Experienced leaders serve on the APS board to ensure success in the organizational mission, to achieve and maintain academic excellence, to reduce persistent patterns of inequity, and to create culturally diverse and caring learning communities.
Board of Trustees
Rev. Peter Kountz, Chair
Peter Kountz has been involved with school leadership and university teaching and administration since 1969. In addition to serving as Head of School/CEO for the Charter High School for Architecture + Design in Center City, Philadelphia for 10 years, he was president/CEO of two large independent schools in Pittsburgh, PA and in Brooklyn. Kountz has served a number of universities and schools, including The University of Chicago and the University of Rochester. Among other things, he has been a college baseball coach, run a University radio station, and was the first Curator of the Frank Lloyd Wright Robie House. In his other lives, Peter is a musician, writer, and arts consultant, and he coaches professional musicians. He and his wife, Nanci, have three grown children and three grandchildren, and live in Philadelphia.
Kountz received his B.A. from Saint Meinrad College Seminary and his M.A. and Ph.D from The University of Chicago in the History of Culture.
Peter was ordained a Priest in the Diocese of Pennsylvania in June 2015. His journey to the priesthood began very early with choir school and was kept alive by the Benedictines, Martin Marty and The University of Chicago, ecumenism, Joan Chittister, Thomas Merton, Fred Rogers. Henri Nouwen, and, most importantly, his wife and children. He “Read for Holy Orders” at Virginia Theological Seminary under the direction of the Reverend Dr. Frank Wade. Peter is the Vicar of the 1823 historic parish, Saint Stephen’s, on 10th street in Center City.
Richard Ellis III, Secretary/Treasurer
Mr. Richard Ellis III is originally from Wallingford, Pennsylvania and is now a resident of Philadelphia. He received his Bachelors of Science in Business Administration from Villanova University in 2008. Currently a Vice President of M&T bank, Mr. Ellis serves on the Regional Board for Playworks, Inc. of PA, is an active member of the Walnut Street Theater Young Leaders Council, and is a member of the Events Committee for the March of Dimes Annual Signature Chefs Event in Philadelphia. Rick and his wife, Nicole Ellis, Esq., are also active supporters of the Vetri Community Partnership.
Barbara Saunders, Trustee
Mrs. Barbara Saunders’ interest in public education began with her involvement as chairperson of the Parents’ Association for the School District of Philadelphia’s Head Start program. During her affiliation with Head Start, Mrs. Saunders participated in a partnership with the University Of Pennsylvania to develop a functional study tracking the success of Head Start students. She has also participated in the decision-making process in many aspects of Head Start, including renaming sites, opening new sites, qualification criteria, hiring procedures, and even disciplinary issues.
Mrs. Saunders’ human services career includes work in a supervisory capacity at several agencies. She supervised several Community Living Arrangements (CLAs) at Lynch Community Homes of Montgomery Co. (now KenCrest), and she also supervised a sheltered workshop program for individuals who were hearing and vision impaired at Overbrook School for the Blind.
Mrs. Saunders is passionate about children having access to quality public education. She feels both honored and privileged to serve on the board for several schools within American Paradigm Schools. She is a proud parent of two children – both of who are alumni of First Philadelphia Preparatory Charter School, the first American Paradigm School.
Anita Kaiser-Vega, Trustee
Mrs. Anita Vega Kaiser is a Senior Veterans Service Representative at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Her work includes processing claims for disability compensation and providing one-on-one mentorship and training to new employees. This requires her to maintain up-to-date information on Federal Laws and Regulations set by Congress.
In her former role as Legislative Assistant for State Rep. John J. Taylor, R-Pa., Mrs. Vega Kaiser worked with Juanita neighborhood community members to resolve problems ranging from issues with a driver’s license to acquiring birth certificates to abandoned cars. During her six years with Rep. Taylor, she organized the first Hispanic Community Fair and assisted in outreach efforts to the Hispanic community.
She is a 2011 graduate of Penn State University with a degree in Psychology and Social Science.
Lisa Johnson, Trustee
Ms. Lisa Johnson has an administrative background in human resources and banking. Ms. Johnson completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resources in June 2014 through DeVry University’s online platform. She is currently pursuing her Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Project Management through DeVry’s Keller Graduate School of Management.
In her spare time, Ms. Johnson enjoys the peace and tranquility of reading a good book and going to the movies. Very high on her priority list is attending Saturday evening services at her local church. She says, “with all that is happening in this world, it is important to ensure that my foundation is sure.”
The proud mother of a daughter who attends Tacony Academy Charter High School, Ms. Johnson is the Parent Representative on Tacony Academy’s Board of Trustees.
Sandra Farmer, Trustee
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.
No Comments
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.