Staff
 Eileen B. Sigmund is the CEO of the Arizona Charter Schools Association
Eileen has a strong advocacy background, having served as a journalist, litigator, and lobbyist. Her professional experience began as a print journalist for Gannett Newspapers. After bicycling across from Seattle to New Jersey , Eileen went to law school. She prosecuted child homicides in the Maricopa County Attorney’s office. She has also worked as a civil litigator and lobbyist at the Arizona legislature. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and law degree from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.
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eileen@azcharters.org
Rebecca Gau is the Vice President of Research and School Quality
Rebecca Gau was a Senior Research Analyst at Morrison Institute for Public Policy, the “think tank” for Arizona State University for five years. Before that she was an analyst with Andersen Consulting (now Accenture), and an intern at the Thomas B. Fordham Foundation, specializing in charter schools and education policy. She has had research published in journals such as The Public Interest, textbooks on education policy, and newspapers. She is also listed in the Who’s Who of American Women. She recently co-authored Beat the Odds: Why Some Latino Students Succeed and Others Do Not, and Trends in Charter Authorizing. Both are quantitative analyses of education policy issues. Rebecca received her Masters Degree in Public Policy from Duke University and wrote her Masters Thesis on charter schools in Dayton Ohio. It was named Outstanding Thesis of the Year.
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rebecca@azcharters.org
Mark Francis, DMA is the Charter Liaison
Dr. Mark S. Francis was the founder and Executive Director of Arizona School for the Arts and was also the first President of the Arizona Charter School Association. Under his leadership Arizona School for the Arts (ASA) was the first charter high in the USA named a National Blue Ribbon School by the US Department of Education. ASA was the first charter school in Arizona awarded the “Spotlight on School Success” prize by the Arizona Department of Education, the highest awards for educational achievement by those respective bodies.
Most recently, he spearheaded a two-year US Department of Education dissemination grant, The Professional Learning Community in Action. He also headed a planning grant from the Walton Foundation to develop the framework for the Arizona Charter Schools Association.
Dr. Francis is also an accomplished musician and is currently the Artistic Director and Conductor of Cantemus, a Phoenix based community musical organization dedicated to performing masterworks for chorus and orchestra. He was also the first charter school representative in the nation to serve as a National Endowment for the Arts panelist. He has also served on review panels for the Phoenix Commission on Arts and Culture, the Arizona Arts Commission and the AZ State Board for Charter Schools
He received his doctorate in music from the University of Arizona where he was named Outstanding Graduate Student, Faculty of Fine Arts and also received the Meritorious Award for Teaching from the University of Arizona Foundation. He holds graduate degrees in music from the University of Washington, Minnesota State University, Mankato and a BA from Augsburg College. He has received numerous grants and awards for teaching, scholarship and music study. He has taught in colleges and universities in Minnesota, Washington, and Arizona.
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mark@azcharters.org
Marcella Gemelli, Ph.D. is the Associate Director for Research and School Quality
Marcella just recently completed her doctoral studies in Sociology at Arizona State University where she conducted research on homelessness and single mothers. She often takes a qualitative approach to research focusing on environment, culture, and an in-depth understanding of people’s lives. Marcella is also an instructor in the Women and Gender Studies department at ASU. She received her M.S. in Sociology at Portland State University and her B.A. in Sociology from the University of Oregon.
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marcella@azcharters.org
Stephanie Grisham is the Communications Director
Stephanie began her career as the Public Information Officer for the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) where she handled all media inquiries and assisted executive staff with presentations and information for the Arizona legislature as well as the ASRS Board of Directors. Stephanie also wrote and developed key publications including newsletters, annual reports and member handbooks and manuals. After five years with the State, Stephanie joined AAA Arizona as a spokesperson before moving into a boutique public relations firm prior to joining the team at the Arizona Charter Schools Association. Stephanie holds a degree in Business Administration from Minnesota State University, Mankato, and volunteers with CASA – Center for Abuse and Violence in Phoenix.
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stephanie@azcharters.org
Ashley Peyton is the Business Manager
Ashley began her professional career working for a lobbying firm. She was involved many aspects of lobbying along with doing all financial reporting for the firm. She has a degree in Finance from the University of Arizona , and is currently pursuing an MBA from Arizona State University.
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ashley@azcharters.org
Andrea Plucker is the Membership Development Manager
Andrea transferred to the Arizona Charter Schools Association from SmithBucklin, a large management consulting firm based in Chicago, IL. While there she led membership and volunteer programs for a national technology association and served as an organizational consultant for 15 regional association chapters. Prior to her career in association management, Andrea lived in rural China, Siberia, and St. Petersburg, Russia, leading student exchange programs for local universities. Ms. Plucker holds a degree in Political Science and International Studies from Pepperdine University where she served as Student Body President and graduated with distinction.
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andrea@azcharters.org
Somone Denmon is the Membership Marketing Coordinator
Somone is a recent graduate of Arizona State University with a background in educational advocacy and marketing gained as Student Body Vice President of ASU's West campus. She implemented a number of student campaigns focusing on textbook prices for students and tuition. In her free time she enjoys all things creative, long distance running, cycling, and rock climbing. With a passion for education, marketing, and customer service, Somone is invigorated to have the opportunity to be on the Arizona Charter Schools Association team.
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somone@azcharters.org
Parker Fox is the Membership Development Intern
Parker graduated from Veritas Preparatory Academy in May ’08. Having graduated from a charter school he saw first-hand the benefits that a charter school generates. He is passionate to encourage the cause of charter schools by interning at the Association. Parker plans on pursuing a degree in political science and chemistry at Hillsdale College in the fall of ‘08.
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parker@azcharters.org
Dorothy Mittendorf is the Office Manager/Assistant to CEO
Dorothy has been a Legal Assistant for the past 19 years for David J. Damron, Esq. of the Law Firm of Sanders & Parks, P.C. She is also actively involved in her church, St. Paul’s Catholic Church and has attended North Dakota State School of Science in Wahpeton, North Dakota for 9 month course in business/secretarial.
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dorothy@azcharters.org
Michele Diamond is the Financial Consultant
Formerly the Director of Government and Financial Affairs for the State Board for Charter Schools (ASBCS), Michele has experience in finance, auditing, lobbying and charter schools. Prior to working for the ASBCS, Michele was a senior auditor with the Arizona Auditor General’s Office for 8 years. She holds a Masters degree in Public Administration from Indiana University. Prior to her graduate work, Michele was a flight instructor and charter pilot in the state of Florida. She currently serves as the CEO of Diamond Financial Solutions, a financial service provider dedicated to high quality financial services and financial training. She also sits on the Arizona Central Credit Union’s Audit Committee.
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