We are passionate about the mission of the Valley Forge Public Service Academy and its potential to serve students by fostering discipline, academic excellence, and a commitment to community. We believe our unique focus on public service can be a valuable addition to the educational landscape and will support the connection between public education and career.”
—CO-FOUNDER CHRIS MASSARO
FOUNDERS
Founding CEO Stephen Flavell M.Ed
As the Chief School Administrator for a large private education company, Steve supervised all of the company’s operations, which included 150 staff and over 1500 students. Steve was responsible for quality management, training, facility management, budgets and other operational duties. He also designed, created, and presented materials to the Pittsburgh Public Schools and Lincoln Public Schools in Nebraska. Steve designed a training curriculum for Pittsburgh that was delivered to Pittsburgh Public Schools Superintendent, Superintendent’s cabinet, and district administration. Furthermore, he has observed and provided Lincoln Public Schools with a school wide behavior plan to implement for their emotional support and emotionally disturbed populations. Success Schools maintained sites in Richmond VA, Philadelphia PA, Harrisburg PA, York PA, Pittsburgh PA and Lincoln NE.
Furthermore, Steve has also worked as independent consultant for charter schools, located in Philadelphia, PA. Steve implemented a school wide behavior plan. This resulted in a 79% reduction in suspensions and increased overall average daily attendance. Steve has facilitated trainings for numerous public and private entities, and was a presenter at the 2012 National Alternative Education Conference.
In 2013 Steve co-founded Executive Education Academy Charter School (EEACS). EEACS is a K-12 public charter school that serves students from the Lehigh Valley. The school is focused on career and work force ready initiatives. The school serves over 1400 students from over 12 school districts.
Chris Massaro
Chris Massaro, has lived in the Radnor community for over 50 years, a graduate of Radnor Senior High School and Villanova University. Chris has held positions as President of the Radnor Alumni Council, and a former Trustee of the Radnor Education Foundation. Chris started highly successful internship and entrepreneurship programs for students at Radnor High School and heads up the Radnor All Class Reunion. In addition, Chris has over 25 years of experience in executive search and human resource consulting, He is the Managing Partner at The Source Advisory and the Senior Vice President at MAECI, two boutique firms that provide strategic insight and practical solutions to critical business challenges in various sectors and regions. He has a proven track record of success in Executive Search, Investment Banking, Business Development, and overall Corporate Strategy, working with for-profit and not-for-profit organizations, independent schools, charter schools, for-profit education companies and colleges and universities.
ALAN F. WOHLSTETTER
Alan F. Wohlstetter is Founder and President of School Improvement Partnership, which supports quality charter schools throughout the country. School Improvement Partnership reports on over $2 billion of charter school bonds for the financial markets, and maintains a database of operating, academic and financial data of every charter school and CMO in 28 states through the School
Improvement Partnership Database.
Just as importantly, Alan has helped charter schools through their founding, financing and charter renewal process. He has helped finance charter schools in seven states, including the Arkansas Military and First Responders Academy in Little Rock, with funding from the Walton Family Foundation. Alan also heads the Public Finance and Charter School Groups at the law firm of Zarwin Baum DeVito Kaplan Schaer Toddy, P.C., where he specializes in bringing private sector practices appropriately to the public sector. He has been involved in over $3 billion of bond financing, for everything from the Phillies Stadium to the Pennsylvania Turnpike to Lehigh University.
BOARD MEMBERS
Board President Matthew D. Kass
Matthew D. Kass, Board President, is a dedicated education professional with over 20 years experience in administrative leadership and program management in alternative education. He focuses on creating learning environments that empower student success.
Matthew holds a Bachelor of Arts from the Virginia Military Institute, where he built a strong foundation in leadership. Since joining The Camelot Schools in Pennsylvania in 2005, he has taken on multiple key roles, including Vice President of Operations since April 2010. His prior positions include directing both Camelot Academy and Excel Academy, where he developed effective educational strategies and managed school operations. With a deep passion for education, Matthew continues to advocate for alternative educational models that prioritize student success and well-being.
Dr. Kimberly Blake
Dr. Kimberly Blake is an education consultant, dedicated to partnering with districts, leaders, and teachers to enhance instructional quality. She believes that the most effective teachers possess a deep understanding of the content they teach, and she is passionate about building instructional leaders to support this vision. She is a staunch advocate for early literacy, achieving measurable impacts at schools and networks nationwide.
