The lead petitioners of the Isaac Newton International Academy forms a large bandwidth of experience in curriculum, instruction, assessment, finance, facilities, business management, governance, and administration. As parents, educators and supporters of both the Redlands Unified School District and the public education system in general, we believe wholeheartedly our children deserve nothing less than the best education possible, even in an era of limited financial resources and standardization, and it is possible to do so within the same system that promotes competition, opportunity and choice. This Charter Proposal is intended to provide parents and students with an alternative, or "school of choice." The lead petitioners represent the will and mobilization of parents and students, and parents will form the first and single most important line of governance in the Academy learning community. The Academy will strive to build partnerships with other educational institutions, with business and community leaders, for it is in working together we can design, manage and enrich the best educational opportunities possible for our children.
1) Mr. Robert Christensen, Independent Financial Planning and Mortgage Education Consultant, American Financial Funding; Licensed Real Estate Agent eBroker, Founding Teacher Board Member of the IBPYP International School Wiesbaden, Germany; IB Presentation and Coordination, International School Neuchatel, Switzerland; BA in Spanish, Cal-State Univ, San Bernardino; MA in Educational Leadership and Spanish, Univ of Calif, Riverside; California Licensed Teacher, Prof Clear MS Teaching Credential; School Board Member, Loma Linda Academy. Mr. Christensen brings a wealth of knowledge in utilizing best practice, constructivist methodologies with second language learners in differing environments. He brings significant experience in school oversight, IB implementation, curriculum design, teacher mentoring, community involvement and business entrepreneurial skills.
2) Dr. Len Cooper, Marketing Director World Financial Group, Ontario; Administrator and Elementary School Principal, San Bernardino City Unified; BA in Business Administration, Univ of California, Riverside; MA in Educational Leadership, Cal-State Univ, San Bernardino; MA in Education, Claremont Graduate School; PhD in Urban Educational Leadership, Claremont Colleges; Professional Administrative Services Credential; California Licensed Teacher, Prof Clear MS Teaching Credential. Dr. Cooper is a firm proponent of principled leadership, accountability, student and teacher empowerment and life skills development. Dr. Cooper brings a wealth of human resource and management experience, as well as coaching and personnel development.
3) Mr. Sam Dahlgren, Computer Systems Analyst and Consultant; Loma Linda University Medical Center, Administrator Computer Information Systems; Lead Technology Administrator, LLUMC Heart Center; BS Computer Science Cal-State San Bernardino. Mr. Dahlgren is a Redlands resident and District parent of two children. In addition to his advanced computer technology background, Mr. Dahlgren brings substantial financial planning and budgetary expertise, problem solving skills, values centered leadership and significant management experience.
4) Dr Kathryn Lindholm-Leary, published author, presenter and renowned expert on Dual Language Immersion and Bilingual Education. Professor of Child and Adolescent Development, San Jose State University Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology, UCLA; Consultant and Program Evaluator; Dr. Lindholm-Leary brings an unsurpassed in-depth knowledge of Dual Language Immersion programs, program implementation, evaluation and data analysis. She has the most comprehensive longitudinal data on bilingual students, and students in DLI programs in the country, and has shared her passion for science and truth in the instruction of literacy and literacy skills, serving as a consultant to the US Department of Education, various state Departments of Education, the California Department of Education and numerous County Offices of Education, including the San Bernardino COE.
5) Mr. Jan Melgar, Administrator CAPUSA; Elementary School Principal, Lima, Peru; BS in Education, Peruvian Union University; MA in Educational Administration, Universidad Federico Villareal. Mr. Melgar is a Loma Linda resident and District parent of two children. In addition to his international perspectives regarding instruction and learning, Mr. Melgar brings superb Spanish language skills, and a passion for student led inquiry, Science investigation and student-led decision-making to encourage self-respect and responsibility.
Isaac Newton International Academy
