Charter Schools USA Leadership

Dr. David Christiansen is a Chief of Schools at Charter Schools USA and is based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He has worked as Principal at Charter Schools USA, Deputy Superintendent/Chief of Schools at School District of Palm Beach County, and Associate Superintendent at Fresno Unified School District. David studied at NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and University of Central Florida.

Heather joins the American Honors team after developing her teaching and mentoring skills both in the USA and abroad. She has spent close to two years traveling and teaching around the globe and two years working with Teach for America in Indianapolis teaching Spanish and English as a New Language in a grades 7-12 Charter School. Heather is a graduate of the University of Kentucky with Degrees in Psychology and Spanish. She graduated in 2010 Magna Cum Laude with Departmental Honors. While attending the University of Kentucky, Heather worked for the Art Museum as well as the Psychology Department and was a Research Assistant for studies on perceived discrimination and its effect on academic achievement and self-efficacy. These studies fueled her desire to pursue education and fight for cultural competency in schools and the community. She also participated in the Study Abroad program by working the study abroad fairs and spent a summer studying and living in Moreila, Mexico where she developed her passion for travel and new cultural experiences. This past spring (2014), Heather earned her Masters Degree in Teaching from Marian University in Indianapolis.

Raquel is a student Southern University and Agricultural and Mechanical College at Baton Rouge starting in 2015 and is based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She is a Board of Directors at Girl Scouts Louisiana East and Chief Academic Officer at Charter Schools USA. Raquel has worked as Principal at East Baton Rouge Parish School System, Regional Director of Education at Charter Schools USA, and Principal at West Feliciana Parish School System. She studied at Xavier University of Louisiana between 2012 and 2012 and Southern University and Agricultural and Mechanical College at Baton Rouge between 2003 and 2003.