Reginald L. Streater believes that public education is both a civil and human right. A proud graduate of Germantown High School, he is the father of three children, two of which who currently attend Philadelphia public schools.

Mr. Streater is a personal injury, medical malpractice, and civil rights attorney at Feldman Shepherd where he works tirelessly to secure monetary and programmatic relief for his clients. Previously, he practiced class action and collective action law, focusing on unpaid wage and employment discrimination matters, and worked as a commercial litigator at a regional full-service law firm. He also served as a Federal Judicial Honors Clerk for the Honorable Chief Judge Theodore McKee of the Federal Third Circuit Court of Appeals and interned with the Pennsylvania Innocence Project. He has also been published in scholarly articles on the topics of land reform related to international law and domestic employment discrimination law.

Beyond his legal practice, Reginald is deeply committed to community service, diversity and inclusion, mentorship, and leadership initiatives. In 2022, as an Eisenhower Fellowships USA Justice Fellow, he traveled to Finland and Kenya, exploring strategies to improve public education in low-resource urban settings often hindered by crumbling infrastructure and systemic inequities.

Reginald earned his B.A. magna cum laude in political science and African American studies from Temple University while balancing full-time work and fatherhood. He went on to earn his Juris Doctorate with a Certificate in Trial Advocacy from Temple University Beasley School of Law, where he held numerous leadership roles, including as the first Black president of the Student Bar Association and president of the Black Law Students Association.

An active member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Rho Chapter, and a former executive board member of the Barristers’ Association of Philadelphia, Reginald participates in numerous community service initiatives. He is also the former Vice President of the Philadelphia Chapter of the Pennsylvania ACLU.  philosophy of servant leadership is shaped by the John S. Mbiti quote: “I am because WE are, and since we are, therefore I am.”

Email:
rstreater@philasd.org

Commitment Letter

Sarah-Ashley Andrews is committed to educational equity and to helping all the city’s students reach their greatest potential today, so they have a better life tomorrow. She describes herself as a product of North Philadelphia, the public school system and of advocates who fought for her educational opportunities. Ms. Andrews works as a family therapist at TAG Inspires, and previously served as a social worker with Philadelphia Health Management Coalition. In addition, Ms. Andrews founded Dare 2 Hope, a suicide prevention non-profit, serving more than 5,000 students locally and nationally. She is concerned about the “whole child” and advocating for life-changing educational opportunities for all the city’s children. She also serves on the Administration’s Reconciliation Steering committee, which seeks to build a more equitable city for all Philadelphians. Ms. Andrews has also published, “Move Making Monday,” a motivational book about moving forward and living your best life. Ms. Andrews, who attended W.B. Saul High School, holds a master’s degree in Counseling from Lincoln University and a bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies with a minor in Human Services from Lancaster Bible College. She also attended undergraduate classes at Bloomsburg University.

Email: saandrews@philasd.org

Commitment Letter

A Philadelphia native and graduate of Philadelphia public schools, Crystal Cubbage serves as Executive Director for the Philadelphia Learning Collaborative. Crystal began her career as an Electronics Engineer at NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, OH. She also served as an Education Volunteer in the Peace Corps, in Cameroon, West Africa. In 1996, Crystal made the permanent career change from engineering to education. For 10 years, she taught physics and chemistry at public and private Philadelphia high schools including Girard College, The Shipley School, and Germantown Friends’ School. In 2007, Crystal earned a Master’s Degree in School Leadership from Harvard’s Graduate School of Education. She has conducted research at the educational think tank, Jobs for the Future; started a nonprofit, Teachable Moments International; and worked on teams to open new public schools in her former positions with Drexel University and the School District of Philadelphia. Crystal studied physics at Lincoln University.

Email: ccubbage@philasd.org

Commitment Letter

Cheryl Harper was educated in Philadelphia public schools, graduating from Germantown High School. Harper formerly worked in the School District of Philadelphia as an Elementary Teacher, Vice Principal, and as a Placement Officer in Human Resources; and was appointed by the late Superintendent Dr. Constance E. Clayton as Director of Human Resources. Following her retirement from the district, Cheryl was called to work for the Camden Public School District as Executive Director of Human Resources. Later under Governor Ed Rendell, she was appointed as a Distinguished Educator for the PA Department of Education, wherein she was assigned to various school districts across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, helping them make AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress). During her career, Cheryl served as a Site Director/Adjunct Professor, responsible for supervising student teachers at Drexel University. Cheryl holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Cheyney University in Elementary and Special Education, and a Master of Science degree from Arcadia University. She also holds certifications in Elementary and Special Education, Elementary/Secondary Principals, Educational Supervisor and Superintendent. Harper is currently a Trustee for Cheyney University.

