WHO WE ARE
The Casa Esperanza Leadership Team
Marilucy Amezquita
Director of Leadership & Administration
Marilucy Amezquita joined the Casa family during the 2021-2022 academic year. She brings 25 years of experience in elementary education, first as a teacher and later as an administrator. She holds Bachelors and Masters degrees, both in Elementary Education. Although born in New York, Sra. Amezquita was raised mostly in Florida. She lived in Colombia for several years, where she attended elementary school from kindergarten through third grade. Her hobbies include crocheting, paddleboarding, kayaking, and traditional archery. Together, she and her husband, Jim, have 4 adult children.
Mrs. Amezquita is the Director of Leadership & Administration and is your go-to for Teacher/Staff Supervision, weekly family communication, new parent tours, oversight of marketing and media outreach, onboarding new faculty/staff, community outreach and is the primary point of contact for the PFA. She manages all general education classroom faculty members.
Meggan Matson
Director of Student & Teacher Success
Meggan Matson came to Casa in the fall of 2021 after relocating to North Carolina from Pennsylvania. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary and Special Education and a Masters Degree in Elementary Education. While in Pennsylvania, she worked in public education for 25 years, as both an elementary and special education teacher and then as an Education Consultant, with an area of expertise in the field of behavior management. In her spare time, she coached a YMCA Swim Team with up to 100 children ages 4-18.
Sra. Matson has been married to her husband, Jack (whom she met in preschool) for 21 years and they have 2 teenage daughters. Mrs. Matson is the Director of Student & Teacher Success and is your go-to for Teacher Licensure, Professional Development, MTSS oversight, Beginning Teacher mentor program oversight, Professional Learning Community Support and onboarding new faculty/staff. She manages the School Support Services staff – Dean of Student Success, School Counselor and School Social Worker.
Wendy Pineda
Director of Academic Achievement
Wendy Pineda is starting her 10th year at Casa and has been working in education for 26 years. After she graduated with a Bachelors in Special Education, she joined the Peace Corps and lived abroad in both Ecuador and Colombia for 5 years where she met her husband, Giovanni. She is licensed in Elementary Education, English as a Second Language, and Special Education. While at Casa, Sra. Pineda has served in multiple roles including: EL Teacher, Interventionist, and Testing Coordinator. Both of her children have been at Casa in the Immersion program. She loves to read and spend time with her family.
Mrs. Pineda is the Director of Academic Achievement and is your go-to for state testing, Read to Achieve, English Learners support, World Languages, the intervention programs, summer remediation, EVAAS data and Professional Learning Communities. She manages the Reading Interventionist, Math interventionist, tutors, the EL Teacher, the Montessori Coach and Teacher Leaders.
Shaneki Cauble
Director of Finance & Operations
Shaneki Cauble joined the Casa team in September of 2021. She has been working in education for seven years specializing in Finance and Operations. She brings over 25 years of experience working in a variety of fields including customer service, construction, manufacturing production, marketing and the medical industry. Shaneki holds a Bachelor in Christian Studies and Education and a Masters in Business Administration. She has recently celebrated 20 years of marriage to her college sweetheart, CJ. They have two children, Noah and AnnMarie, that keep the family busy with football, wrestling, cheerleading and soccer. Shaneki’s favorite activity, when not trying to keep up with the family, is enjoying the beach and reading.
Mrs. Cauble is the Director of FInance & Operations. She is your go-to for budget/finance, enrollment, facilities, private program tuition, risk management/safety, data management, HR Onboarding, employee benefits and PTO, grants and insurance. She manages the Data Manager, Receptionist, BASC Coordinator, School Nurse and Custodial Staff.
Faith Boakye
Director of Exceptional Children
Faith Boakye recently joined the Casa team as the Exceptional Children’s Director. She has over 13 years of experience in special education and has served as a teacher, coordinator, and director. She has a Bachelors in Elementary and a Masters in Special Education. She is also certified in middle grades math. She has been married for just over 7 years, has 3 sons (ages 5, 4, and 2) and is expecting their daughter in the fall! Faith enjoys being outdoors and spending time with family and friends.
Mrs. Boakye is the Director of Exceptional Children and is your go-to for Special Education services, 504 services, IDEA grants, EC budget and service provider oversight. She manages the Exceptional Childrens’ Teachers and Related Service Providers.
GeRita Connor
Executive Director/Leadership Consultant
GeRita Connor has returned to Casa Esperanza after serving as Head of School for the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 school years. She is entering her 20th year as an educator with the last 11 having been in Leadership and Administration. She completed degree programs in Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Special Education and School Administration. Mrs. Connor is married to Kris and has a son Christopher who was a student at Casa Esperanza. Her fun activities of choice are shopping, being close to the ocean and organizing things! She loves the Carolina Tar Heels and competitive cheerleading.
Mrs. Connor is the Executive Director/Leadership Consultant and is your go-to for school level governance, strategic plan execution, all areas of compliance, fiscal stability and sustainability, school culture, systematic stakeholder communications, continuous academic improvement, recruitment/retention of faculty, adherence to local, state and federal mandates, policy and handbooks, scheduling and community outreach and support. She manages the Director of Leadership & Administration, the Director of Student and Teacher Success, the Director of Academic Achievement, the Director of Finance and Operations and the Director of Exceptional Children.