Board of Directors

 

The Board of Directors of Synergy Academies includes individuals who have a variety of knowledge and success in organizational leadership and public education, including professional experience relevant to Synergy’s mission:

 

Brenda Andrade Rounds, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Chemistry at California State University, Los Angeles. Throughout Dr. Andrade's career as a research scientist and scholar, she has trained and mentored students pursuing their careers in science. Being a first-generation college student and discovering the challenges of reaching her career goals without guidance made her determined to improve the path for future generations of scientists and give back to underserved and underrepresented communities in STEM. Term expires 06/30/26.

 

Marc Bauer, Attorney, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, LLP. Marc is a public finance attorney based in Los Angeles who has worked on many facilities financing transactions for charter schools. Term expires 06/30/25.

 

Ana Chavez, Chief Operating Officer, Value Schools. Ana has over two decades of experience as an educational leader. She began her career as a high school math and science teacher at Soledad Enrichment Action, before transitioning to Value Schools to teach 7th grade. She has held various leadership roles within the Value Schools network, including Assistant Principal, Principal, Attendance Specialist, Interim CEO, and her current role of COO. She holds a BS in Psychology from the UCLA, and an MA in Education with an Administrative Credential from California State University, Sacramento. Her dedication to supporting students and families in inner-city schools remains a driving force in her career. Term expires 06/30/26.

 

Danette Garcia, Director of Community and Government Affairs, Office of Los Angeles City Attorney. Driven by passion for her community, Danette has volunteered and worked for local government, non-profits, and local businesses in South Central LA. In her current role, Danette is involved in district affairs, connecting and collaborating with community members. She holds a BA in Political Science and a Minor in Labor Studies from UCLA. As a South LA resident and a Synergy alumna, Danette brings a relatable perspective and a desire to empower Synergy students and staff. Term expires 06/30/26.

 

Erik Hagstrom, Director of Real Estate, KIPP SoCal Public Schools. Erik has extensive experience in charter school real estate, managing the entitlement and construction of build-to-suit charter school facilities in both Washington State and California. He also served as the Director of Real Estate for a national engineering firm, where he oversaw the acquisition and asset management of a portfolio of owner-occupied real estate investments. Erik has an MBA from the Marshall School of Business at USC, a BA in Architecture from UC Berkeley, and has experience as a licensed real estate salesperson in California. Term expires 06/30/26.

 

John Holman, Investment Professional. John has over 12 years of transaction experience as an investor, investment banker, and corporate attorney. He has worked on numerous transactions involving companies across many different industries and growth stages. John was most recently a Partner at Architect Capital, where he co-led the firm’s investment activities and strategic initiatives. Prior to Architect, John worked at Victory Park Capital, Houlihan Lokey, and Latham & Watkins. Term expires 06/30/25.

 

Maria Manzanares, Associate Director of Student-Faculty Programs, Caltech. Maria has over twenty years of experience creating and implementing innovative programs that enhance the academic and professional success of students and faculty in STEM fields, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds. Providing a solid vision and passion for improving the quality and accessibility of higher education and STEM success, she provides strategic planning, development, administration, and evaluation of various student-faculty programs, including undergraduate research, graduate recruitment & retention, and DEI initiatives. Maria was raised in South LA and is a doctoral candidate in Higher Education Leadership. Term expires 06/30/26.

 

Edward ‘Ted’ Morris (Chair), Executive Director, Collegiate Charter High School of Los Angeles. Ted began his career in education teaching in South Los Angeles and has worked as an elementary and middle school teacher and a charter school founder and leader for over 25 years. He was a Building Excellent Schools Fellow and founded Futuro Prep Elementary School, which merged with Endeavor College Prep to become a K-8 charter school that is now part of KIPP SoCal. Ted has extensive experience in all aspects of charter school governance, finance, compliance, operations, and instructional leadership. He holds a dual degree in Economics and Japanese from Claremont McKenna College and a Masters in School Administration from UCLA’s Principal Leadership Institute. Term expires 06/30/25.

 

David Niemeyer, Partner, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP.  David’s practice is focused on mergers and acquisitions, private equity, corporate governance and general corporate matters. He represents clients in a variety of U.S. and cross-border transactions across an array of industries, including apparel, beauty, consumer products, energy, entertainment, fintech, food & beverage, gaming, media, retail and sports, among others. David is a firm believer in the importance of pro bono and has historically devoted time to the Innocence Project, a legal organization committed to criminal justice reform, as well as Homeboy Industries and Allies for Every Child, among many others. He is also a member of both the Executive Committee of the Business Law Section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association and the Board of Governors of the USC Gould School of Law – LACBA Corporate Law Departments Section Institute for Corporate Counsel.  He received an undergraduate degree in Political Science (with a minor in Business Administration) from Loyola Marymount University, where he was also a four year Division 1 soccer player, and a law degree from the USC Gould School of Law. Term expires 06/30/26.

 

Nazareth Riquelme, Coordinator of Literacy and Language, Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District. Nazareth has worked in education in Los Angeles for nearly 20 years with the guiding belief that the commitment we make to students, teachers, leaders, and schools is critically important in shaping a world that reflects the values of equity of access and opportunity for all. In her current role, she supports the implementation of effective instructional practices across the K-12 grade spans. She has served as a school leader in local charter schools and as an adjunct professor of early literacy with Loyola Marymount University. Nazareth initially began her work in education as a Teach For America teacher in the inner city of Los Angeles. Term expires 06/30/26.

 

Charlie Seo, Ed.D., Director of Alignment and Growth at Larchmont Charter School. Charlie has dedicated his career to education, which he started as a high school chemistry teacher. He is driven by the vision to care for each student that comes through his schools, pushing them to accomplish more than they thought they could. He moved into administration to create systems that promote equity and excellence, so that every student might have access to opportunities and tools to achieve. Term expires 06/30/26.