Strong leaders make
strong schools.

As principal of Blanca Alvarado School, Cynthia Nava Zavala is responsible for setting the vision and strategy for data-driven instruction and student and staff culture.

Cynthia began her career in education as a recruitment coordinator for the Raza Recruitment and Retention Center, while completing her undergraduate degree at the University of California, Berkeley. After graduating, Cynthia joined Teach for America in Newark, NJ, where she taught self-contained fifth and sixth grade bilingual students. After teaching in Newark, Cynthia went on to study at Harvard’s Graduate School of Education, simultaneously serving as an instructional coach for Match Education and the Harvard University Undergraduate Teacher Education Program. Cynthia also served as a Campus Director for Citizen Schools in East San José, where she launched the first school partnership with Alum Rock Union School District.

Cynthia holds an undergraduate degree from the University of California, Berkeley and earned a M.Ed. in Education Policy and Management from Harvard’s Graduate School of Education.

Dr. Carlson began her teaching career in East Palo Alto as a 3rd grade teacher. While she was there, she also taught 5th grade and was the Math and Technology coach. Upon her acceptance to University of Southern California (USC) for her master’s degree in teaching, she moved to southern California. She moved out of the classroom as a Dean of Instruction and worked closely with the principal to create and monitor the instructional program as well as to provide workshops for families. Dr. Carlson went back to school where she received her doctorate degree in educational leadership and also completed a principal-leadership residency.

She was most recently the principal of a TK-8 school in Boyle Heights – located in Los Angeles, where her school serves a community very similar to Alpha’s, where over 90% of students received Free and Reduced Lunch. She’s excited to join the Alpha team as the new principal of Alpha: José Hernández and to continue to grow as a leader and learn something new from her students, staff, families, and community.

Besides living a few years in Mexico as a child, East San José has been Jorge’s home for over 25 years. Jorge’s academic and professional career started in San José City College, where he took general education classes before transferring to Santa Clara University. During his 3 years there, he worked with special needs students and students who were not doing well in school. At SCU, Jorge attached a Bachelors in Sociology while working at the Bill Wilson Center as a counselor and continued there until getting his teacher credential and Masters in Education.

For the past 4 years, Jorge has been in charge of academic culture, discipline, recruitment, parent participation, special education, and teacher coaching in a charter high school with a similar mission to Alpha. He is excited to bring his life and professional experience to Alpha and looks forward to continue to develop a culture of high expectations and academic excellence at our school.

Marion Dickel brings extensive educational experience to Cornerstone. She began her career in education in Pennsylvania teaching accelerated reading and math and gifted education courses to students in grades K-5.  After moving to California in 2010, Marion joined Cornerstone in its second year as a first grade teacher. Three years later she became Cornerstone’s Blended Learning Director, designing and leading implementation of its 1-1 blended learning program.  The following year, she served as the school’s Academic Director, with responsibility for scheduling, coaching, curriculum, professional development, and student support. 

Marion spent the last three years in the Saratoga Union School District as a Teacher on Special Assignment. There she worked closely with the district’s Assistant Superintendent and Director of Technology to design and implement professional development, coordinate programs for the district’s English learners, review and pilot curriculum, and coach teachers to differentiate instruction and integrate technology in their teaching. 

Marion has received various accolades for her work, including being named Teacher of the Year by the Pennsylvania Association of Gifted Education and Cornerstone Educator of the Year.  Marion Dickel holds a BA in Economics from the University of Michigan, a JD from Northwestern, and two Masters in Education, one in Elementary Education and the other in Instructional Leadership.