CAPCS Senior Leadership Team

Kent Amos, CEO; CAPCSM, LLC
Kent Amos applied his expertise and experience as a corporate executive, entrepreneur, community leader, and father figure to more than 87 children in establishing CAPCS in 1998. The school was the outgrowth of the nonprofit, community-based Urban Family Institute which Mr. Amos earlier founded to provide support and services to those living in disadvantaged neighborhoods in cities around the country.

Mr. Amos plays an active role in the community, serving in leadership positions including Vice President of the DC Library Foundation and Founding Chairman of the DC Commission for National and Community Service. He was one of the founders of the DC Charter School Association. Mr. Amos was a member of the Board of Trustees of Lincoln University and serves on the Delaware State Board of Visitors and the National Black Leadership Roundtable.

A former executive with Xerox Corporation, Mr. Amos was President of The Triad Group, a management consulting firm. He served as an U.S. Army officer in Vietnam and holds a B.A. degree from Delaware State University.

Leonard A. Upson, Vice President of Education and Development; CAPCSM, LLC
Mr. Upson has a long and distinguished career as an educator in the DC Public School system, beginning as a teacher in Special Education. He served as Principal of four District schools over 18 years and was twice named Principal of the Year. He was also named a Principal of Excellence by the Washington Post. Mr. Upson managed the DCPS High School Reform Movement and served as Executive Director of the DC Principals' Center. Since his retirement from DC Public Schools, he has served as a Mentor Principal and a consultant to Howard University's School of Education Center for Research on the Education of Students Placed at Risk (CRESPAR). He also has served on the faculty of Harvard University's Principals' Center since 1987. Mr. Upson has held leadership positions at CAPCS since its establishment. He is a graduate of DC Teachers' College and holds an M.A. degree from the George Washington University.

Wendell Butler, Director of Real Estate and Special Projects, CAPCSM, LLC
Mr. Butler was the first Chairman of the Board of Trustees for CAPCS, serving for five years before resigning to join the staff in 2002. He is President and CEO of the Young Astronaut Council, an international aerospace education program for children established by the White House in 1984 which became the largest youth aerospace education program in the country reaching more than 2 million children worldwide. Before entering the private sector, Mr. Butler held a number of executive positions in the federal government, including Director of Corporate Liaison for the White House and Assistant Administrator of the U.S. Department of Energy. He served on the Cost of Living Council, in the Office of Management and Budget, and at the National Security Agency. A U.S. Air Force veteran, Mr. Butler holds a B.S. from Howard University and an M.P.A. from Harvard University.

Deidra Barksdale , CFO; CAPCS,

Maurice Sykes , Chief Academic Officer, CAPCS

Deidra Barksdale, Controller, CAPCS

Gayle Upson, Director of Curriculum & Instruction, CAPCS

Wesley Harvey, Director of Operations, CAPCSM, LLC

Brenda Bethea, Director of Administration, CAPCS
Ms. Bethea spent 32 years with DC Public Schools as a classroom teacher in grades 2nd through 8th. She also served as a Curriculum Coordinator, Change Facilitator, Special Education Coordinator and counselor. Outside DCPS, Ms. Bethea was the Education Coordinator for the Helping Hands Enrichment and Leadership Foundation. She holds a B.A. from DC Teachers College and a Masters in Education from Bowie State University.

Jane Rand, Director of Testing and Assessment; CAPCS
Ms. Rand has extensive experience in all aspects of education, from both an academic and business perspective. After leaving classroom teaching, she became Manager, Xerox Learning Systems and Director of Public Affairs for Jostens Learning Corporation. Ms. Rand also served as Assistant Vice President of Howard University. She holds an M.A. degree from California State University at San Jose and a B.A. degree from Howard University.

Michelle Callen, Director of Community Involvement; CAPCS

Ms. Callen is a graduate of Drew University and is currently working on a Master’s Degree at George Mason University. She is actively involved in fundraising and volunteer activities for the Susan G. Komen Foundation and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Marcia Brown, Director of Parental Involvement; CAPCS
Ms. Brown joins the CAPCS families after teaching English for elementary and middle school. Ms. Brown holds a Master's degree in English from Howard University and a Master's degree in Education from Regent University.

Cecelia Blalock, Director of Communications, CAPCS
Ms. Blalock has more than 25 years of experience as a published journalist, writing for a wide range of business trade publications in a variety of fields. Ms. Blalock served as Vice President of the Young Astronaut Council where she was responsible for all curriculum materials and communications. She also was a sports writer for a local newspaper. She received a B.A. from Rutgers University.

Rachelle Roberts, Director of Student Support Services CAPCS

Frances Brooks, ESOL/LCD/Coordinator, CAPCS

Dawn Clemens, Academy Leader, A-III Elementary, CAPCS

Dr. Dwayne Williams , Academy Leader, A-III Middle School, CAPCS

David D'Ercole Academy Leader, Butler Campus, CAPCS

Tanya Clark , Academy Leader, Amos II Campus--Early Childhood, CAPCS

Francis Yasharian, Academy Leader, Amos 1, CAPCS
Francis Yasharian has been a public educator for over 9 years here in Washington, DC. He has a Masters in the Art of Teaching from Georgetown University with a specialization in Bilingual Education, and he is currently pursuing post-graduate studies at George Washington University. In his spare time, Mr. Yasharian is an avid reader and he enjoys running, swimming, and biking.

Dr. Maggie Grove , Academy Leader, Rand Campus, CAPCS