Board of Trustees
Sandra Farmer, President
Sandra Farmer is a professional sales and marketing executive with varied leadership experience. As a Senior Director with the Philadelphia Workforce Development Corporation, she directed multiple new employment initiatives and workforce development programs with corporate and nonprofit business sectors in Philadelphia County and the surrounding suburban counties.
Her nonprofit career includes five years as Regional Manager for the Delaware Valley area at Benova Corporation, the Health Choices of PA provider for Medicaid insurance. In the corporate environment, Ms. Farmer worked for 20 years in sales and marketing at Safeguard Business Systems of Fort Washington, PA, and Dallas, TX. She performed significant distributorship development and management roles as National Client Development Manager covering five U.S. regions, and as Regional Distributorship Development Manager covering territories from Nova Scotia to Southern Florida.
On an ongoing basis, Ms. Farmer provides independent marketing and consultant services for an online health company that is designed to provide women with up-to-date information to improve their physical, mental, and spiritual health. She also performs education project management services for a Philadelphia-based technical institute that focuses on training in the skilled trades.
Michelle Campellone, Treasurer
Barbara Saunders, Secretary
Mrs. Barbara L. Saunders is a dedicated parent advocate currently serving as a Parent Practitioner for Anti-Drug & Alcohol Crusaders, a local non-profit organization focused on supporting families in the community. Before taking on this vital role, Mrs. Saunders gained valuable experience as a substitute teacher in various suburban school districts outside of Philadelphia.
Her passion for public education was ignited during her tenure as chairperson of the Parents’ Association for the School District of Philadelphia’s Head Start program. In this capacity, she collaborated with the University of Pennsylvania to develop a functional study that tracked the success of Head Start students, contributing to important research in early childhood education.
Mrs. Saunders also has a robust background in human services, having held supervisory positions at several agencies. She managed Community Living Arrangements (CLAs) at Lynch Community Homes of Montgomery County (now KenCrest) and oversaw a workshop program for individuals who are hearing and vision impaired at Overbrook School for the Blind.
She holds a degree in Behavioral Health from Jefferson University, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude. Mrs. Saunders is deeply committed to ensuring that all children have access to quality public education. Since 2003, Mrs. Saunders has served on the board of several schools within the American Paradigm Schools network. She is also the proud parent of two children who are alumni of First Philadelphia Preparatory Charter School, the first school in the American Paradigm Schools network.
Miguel Diaz, Trustee
Mr. Miguel Diaz has lived in the Kensington and Allegheny neighborhoods for over 30 years. His first experience with civic engagement began in high school, when he volunteered as a coach for the Special Olympics at Douglas High School. Since then, Mr. Diaz has continued to serve the Special Olympics in many capacities. In 1995, he was honored as the Special Olympics National Coach of the Year, receiving the award from President Bill Clinton. He later traveled as a speaker on behalf of the organization, representing the Special Olympics at the World Games in both Canada and Greece.
At just 21 years old, Mr. Diaz became a block captain, a role he continues to hold today. For the past 20 years, he has also been a dedicated member of The Simple Way, a community-based organization committed to strengthening and improving the neighborhood. Additionally, Mr. Diaz served on the original School Advisory Committee that selected American Paradigm to manage Memphis Street Academy Charter School, where his niece and nephew are students.
As a single parent, Mr. Diaz understands the challenges and responsibilities of raising a child. While he has had opportunities to move away from Kensington, he has chosen to remain—driven by his passion and commitment to supporting children and uplifting his community.
Stacey Schellinger, Trustee
Ms. Schellinger brings over 20 years of payroll management expertise, specializing in the pharmaceuticals industry. She is highly regarded for her proficiency in payroll administration, stock plan management, and 401(k) administration. An accomplished leader in change management and process improvement, Ms. Schellinger has a track record of implementing software solutions and refining procedures to enhance payroll accuracy and efficiency for all levels of the organization, from hourly employees to executives. Her strong analytical skills support effective problem-solving and solution development. Additionally, she has significant strategic planning experience, including overseeing an Employee Stock Purchase Program for a billion-dollar company during an acquisition.
Pablo Mateo, Trustee
Pablo Mateo has been working for Town Watch Integrated Services (TWIS), which falls under the Mayor’s Office of Public Safety, since February 2005. He serves as a Pablo R. Mateo Operations Director and Community Support Specialist, working in the East and North Central Divisions. His responsibilities include organizing communities, developing and training Town Watch groups as part of the Town Watch Eyes and Ears, and managing the Patrolling Town Watch Program in those divisions. Pablo has also recruited and trained volunteers for the Safe Corridor programs, deploying them to patrol around schools in those areas to ensure student safety during commute times. Additionally, he has assisted school personnel by facilitating conflict resolution sessions with students experiencing peer issues; he would conduct home visits to inform parents of the concerns and collaborate with them to resolve conflicts. Pablo demonstrated leadership when he enthusiastically and professionally undertook projects alongside his colleagues. Shortly thereafter, he was promoted to Field Director in 2007, overseeing the Northeast, North, South, and East regions of Philadelphia to ensure his colleagues maintained the same high quality of work he exemplifies both in the office and in the field. In 2010, Pablo was promoted to Operations Director, responsible for managing TWIS’s citywide operations. He has been developing and updating Town Watch and Safe Corridor training programs, creating PowerPoint presentations to keep staff and volunteers engaged. He continues to introduce new ideas, conduct training, and develop presentations to enhance TWIS programs, celebrating over 19 years of service. Before joining TWIS, he worked with The Philadelphia Anti-Drug and Anti-Violence Network as a Field Coordinator. In that role, he engaged in community conflict resolution, developed community programs and activities, supervised the deployment of Community Liaison and Intervention Specialists, evaluated incidents to determine appropriate response teams, tracked case progress, and maintained data systems. He produced data summaries for monitoring and management purposes, responded to crises across Philadelphia, assisted the Philadelphia Police Department in collecting incident information (such as shootings, stabbings, and assaults), and engaged in crisis response, conflict resolution, and community organizing. He also serves on several boards, including First Philadelphia, and is Vice-Chair at Memphis Street Academy Charter School.
Dr. Richard J. Levy, Ed.D.
Dr. Richard (Rich) Levy, serves as the Director of Clinical Experiences and Partnerships at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In this role, he oversees and coordinates all field placements, student teaching, and partnerships within the School of Education and Human Development, collaborating with approximately 95 partners to arrange clinical experiences and transportation for students.
Before joining Saint Joseph’s University in June 2023, Dr. Levy was a fourth-grade teacher with the School District of Philadelphia. He earned his Master of Education in 2020 and his Doctor of Education in 2024, both from Saint Joseph’s University.
Dr. Levy has also contributed to initiatives such as the “In Conversation With K-12 Leaders” series, demonstrating his commitment to fostering educational leadership and community engagement. In 2024, Dr. Levy was the recipient of the Outstanding Dissertation Award from PAC-TE for his research on Understanding Work Stress On Urban, Public K-12 Teachers’ Experiences During The COVID-19 Pandemic.
Throughout his career, Dr. Levy has remained dedicated to supporting the professional growth of future educators, emphasizing the importance of practical, hands-on experiences in the development of effective teaching practices. His leadership and innovative approach continue to shape the clinical experience landscape at Saint Joseph’s University, making a lasting impact on the institution and the broader educational community.
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