Most recently, Dr. Blake served as the Regional Schools Officer at Mastery Schools, overseeing a portfolio of schools in Philadelphia, PA, and Camden, NJ. During her tenure, she focused on providing supervision and support to principals and leadership teams to enhance instructional programming. Schools she supported saw considerable academic gains under her leadership.
She served as the Principal of a Bilingual Elementary School, Executive Bilingual Coach at American Reading Company, Adjunct Professor at Temple University, and Bilingual Educator with the School District of Philadelphia.
Board Treasurer Michelle Thornton
Michelle Thornton, Founder and Managing Member of Thornton Group Financial Services, LLC, has over 20 years of experience in tax, accounting, and business management services. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance and a Master of Science in Accounting from Drexel University. She also holds a certificate from the Harvard Graduate School of Education for Educational leadership.
Since 1998, the mission of the Thornton Group has been to educate, develop, and support organizations and individuals by meeting their financial objectives. The Thornton Group has serviced clients in various industries, including education, sports, and other profit and non-profit entities. Michelle is most known for her work in the area of fiscal turn-around for educational organizations.
Chris Massaro
Chris Massaro, has lived in the Radnor community for over 50 years, a graduate of Radnor Senior High School and Villanova University. Chris has held positions as President of the Radnor Alumni Council, and a former Trustee of the Radnor Education Foundation. Chris started highly successful internship and entrepreneurship programs for students at Radnor High School and heads up the Radnor All Class Reunion. In addition, Chris has over 25 years of experience in executive search and human resource consulting, He is the Managing Partner at The Source Advisory and the Senior Vice President at MAECI, two boutique firms that provide strategic insight and practical solutions to critical business challenges in various sectors and regions. He has a proven track record of success in Executive Search, Investment Banking, Business Development, and overall Corporate Strategy, working with for-profit and not-for-profit organizations, independent schools, charter schools, for-profit education companies and colleges and universities.
BOARD ADVISORS
TIM DUNN
Tim Dunn is a seasoned executive search leader and former U.S. Army Officer with deep expertise in identifying transformative talent for private equity-backed, middle-market businesses. As a Partner at Leathwaite, he focuses on placing CEOs, CFOs, COOs, and CROs across industrial, services, and consumer sectors within PE. Previously, he was a Partner at Morgan Samuels, where he led high-impact searches for companies undergoing carve-outs, leadership transitions, and value creation initiatives. Earlier in his career, Tim served as President of a CPG eCommerce company and held commercial leadership roles at Johnson & Johnson’s DePuy Synthes Spine Division.
A decorated Army veteran, he led over 200 combat operations in Iraq and earned the Bronze Star. Tim holds a BS in Law and Systems Engineering from West Point, where he was a football team captain, and an MBA from The Wharton School. He lives in the Greater Philadelphia area with his wife, Nicole, and their four children, and remains active in his community as a church leader, youth football coach, and mentor for transitioning veterans through American Corporate Partners.
BRETT WADE
Brett O. Wade II is the CEO and founder of Cottage Seven Education, a Pennsylvania-based company that operates private schools for alternative and special education. With over a decade of experience in education management, he has worked as a program director and chief school director at organizations including Catapult Learning and Specialized Education Services Inc.
Wade founded Cottage Seven in 2017 to create inclusive educational placements and provide consulting services to school districts, developing programs such as a "Suspension Elimination Program" aimed at improving school culture and academic outcomes. He holds a master's degree in Education and a Principalship certification from Penn State University.
David de la Rosa
David De La Rosa is a student at the University of Pennsylvania with a background in education, public service, and community engagement. Born and raised in the Lehigh Valley, he is a proud graduate of a Pennsylvania charter school, where he played an active role in student leadership, clubs, and advisory initiatives alongside school administrators. He currently serves as a Learning Assistant in the College of Arts & Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania, supporting student learning and course instruction. David’s experiences as a student leader led him to civic and community work, including service with the Allentown City Council of Youth, where he collaborated with city and school district leaders, including the mayor and superintendent, to identify key challenges facing youth across Allentown and present actionable solutions.
He also interned with the Pennsylvania State Senate, supporting legislative research and constituent outreach, and worked as a Community Engagement Intern with Penn Libraries, partnering with K–8 schools in the School District of Philadelphia to strengthen literacy and learning programs. He maintains close ties to the region and to the values that shaped his own educational journey, bringing a thoughtful and informed perspective to the board.
