Leadership
Nicholas Torres, Board Chair
Nicholas Torres is President of Congreso, a nationally recognized, community-based, non-profit organization that addresses the needs of low-income families and individuals in Philadelphia's Latino community. In 2007, Congreso provided more than 18,000 individuals with education, employment, health, and family support services.
As President of Congreso, Mr. Torres plays a leadership role in Pennsylvania and beyond. In January of 2008, he was one of 10 Americans to receive the prestigious Eisenhower Fellowship, which honors emerging leaders from around the world. He serves as a Human Relations Commissioner for the City of Philadelphia, the Southeastern Chair of the Governor's Commission on Children and Families and is Co-Chair of the National Council of La Raza's Northeastern Affiliates. He previously served as Chair of the Southeastern Pennsylvania United Way's Professional Advisory Council and was recognized by Leadership Philadelphia as one of the 101 Philadelphia Connectors.
Dedicated to education, Mr. Torres previously served Congreso as Director of the agency's Division of Children and Youth Services. Prior to that, he taught in the South Bronx as part of Teach for America and worked as a family and child therapist in Philadelphia.
Mr. Torres graduated from Carleton College and holds a Master's degree in Counseling Education from the University of Texas at Austin.
Mr. Fernando Mendez, Board Member
Mr. Méndez joined the board of Pan American Academy Charter School in 2008. He was born in Bogotá, Colombia. Mr. Méndez holds a Masters degree in Spanish and Portuguese from Villanova University and has taught at Villanova University, Temple University, and St. Joseph's Preparatory School. Mr. Méndez was Editor of El Sol Latino Newspaper (1996-2002) and presently serves as Editor-at-large. Mr. Méndez is a founding member of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Mexican Cultural Center. He is also the host of "En Portada," shown on WWSI-TV 62 - a Telemundo affiliate. The show is dedicated to informing the community about current events and interviewing politicians, community leaders and other individuals in the news.
Mr. Dario Bellot, Board Member
Dario Bellot joined the board of Pan American Academy Charter School in 2008, bringing his financial experience and expertise to bear in the first years of the school. He has 18 years of international experience in the financial sector of large global organization including Mars Electronics International, Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, and the Dow Chemical Company. He earned a Bachelors degree and a Masters in Business Administration from the University Argentina of Business (UADE) in Buenos Aires, Argentina and he studied at the Wharton School of Business.Currently, Mr. Bellot works as Administration Vice President at Congreso where he is responsible for the agency's fiscal, information technology, and facilities departments.
Ms. Tracy-Elizabeth Clay, Board Co-chair
Tracy-Elizabeth Clay brings years of educational and legal experience to Pan American Academy's Board of Directors. Ms. Clay assumed her current position as the role of general counsel at Teach For America in October 2006. In this role, Ms. Clay is responsible for meeting the legal and regulatory needs of Teach For America, including risk management and regulatory compliance. She previously served as Teach For America's first director of state and local government relations and as the founding executive director of Teach For America's Philadelphia site. Prior to her work at Teach For America, Ms. Clay was an associate with Hogan & Hartson in Washington, D.C., where she practiced in the Antitrust, Health and Privacy practice groups for four years. She graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law School, was an officer of the Law Review, and clerked for the Hon. Anne Thompson in New Jersey. She completed her undergraduate education at Stanford University with a degree in public policy, concentration in urban and regional development.
Dr. Isidoro Gonzalez, Board Member
Isidoro Gonzalez joined Congreso in April 2008 to oversee the agency's programmatic divisions and training department. Dr. Gonzalez brings to Congreso over twenty years of experience as an administrator in government, health and social service agencies. A trained physician, he has spent the last four years as the Executive Director at La Comunidad Hispana, Inc. in Kennett Square. He has extensive experience administering programs for communities in need, specifically for the homeless and people living with HIV and AIDS. He has been responsible for Quality Management and the Adult Day Healthcare Clinic & Residence at E. 9th Street for Housing Works, the largest HIV/AIDS community service provider in the country, and has directed the Health Education & HIV Service Program on the East Coast for Phoenix House. Dr. Gonzalez was the Director of Training & Logistics for the State Emergency Medical Services for the Department of Health, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. In addition to his medical degree, his background includes a two-year clinical preceptorship at the nationally recognized AIDS Center of St. Vincent's Hospital in New York City as well as a certificate in Executive Management from Columbia University. Dr. Gonzalez is a native of New York City and was raised in Puerto Rico.
Wanda Novales, Principal/CEO
Ms. Novales brings 13 years of experience in early childhood, elementary education and school administration to Pan American. Born in Puerto Rico and raised in Philadelphia, Ms. Novales comes to the Pan American Academy Charter School most recently from the School District of Philadelphia where she served as the Principal of Sheridan Elementary School between 2006 and 2008 and as Assistant Principal for two years prior. During her administration, attendance improved, test scores soared and parent involvement increased. Wanda received her Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education from Temple University and her Masters in Education from Cheyney University. Recently, she received a Superintendent's Letter of Eligibility from Arcadia University. She and the newly appointed Board of Directors of Pan American will lead the school as it prepares students for a successful future by promoting academic excellence and cultural awareness throughout all aspects of the school's curriculum.
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