National Office

School Development Team
Includes Small Schools Project & Research

Prior to joining our staff, Mara Benitez served as the Executive Director of Alternative Education for the Oakland Unified School District. As part of her charge she helped to launch new small schools and programs that presently serve at-risk youth. Ms. Benitez taught humanities at several CES schools in New York City and she directed a small CES alternative high school in the South Bronx. Ms. Benitez holds a MS in educational leadership with an emphasis on alternative education and youth development and is a graduate of the Principal’s Institute at Bank Street College of Education.

Jay Feldman, M.Ed., Ph.D., has conducted research in child development, whole school change, forms of democratic and equitable schooling, and alternative education. His interests include the educative functions of play and age-mixing, children's moral development, and understandings of race and diversity. Prior to CES, Jay worked at the Center for Collaborative Education, the CES regional affiliate in Boston.

Gwenyth joined CES National Small Schools Project in 2005. She brings more than five years experience working in the non-profit field as a Development & Marketing Associate, Executive Assistant and Office Manager. Prior to entering the non-profit world, Gwenyth lived in Ilsan, South Korea teaching English as a Foreign Language to youth and adults, and she spent two of her early college years teaching preschool. Her most important work, however, is as a single mother to her daughter, Asha Raven.

Kyle Meador joined CES as a Program Associate in April 2007. He brings with him a wide range of experience including teaching high school English and Social Science, coaching for educational equity and whole school reform, program management for college access and success partnerships, developing service-learning partnerships between universities and public schools, and supporting young people with opportunities to learn from and become active participants in hip-hop art and culture. Kyle holds a M.A. in Ethnic Studies with an emphasis on multicultural education and community development from California State University, Sacramento.

An Oakland native, Demetria got involved in social justice issues through working to interrupt the cycle of violence in her community. After graduating high school, Demetria launched student Conflict Resolution programs throughout Oakland public schools. Through this program she created a Violence Prevention class and harnessed skills in student organizing, and youth development. In partnership with Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums, she went on to launch a citywide community based mediation program through Senator Don Perata’s Violence Prevention Initiative. Demetria studied as a Pre-Law major and is currently pursuing an MBA at Mills College.

Before joining CES Su was the Program Assistant at First 5 California, which is a county wide organization that fosters the mental and physical well being of children and their families. She also taught art and physical education at various elementary schools in the Sacramento Area as an after school teacher. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Bachelor of Science in Human Development from the University of California Davis.