Dr. Aqueelah Ellzy
David de la rosa
Dr. Aqueelah ellzy
Jason Smedley, U.S. Marine Corps
Dr. Deborah Stern
Megan Habbershon, LCSW
Megan Habbershon, LCSW
Dr. Aqueelah Ellzy is a school administrator in the Bensalem Township School District. With over 20 years of experience in education, she has served as a teacher and school leader, focusing on inclusive practices, data-informed instruction, and culturally responsive leadership. She has led initiatives in MTSS, PBIS, and teacher development with a consistent emphasis on building strong school communities where every student can learn, lead, and thrive. Dr. Ellzy earned her doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania, where her research examined how educators develop critical consciousness within complex school systems.
This work reflects her belief that cultivating awareness, empathy, and moral purpose in both students and educators lays the foundation for authentic leadership and public service. She is honored to serve as an advisor to Valley Forge Public Service Academy Charter School and to support its vision of developing confident, service-minded leaders prepared to contribute meaningfully to their communities.
Jason Smedley, U.S. Marine Corps
Lieutenant Colonel Jason Smedley is a native of Little Rock, Arkansas. His Marine Corps career spans 25+ years of continued service and extensive experience in joint,
combined, and interagency environments. LtCol Smedley’s assignments include civil-military operations in deployed combat environments, shaping Marine Corps policy at the Office of Legislative Affairs and the Marine Corps Reserve Policy Board, directing joint exercises as the notional Logistics Command Element Commander, advising and training partner-nation forces as a Foreign Security Advisor, and leading Marines as a Company and Squadron Commander.
LtCol Smedley is currently the Executive Officer with Marine Corps Advisor Company-Alpha and a Logistics Liaison Officer for Northern Command. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Howard University, master’s degree from American Military University, and a juris doctorate from the William H. Bowen School of Law. He is also certified
as a Professional Community and Economic Developer. Recently, he was selected to attend the Dwight D. Eisenhower School of National Security and Resource Strategy in 2026.
LtCol Smedley’s civilian career includes two decades of state and national policy experience as a U.S. Senate staffer for Senator Lincoln and Senator Pryor, and a Military Liaison for Governor Beebe. He recently served as the Commandant of the Arkansas Military and First Responders Academy and a Commissioner for the Arkansas Veterans Commission. He is married to Kelly Smedley and the proud father of Isis, Jayden, Mariah and Ella Smedley.
Dr. Deborah Stern
Deborah Stern (B.A. Swarthmore College, M.A.T. University of Chicago, PhD. University of Pennsylvania) brings years of experience in urban schools, first as an NCTE award-winning middle and high school English teacher in Chicago, and later as a teacher, researcher, charter school administrator, and education consultant in Philadelphia. Her writing and work in the classroom have been profiled and published in numerous professional journals and books. Deborah was a co-founder at Mastery Charter Schools and served there as the first Director of Education.
Since leaving Mastery, she has worked as a subcontractor with Children's Literacy Initiative, Bloom Planning, and School Improvement Partnership, and as an independent contractor providing a variety of education services, including instructional coaching, school design, program audit, hiring, and curriculum. Her areas of professional focus include understanding students’ struggles with motivation, deeper learning, and accountability in urban schools.
Megan Habbershon, LCSW
Megan began her career in child welfare in Philadelphia before transitioning to school systems as a School Social Worker in 2010. She served in this role until 2015, when she moved to Camden, New Jersey, to open a K–12 full-time emotional support program for Camelot Education.
During her tenure with Camelot, Megan also served as a consultant for the organization’s Capacity Enhancement Team, supporting districts in Linden, NJ, and Rochester, NY. In addition, she conducted Special Education compliance reviews for programs in Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
Megan has held multiple leadership positions in Special Education, including Director and Principal for Camelot Education, Assistant Director of Specialized Services for Mastery Schools, and, most recently, Director of Emotional Support--Alternative Programming for Mastery Schools.
David De La Rosa is a student at the University of Pennsylvania with a background in education, public service, and community engagement. Born and raised in the Lehigh Valley, he is a proud graduate of a Pennsylvania charter school, where he played an active role in student leadership, clubs, and advisory initiatives alongside school administrators. He currently serves as a Learning Assistant in the College of Arts & Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania, supporting student learning and course instruction. David’s experiences as a student leader led him to civic and community work, including service with the Allentown City Council of Youth, where he collaborated with city and school district leaders, including the mayor and superintendent, to identify key challenges facing youth across Allentown and present actionable solutions.
