IVA - Key Persons

Mr. Hertzler is currently an Assistant Principal at California Connections Academy. California Connections Academy serves more than 4,000 High School Students across the state of California through their fully virtual school model. Mr. Hertzler oversees the academic recovery program, Project Success, and works closely with a team of teachers and counselors to support credit deficient students earn their High School Diplomas. Prior to joining California Connections Academy, Mr. Hertzler was an Assistant Principal at Animo Ellen Ochoa Charter Middle School, a Green Dot public charter school in East Los Angeles' Boyle Heights Community. Along with the other administrators, he oversaw the daily cultural and instructional needs of the school, serving about 450 6th-8th grade students. Prior to this he was the Director Instructional Operations & CA Charter Development for the Opportunities for Learning & Options for Youth Public Charter Schools. In that role he supervised 35 resource centers serving approximately 7,000 students, managed school budgets, strategic growth plans, and coordinated charter petition writing. He has extensive experience in classroom technology integration, Local Control Accountability Plans, data-driven instructional programs, and California's charter petition and renewal process. He earned his Administrative Services Credential and Masters in Educational Administration from Cal State Dominguez Hills.

Job Titles:

• Associate Director at Millennium Pharmaceuticals

Eric Churchill, associate director at Millennium Pharmaceuticals, is a founding board member and current chairman of IVA's board of directors. Dr. Churchill carried out academic research for 10 years in the areas of cardiovascular biology and cancer before joining the pharmaceutical industry. As a senior medical science liaison, Dr. Churchill helps develop and launch clinical trials, and educates physicians at research centers around Southern California. Dr. Churchill holds a bachelor's degree in human physiology from California State University, Long Beach, and a Ph.D. in cellular physiology from Case Western Reserve University. He conducted postdoctoral research at Stanford University and most recently received his MBA from Azusa Pacific. Dr. Churchill has served in different roles at various non-profit organizations focused on international adoption and child advocacy. He is a co-founder and president of an organization that advocates for children in the foster care system. He and his wife are currently fostering five beautiful girls in addition to raising their biological daughter. Dr. Churchill works with researchers in the medical field to build consensus, understanding, and collaboration. Through his service with non-profits, he implements processes of board governance and structure to help boards run effectively. All of these skills are integral for the proper functioning of a school board.

Job Titles:

• Chairman of the Board
• Director of Development of the College of Liberal Arts

Howie Fitzgerald, Director of Development of the College of Liberal Arts at California State University, Long Beach, has served on the IVA Board of Directors since 2019. Howie has served on numerous non-profit boards over the last twenty years and is deeply committed to the ideals of education as both a means to reaching individual potential and providing opportunity for upward social mobility. In his professional life, Howie oversees all philanthropic activities for the College of Liberal Arts at California State University, Long Beach. With more than 38,000 students campus-wide, the College of Liberal Arts plays a critical role in educating students in the Humanities and Social Sciences. In this role, he is responsible for fundraising, campaign management, advisory board management, and program development. In his free time, Howie enjoys involvement with his son's education, is an active musician, enjoys cycling and running, and is an avid mountaineer and hiker.

Job Titles:

• Founding Principal

Jacquie Bryant, IVA's founding principal, regards personal formation and character growth as a primary goal in education for both students and staff. Ms. Bryant is IVA's second employee and arrived shortly after IVA's Charter was written by its founders, authorized by LBUSD. Ms. Bryant jumped on board in time to be a part of curriculum selection, has hired each teacher and staff member, leads professional development and strategic planning with the board, and is privileged to found an academic program systematically grounded in IVA's mission and vision. Ms. Bryant previously taught all levels of English Language Arts for ten years at the comprehensive high school, San Pedro HS in LA Unified. As a teacher she appreciated classrooms where students engaged with rigorous learning and metacognitive awareness at the same time and was super excited to see the connection of these in intellectual virtues. At San Pedro High, Ms. Bryant also worked as an instructional coach, helped lead school-wide professional development, and participated in the WASC accreditation process. While Ms. Bryant was teaching at SPHS she earned a a single subject clear credential in English from Cal State Long Beach, a Master's in Rhetoric and Composition, and an Administrative Credential from Cal State Dominguez Hills. Ms. Bryant finds transformation and flourishing in the language of virtues and intellectual character and is eager to apply all of these deep and profound human goods into creating the adult community of educators and families that support student growth. She believes that intellectual character growth is personally meaningful for everyone involved at the school, and specifically seeks to support the culture of adults at a school as it has a direct impact on the culture of thinking that students experience. She finds meaning and purpose in the language of the virtues and its impact on teaching and learning and on her own continued intellectual character growth. Ms. Bryant is currently enrolled in the University of Birmingham's Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues studying for a Masters in Character Education.

Job Titles:

• and BSA - Southern Illinois University

Josh leads the finance and accounting department at a manufacturing company. He oversees budgeting, forecasting,cash flow management, feasibility of various projects, cost considerations, internal controls and financial reporting. Prior to his current experience, he was an audit manager for a regional firm based in Long Beach, serving several nonprofit clients.

Job Titles:

• Office Supervisor & Enrollment Coordinator

Julia was born and raised in Long Beach, and imagines that she won't ever move too far from Southern California. Ever since Julia can remember, she knew that she wanted to work in a school. She never knew exactly what she wanted to do but often thought that one day she would become a teacher... an elementary school teacher, to be exact. Over time, she learned that she just didn't hold the passion for teaching, but still loved the thought of an education related career. Just before graduating from high school, she realized that she eventually wanted to become an academic counselor. With this dream in mind, she attended CSULB and received a B.A. in Psychology. "Prior to working at IVA, I had only worked in elementary school settings and finally felt like I needed to expand my knowledge, and learn more about working with older students. I was lucky enough to find a job posting for IVA, and quickly applied. After one visit to IVA's website, and reading all the faculty and staff bios, I knew that I wanted to work with the great group! Everyday here, I find myself learning more and more about each of the master virtues just as all of the students are."

