WHO WE ARE
The Board of Directors is comprised of volunteers from the parent community at Casa, as well as from the local business community. Each board member serves on a committee, which helps the board to accomplish its objectives. The Board’s role is to oversee the “big picture” in governance, working with the administration to shape, review and continually improve upon the school’s processes and policies. The goal is to support Casa’s mission through outlining its strategic plan and leading committees to navigate the work that the plan entails.
Contact the Board and Administration
The board and administration may be reached at casaboard@cemcs.org. To reach individual members, the format is the first letter of the member’s first name, followed by their last name: FLastname@cemcs.org. The school’s business address is the primary mailing address that may be used for board members.
Join the Board of Directors: Learn more if you think you’d like to become a Board member with this volunteer team of leaders or assist a Board committee with a project.
Monique Taylor, Chairperson, has been a part of the Casa family since 2012 and has enjoyed serving on the board since 2017.
Monique Taylor, Chairperson, has been a part of the Casa family since 2012 and has enjoyed serving on the board since 2017. She and her family have lived in North Carolina since 2005. Monique brings decades of experience in facilities, operations, budgets and compliance to her service at Casa and other charter school boards. She enjoys baking, volunteering, and spending quality time with her husband, three children and friends.
Seraka M. Davis, J.D., is a Senior Regulatory Compliance professional in the insurance and financial services industry.
Seraka M. Davis, J.D., Vice Chairperson, is a Senior Regulatory Compliance professional in the insurance and financial services industry. She has extensive experience in the areas of insurance producer licensing regulatory compliance, research and analysis. Prior to completing her law degree she gained banking regulatory compliance experience working in the compliance and legal departments of a large financial services institution in Arlington, VA. She currently serves as the Director of Licensing and Registration Compliance, Regulatory Affairs at RegEd, Inc. Seraka has a great interest in children’s advocacy issues; especially efforts to improve literacy and education for children of all ages. Most recently, she worked with the Readers as Leaders Program at Durham’s Partnership for Children. In furtherance of her interest in supporting efforts to improve the lives of children, Seraka has also served as a CASA, Court Appointed Special Advocate in the D.C. CASA program. Additionally, her love of travel and cultural exchange provided her with an opportunity to volunteer and live with a family in Peru while enhancing her study and fluency of the Spanish language. Seraka enjoys spending time with her wonderful husband and their four children, traveling and attending outdoor foodie events.
Alice Ward, joined the Casa family in 2017 as a member of the Board. She comes to Casa as a big fan of the Montessori method and 5 year Montessori Mom.
Alice Ward, Treasurer, joined the Casa family in 2017 as a member of the Board. She comes to Casa as a big fan of the Montessori method and 5 year Montessori Mom. She and her husband, Charlie, are empty nesters living in Cary. Their daughter Molly works at MSNBC in New York City. The recent exciting news for the family is that Molly’s team has been nominated for 2 news Emmys! Alice has previously volunteered at Raleigh Little Theatre, University of Notre Dame Women alumnae and Moore Square Middle School. Her “day job” is being an IT Manager at NetApp in RTP. Alice is honored and excited to be joining the Casa Board as it allows her to support two things she is passionate about…..children and diversity.
Jon Lee, is a financial advisor with Edward Jones. After a successful career of 25 years in technology consulting, he has devoted his second career to giving back.
Jon Lee, is a financial advisor with Edward Jones. After a successful career of 25 years in technology consulting, he has devoted his second career to giving back. As a non-parent, he has a different perspective, and yet, a vested interest in the education of children in his community. At graduation from The University of Alabama at Birmingham in 1992, he had created two businesses. Five years later, he sold his businesses and tackled various consulting opportunities involving traveling and living in many states. Jon has worked with Fortune 100 & 500 companies, various US government organizations, and several multi-national companies. He moved to Raleigh in 2001 and is proud to call Raleigh home. He and his wife, a North Carolina native, enjoy playing tennis and supporting fundraisers in the community. Jon is especially passionate about college football.
Monica Perry, has been involved in the field of veterinary medicine for more than 38 years. She earned her bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Monica Perry, has been involved in the field of veterinary medicine for more than 38 years. She earned her bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. As a Director of Veterinary Consulting Services with Burzenski & Co., PC, most of Monica’s time is spent consulting with veterinary practice owners and their teams, but she also lectures nationally and internationally. Monica has been on faculty at North Carolina State University in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics as a lecturer where she taught a Veterinary Practice Management course on the undergraduate level. Monica is an active member of the Veterinary Hospital Managers Association and VetPartners. As a member of the VetPartners organization, she is currently the President-Elect. Monica is a member of Pleasant Grove Church in Cary where she is the current Youth Director, Chair of the Marshall Brent Dixon Academic Excellence Scholarship Committee and teaches Sunday School to 9-12-year-old children. She shares her Raleigh home with her supportive and loving husband and their high school daughter who is a former student of Casa Esperanza.
Dr. Kaitlin Jackson is an Assistant Professor of Special Education at Fayetteville State University. She has previously served as a special education administrator, instructional coach, and teacher in early childhood and lower elementary classrooms.
Dr. Kaitlin Jackson is an Assistant Professor of Special Education at Fayetteville State University. She has previously served as a special education administrator, instructional coach, and teacher in early childhood and lower elementary classrooms. She and her family have lived in Wake Forest, NC since 2018, after moving from Abu Dhabi. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Social Behavior (Cum Laude) with a minor in educational studies from the University of California, Irvine; a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction specializing in special education from Louisiana State University; and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from the University of Kentucky. Dr. Jackson’s research focuses on family-centered autism supports, culturally relevant pedagogy in special education, and teacher preparation/professional development. Her academic specialty areas include literacy development in diverse and exceptional learners, accessibility and inclusivity in education, and culturally relevant and neurodiversity-affirming behavior supports. Dr. Jackson is a member of the North Carolina Reading Association and the Council for Exceptional Children, and she also serves as the Vice President of the Board of the Division for Early Childhood (DEC) of North Carolina’s Council for Exceptional Children. Dr. Jackson’s three kids all attend Casa, and she considers it a privilege and honor to serve on the Board.