Email: ceharper@philasd.org

Commitment Letter

Whitney Jones is the Chief Financial Officer at Children’s Crisis Treatment Center (CCTC), a mental and behavioral health nonprofit serving children and families. Whitney comes to CCTC from the KIPP network of schools where he held financial leadership positions in the Philadelphia and San Antonio regions. With KIPP, Whitney led the organizations’ budget development, financial reporting, internal controls, general accounting, and accounts payables. Previously, Whitney served as the School Finance Specialist at the DC Public Charter School Board (DCPCSB), monitoring charters’ financial stability and ensuring adherence to federal and local laws. Whitney was also a Client Manager with EdTec, a niche consulting firm based in Emeryville, CA and dedicated to supporting charter schools’ financial and operational needs. Whitney began his career at Moody’s Corporation, working in public finance credit ratings and strategic planning. Whitney received his Master of Educational Leadership from The Broad Center (merged with the Yale School of Management in 2021), his Master of Business Administration from New York University’s Stern School of Business and his Bachelor of Business Administration from Howard University.

Email: whljones@philasd.org

Commitment Letter

ChauWing Lam has extensive experience in education. She previously worked in the School District’s Superintendent’s Office and in the Office of Evaluation, Research and Accountability. She has also worked in the classroom as a math tutor at Lea and the former Drew Elementary School, as an elementary and middle school English teacher abroad, and as a preschool classroom assistant. Until recently, she led Operations for a leadership development organization focused on supporting school leaders. She has also served as a consultant to the Commonwealth on a panel to review and advise on cyber charter authorizations and renewals.

Currently, Ms. Lam is the Operations Director at GVICC (Gun Violence Intervention Coordination Center) which works to expand the capacity, effectiveness and coordination of gun violence intervention programs in Philadelphia. Her drive to ensure opportunity, access and safety for youth stems from her upbringing as an immigrant and the eldest child in a single-parent family struggling to make ends meet.

ChauWing is a graduate of public schools, holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Pennsylvania, and is a proud parent of a second grader.

E-mail: clam@philasd.org

Commitment Letter

Wanda is the Executive Pastor of City Reach Church, with two local campuses including one in the heart of Kensington. Prior to her faith leadership, she was the founding CEO and Principal of Pan American Charter School, an International Baccalaureate school in partnership with Congreso de Latinos Unidos. With extensive experience in teaching and managing in Philadelphia’s public district and charter schools, Wanda brings insight and perspective. Wanda is currently serving as a board member of the Tacony Civic Association and The Philadelphia Gospel Movement. Wanda has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Temple University in Early Childhood Education & Elementary Education, a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Cheyney University, and a Superintendent’s Letter of Eligibility from Arcadia University.

Email: wnovales@philasd.org

Commitment Letter

Joan is a retired public finance attorney who matriculated K-12 Philadelphia public schools. In 1971, Joan Stem became the first paralegal hired by the law firm now known as Blank Rome LLP. In 1972, Joan was assigned to work on the law firm’s first public finance engagement for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania – the Commonwealth’s Disaster Relief General Obligation Bonds, Series of 1973. The experience focused her on pursuing a career in the law. She entered Temple University School of Law (now the Beasley School of Law) in 1974 as a full-time student and graduated cum laude in 1977. She then joined Blank Rome as an associate and became the second woman in Pennsylvania to practice public finance law. At Blank Rome she was elected partner in 1983. She served in a series of leadership roles at Blank Rome until joining, as a Partner in the Public Finance Practice, the law firm of Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, LLC in 2014. As a public finance attorney, Ms. Stern concentrated her practice in financings for state and local governments, governmental agencies and authorities, cultural and sports facilities, institutions of higher education and health care entities. From 1977 to September 30, 2023 (when she retired from private law practice), she served as bond counsel and special counsel to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the City of Philadelphia and The School District of Philadelphia. Joan received a Bachelor of Arts degree. from the University of Pennsylvania prior to earning her J.D from Temple University.

Email: jstern@philasd.org

Commitment Letter

Joyce Wilkerson has an extensive career in public service. She most recently served as a mayoral appointee and Chair of the SRC, where she oversaw milestones such as the creation of a new teachers’ contract and the return to local control. Joyce started off in Philadelphia as an attorney with Community Legal Services, and later served as Chief of Staff to Mayor John Street. She helped to stabilize the Philadelphia Gas Works and chaired the board of the Philadelphia Housing Authority. She is currently a member of the board at the Merchant Fund, Scribe Video Center, Brandywine Workshop and Committee of Seventy. Joyce earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania and a law degree from the University of California, Berkeley.

Email: jwilkerson@philasd.org

Commitment Letter