inclusion Specialist. In this dual role position Luz was able to coach and support the professional development of each Center Director and the education team under them as well as support the teachers, children and families in an inclusive setting. In continuing to grow with the organization, Luz accepted the Director of Education position for Philadelphia  in September of 2023 to expand the support, development, and services of 7 centers. Prior to working with ALCP, Luz worked as a  Head Start Teacher and then as a  Education Coordinator for ten years.

Michelle joined Acelero Learning in 2010 as the disabilities coordinator.  Michelle has been promoted to several other positions during her time with the program, she has served as the Director of Disabilities and Mental Health, Zone Director, Director of Monitoring and Compliance and currently holds the position of Director of Operations.  Michelle has worked in Head Start programming for many years…years not to mention.  Before returning back to Acelero Learning after a one year hiatus she worked in supporting communities serving as a Mental Health professional in a City of Philadelphia initiated program called CIRT (Crisis Intervention Response Team) which pairs a mental health professional with a Philadelphia police officer to respond to deployed calls from the Philadelphia Crisis Line.  This work was to support the de-escalation of intense engagements involving individuals within the community that were in an active mental health crisis. The mental health professional supported active listening and assessment, while the police officer supported the safety aspect of the individual and community at large.  Michelle has a Masters Degree in Human Services and a degree in Early Childhood Education.

Jessica Yambo became Acelero Learning Camden/Philadelphia Director of Health & Family Services in July 2019. Jessica first started her career at Acelero Learning in 2008 as a Home Based Teacher, and has worked in a variety of roles in the company. Jessica is committed to the health and well being of all children. She sits on a variety of committees and volunteers in the community to build partnerships and collaborations to better support children and families.


Board of Directors

Originally from Clarksburg, West Virginia, Ms. Jones is a recent addition to the Philadelphia area. After graduating from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 2007, she moved to Philadelphia to work for Pepper Hamilton, LLP. During law school, she was recognized for her demonstrated commitment to pro bono work through her work with the Allegheny County Public Defender’s Office, an externship with Neighborhood Legal Services, and her participation in the Health Law Clinic. Previously, she deferred law school for two years to accept a position as an elementary school teacher in Detroit with the Teach for America program. Ms. Jones graduated from Allegheny College in 2002 .

 

Jen Brozoski currently serves as Assistant Director of Literacy and Wheatley Implementation Lead for Mastery Charter Network. Prior to joining the team at Mastery, she served as an Intervention Specialist and School Leader for the Camden City School District. Jen has dedicated her professional career to supporting high-quality educational opportunities for students in the former Abbott districts in New Jersey. Jen completed the National Principals Academy Fellowship at Relay Graduate School of Education in 2018. Jen obtained her BA from Rutgers University, and her MS in Educational Leadership in Administration from Capella University. She is certified as an early childhood educator, special education teacher, and principal. When Jen is not supporting the implementation of the KIPP Wheatley literacy curriculum for Mastery’s network of over 14,000 students, she enjoys cooking, traveling, and spending time with her daughter.

George was a parent in the Acelero Learning Camden/Philadelphia program for three years. During his time with the program, he was an extremely active parent and volunteered regularly. He was elected by parents to serve as President of his local center and the Chair of the entire delegate’s Policy Committee governance board. Once his child moved on to kindergarten he continued to serve on the Policy Committee as a community representative for an additional two years. Since then George has continued to stay in contact with the program leadership and is always willing to support the program when needed.

Keith R. Harris is recently retired as the Acelero Learning Camden/Philadelphia Director of Finance. He is a degreed financial professional with over 35 years of experience in both the “for profit”, and “not for profit”, business sectors. His vocational background includes working with federally grant funded non-profits, and most recently 6 years specifically in the Head Start sector.

Ms. Robb is a lifelong resident of Camden, New Jersey, having lived in the city for over 45 years. Pamela is a decorated veteran and recipient of the Martin Luther King Freedom Medal. Her dedication and commitment to Camden is shown in the numerous boards and association in which she faithfully serves.