Job Titles:

• Administrative Accounting Assistant

Linda was born and raised in the South of England where she completed her Studies with a background in Event Planning and Hotel Sales. Prior to gaining experience in the hospitality industry, Linda enjoyed backpacking for eighteen months around the South Pacific, where she enjoyed the flavors and cultures. Linda has a passion for growing organic vegetables for her family, to enjoy the benefits of good nutrition. She believes that we should all live and eat well. "I was drawn to IVA due to my friendship with Danielle Montiel and a passion for working with children. I value each student's individuality and appreciate and embrace those who struggle to learn. My hope is that I can share my ideas and curiosity to explore the world."

Job Titles:

• Office Assistant

Job Titles:

• Counselor

Paige Reinstein is excited to join the IVA team as the Director of Counseling and Culture. Paige just graduated from Chapman University (Class of '23) with a Master's in School Counseling (PPS) and Mental Health Therapy (LPCC). Paige's email and phone line is available for questions about School-Based Behavioral/ Mental Health Support, Resources for Students/ Families, and High School selection. Prior to this, Paige received a Bachelor's Degree from Oberlin College in Creative Writing and English with a Concentration in Education. Outside of work and school, Paige loves board games, improv comedy, hikes, and most of all their two cats. Paige chose to work at IVA because of its values of deep thinking over memorizing and culture of providing space for students to be unapologetically themselves.

Job Titles:

• Dean of Students

Before coming to IVA, Rachel Gordon taught for 14 years at Rosa Parks Elementary School in Lynwood, CA, where she was originally placed by Teach for America. Here is where she learned the value of a strong community and what can be gained by better understanding the experiences of others. Born and raised in New Jersey, Rachel got her BA in English from Rutgers University, her MA in Elementary Education from Loyola Marymount University, and her single-subject science credential from the California State University of Long Beach. Rachel began her career at IVA in 2016 as a Science and Physical Education teacher. Then in response to the need for more math support, Rachel and Cari Noble created the Algebra Lab and Math Lab support classes. She and her husband Mark have two children: Emery and Miles. "After teaching in a traditional public school where success and failure were measured only by test scores, I believe many students are missing out on learning what it takes to persist in unpredictable and complex lives. I want to examine the processes and challenges we go through, especially when they are difficult. Studying and teaching with an emphasis on experience and thinking motivates me because I am able to get to the core of what matters and what promotes life-long success. I love learning through collaboration the elements of a meaningful education."

Job Titles:

• Director of Programs and Operations

Richard Williams is a career educator and is dedicated to the ideal that every child deserves the chance to receive a high-quality education. He spent his first ten years in education at Green Dot Public Schools, a charter management organization with schools across the country. At Green Dot, Mr. Williams had the joy of being a high-school math teacher in Inglewood, a data-analyst, and an operations and finance director. During his time as a teacher, Mr. Williams participated in the original IVA Pedagogy Seminars and was inspired and invigorated by the vision for IVA. Years later, he feels privileged to call this place home. Mr. Williams lives with his wife and three young boys in Long Beach. He is a Southern California native, through and through. He earned an B.A. in Philosophy from Biola University, his single-subject math credential from Loyola Marymount, and his MBA from UCLA Anderson. "I love education, and I believe access to a high-quality education is a fundamental right that should be afforded to every student. I feel so lucky that I can use my unique set of skills and knowledge to support the functioning of a school that is doing right by students and families."

Job Titles:

• Clinical Psychologist
• HR Change Management Consultant

Staci began her career working in residential treatment for foster and transitional youths. Staci's Bachelor's thesis examined the role of substance abuse in the generational impoverishment of educational, occupational, and mobility opportunities of youths. Staci's doctoral dissertation contributed some of the first actualized research in the area of shame and its role in the development of adolescent aggression and violence, both towards self and society. The curriculum she developed for shame-reduction group therapy was utilized in junior and high schools throughout the US. Staci is a Clinical Psychologist, having practiced in community mental health centers, the Long Beach VA hospital, and private practice in numerous Los Angeles locations for over 20 years. She specializes in adolescent and young adult life issues, as well as holistic health, particularly cancer and autoimmune disorders, for all ages. On the organizational side of things, Staci is an HR Change Management Consultant and Performance/Engagement Coach. I'm currently working on publishing a psychometric tool to take the guesswork out of performance assessments and several DEI personality traits and best practices. In addition, Staci is documentary filmmaker. Her second film, Hidden Star, about death, grief, and love is currently undergoing distribution contract negotiations. She is also in pre-production for a third film that will document existential wisdom through the extraordinary life of a famous music producer. Staci is the proud, but overworked, mother of 2, one heading to high school from IVA middle school and the other in college.

Syikin Jalil is a native of Singapore where she was born and raised before moving to Australia at a young age for school. She obtained a degree in Mass communications from Curtin University of Technology in Perth,Western Australia. Prior to her move to the U.S., she worked in marketing, advertising, and public relations. She currently lives in Long Beach, California with her husband and their son. They enjoy weekly movie nights, entertaining family and friends with elaborate meals, and soaking up the wonderful Californian weather.