Board of Trustees

Alejandro Montoya

Chair

Alejandro Montoya is a veteran operations leader in the NYC charter school sector. He currently serves as Associate Chief Operations Officer in the Uncommon Schools charter network, and previously held operations leadership roles at Harlem Link, Brooklyn Lab, and Success Academy charter schools. He is a graduate of Vassar College with a BA in Urban Studies.

Majo McCorkindale

Vice Chair

Maria Jose "Majo" Tinoco McCorkindale is a LEEP Dual Language Academy Charter School parent and had previously served as the parent representative on the Board of Trustees. A graduate of a dual-language school in her native Colombia, Ms. McCorkindale is a professional bookkeeper and has worked as a freelance writer and social media consultant. She is a graduate of Hunter College at the City University of New York.

David Douek

Treasurer

David B. Douek is an attorney and financial professional with deep experience in complex financial transactions such as corporate restructurings. In addition to his corporate turnaround work (in industries ranging from food and beverages, to payment processing, to watch manufacturing), Mr. Douek currently runs day-to-day operations at the New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board, a 200-person investigative and prosecutorial agency. He is a graduate of Binghamton University and the Wake Forest University School of Law.

Charles Sahm

Secretary

Charles U. Sahm is an education journalist, researcher, and consultant, and one of the nation's leading observers of the charter school movement. Mr. Sahm spent 20 years at the Manhattan Institute for Public Policy Research, where he served as Director of Education Policy and a Senior Fellow. His writings on education have appeared in numerous publications including Education Next, The 74, New York Daily News, New York Post, Daily Best, U.S. News & World Report, and City Journal. Mr. Sahm is a graduate of Fairfield University.

Melody Sosa

Parent Representative

Melody Sosa is the mother of two LEEP Academy students, with experience advocating for Spanish-speaking students in Sunset Park public schools. In addition to raising her family, she has professional experience in the fashion design industry. Ms. Sosa holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Fashion Institute of Technology.

Magdalena Varela-Hand

Trustee

Magdalena Varela-Hand, LMSW, is a CSD 15 public school parents and Forensic Social Worker at the Legal Aid Society, with nearly 20 years' experience counseling children and families in school-based and non-school settings. A graduate of the New York City College of Technology and Adelphi University, Magdalena grew up in Brooklyn with strong family roots in Puerto Rico.

David Estrada

Trustee

David Estrada is a longtime civic leader in the Sunset Park community. As Executive Director of the Sunset Park Business Improvement district, he has led community improvement efforts in partnership with the local business community. He previously served on the staff of City Councilmember Carlos Menchaca, and spent seven years as an HR consultant to major corporations. He is a graduate of California State University, Long Beach.