PRESS RELEASE: New NJ Executive Director Joins Citizen Schools
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Lucecita Castillo Joins Citizen Schools New Jersey as Executive Director
July 19, 2011 – Newark, N.J. – Citizen Schools announced today that Lucecita Castillo has joined the organization as Executive Director of Citizen Schools New Jersey. Citizen Schools is a national nonprofit organization that partners with middle schools to expand the learning day for low-income students. The New Jersey program partners with schools in Newark.
Castillo brings deep education and organizational leadership experience to the organization’s work in New Jersey. Her experience as a classroom teacher with Teach for America set her on a lifelong path of advocacy for children and education.
Prior to joining Citizen Schools, as a Senior Associate of Program Development at The City University of New York, Castillo managed the development and delivery of custom learning programs for numerous government agencies and nonprofit partners, including the New York City Housing Authority, the New York State Authorities Budget Office and the New York City Board of Elections, consulting closely with organizations to assess their needs and design customized strategies to help them attain their learning goals. Previously, Castillo served as a consultant with Frontline Solutions where she helped organizations maximize resources, effectively managing growth and developing staff to meet organizational needs. Castillo has also held leadership positions with the New York City Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Coro Leadership Center, Teach for America, the New York State Education Department and Seton Hall University. Castillo holds a B.A. in Sociology from Seton Hall University and an M.PA. from the School of Public Affairs at Baruch College.
“I’m thrilled to join Citizen Schools and lead this important work in the New Jersey region,” said Castillo. “The organization has proven results setting kids on a path to high school graduation and my hope is that we’ll be able to grow our footprint here in New Jersey and make high school graduation and college success a reality for even more of our students.”