He also interned with the Pennsylvania State Senate, supporting legislative research and constituent outreach, and worked as a Community Engagement Intern with Penn Libraries, partnering with K–8 schools in the School District of Philadelphia to strengthen literacy and learning programs. He maintains close ties to the region and to the values that shaped his own educational journey, bringing a thoughtful and informed perspective to the board.
Dr. Aqueelah Ellzy is a school administrator in the Bensalem Township School District. With over 20 years of experience in education, she has served as a teacher and school leader, focusing on inclusive practices, data-informed instruction, and culturally responsive leadership. She has led initiatives in MTSS, PBIS, and teacher development with a consistent emphasis on building strong school communities where every student can learn, lead, and thrive. Dr. Ellzy earned her doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania, where her research examined how educators develop critical consciousness within complex school systems.
This work reflects her belief that cultivating awareness, empathy, and moral purpose in both students and educators lays the foundation for authentic leadership and public service. She is honored to serve as an advisor to Valley Forge Public Service Academy Charter School and to support its vision of developing confident, service-minded leaders prepared to contribute meaningfully to their communities.
Lieutenant Colonel Jason Smedley is a native of Little Rock, Arkansas. His Marine Corps career spans 25+ years of continued service and extensive experience in joint, combined, and interagency environments. LtCol Smedley’s assignments include civil-military operations in deployed combat environments, shaping Marine Corps policy at the Office of Legislative Affairs and the Marine Corps Reserve Policy Board, directing joint exercises as the notional Logistics Command Element Commander, advising and training partner-nation forces as a Foreign Security Advisor, and leading Marines as a Company and Squadron Commander.
LtCol Smedley is currently the Executive Officer with Marine Corps Advisor Company-Alpha and a Logistics Liaison Officer for Northern Command.
He holds a bachelor’s degree from Howard University, master’s degree from American Military
University, and a juris doctorate from the William H. Bowen School of Law. He is also certified as a Professional Community and Economic Developer. Recently, he was selected to attend the Dwight D. Eisenhower School of National Security and Resource Strategy in 2026.
LtCol Smedley’s civilian career includes two decades of state and national policy experience as a
U.S. Senate staffer for Senator Lincoln and Senator Pryor, and a Military Liaison for Governor Beebe. He recently served as the Commandant of the Arkansas Military and First Responders Academy and a Commissioner for the Arkansas Veterans Commission. He is married to Kelly Smedley and the proud father of Isis, Jayden, Mariah and Ella Smedley.
Deborah Stern (B.A. Swarthmore College, M.A.T. University of Chicago, PhD. University of Pennsylvania) brings years of experience in urban schools, first as an NCTE award-winning middle and high school English teacher in Chicago, and later as a teacher, researcher, charter school administrator, and education consultant in Philadelphia. Her writing and work in the classroom have been profiled and published in numerous professional journals and books. Deborah was a co-founder at Mastery Charter Schools and served there as the first Director of Education.
Since leaving Mastery, she has worked as a subcontractor with Children's Literacy Initiative, Bloom Planning, and School Improvement Partnership, and as an independent contractor providing a variety of education services, including instructional coaching, school design, program audit, hiring, and curriculum. Her areas of professional focus include understanding students’ struggles with motivation, deeper learning, and accountability in urban schools.
Megan began her career in child welfare in Philadelphia before transitioning to school systems as a School Social Worker in 2010. She served in this role until 2015, when she moved to Camden, New Jersey, to open a K–12 full-time emotional support program for Camelot Education.
During her tenure with Camelot, Megan also served as a consultant for the organization’s Capacity Enhancement Team, supporting districts in Linden, NJ, and Rochester, NY. In addition, she conducted Special Education compliance reviews for programs in Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
Megan has held multiple leadership positions in Special Education, including Director and Principal for Camelot Education, Assistant Director of Specialized Services for Mastery Schools, and, most recently, Director of Emotional Support--Alternative Programming for Mastery Schools.
Megan began her career in child welfare in Philadelphia before transitioning to school systems as a School Social Worker in 2010. She served in this role until 2015, when she moved to Camden, New Jersey, to open a K–12 full-time emotional support program for Camelot Education.
During her tenure with Camelot, Megan also served as a consultant for the organization’s Capacity Enhancement Team, supporting districts in Linden, NJ, and Rochester, NY. In addition, she conducted Special Education compliance reviews for programs in Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
Megan has held multiple leadership positions in Special Education, including Director and Principal for Camelot Education, Assistant Director of Specialized Services for Mastery Schools, and, most recently, Director of Emotional Support--Alternative Programming for Mastery Schools.