Brightside Academy is a company made up of strong, talented individuals including the company’s leadership team. Knowing that children learn the most in childhood, the company’s leadership team, along with their respective teams, work to provide all families access to an excellent educational experience for all children enrolled in our programs.
Jack Safer, President & Chief Executive Officer
Jack Safer joined Brightside Academy as the Chief Operations Officer in 2016 after working in the social services and healthcare sector for over a decade. Spending almost 5 years overseeing daily operations, he will shift focus, and work towards the development and expansion of ancillary support systems, which will complement our core ECE program. Through Jack’s commitment and dedication to our communities, he and the team plan to implement a number of initiatives which will include children and families of all backgrounds, a therapeutic nursery model, behavioral and mental health awareness, parent and family support groups, and educator career paths. A key component will also be the establishment of the “Brightside Academy Foundation”
Ray Wojtowicz, Chief Financial Officer
Ray Wojtowicz joined Brightside Academy in May 2007. He holds a master’s in business administration in accounting and finance from the Katz Graduate School at the University of Pittsburgh. He has held multiple positions in the Finance Department throughout the years within Brightside Academy. As Chief Financial Officer, he oversees all accounting functions, grant administration, and CACFP compliance.
Christine Schreiber, Vice President, Human Resources
Christine has worked in human resources for 22 years, including seven years in senior leadership roles. She most recently served as HR Director at Accupac, a manufacturing company with over 800 employees in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Prior to her tenure at Accupac Christine spent 16 years at the manufacturing company Preferred Sands, rising through the HR ranks to ultimately become HR Director. At Preferred Sands she managed a team that was spread across nine locations and oversaw HR needs for hundreds of staff members. Christine has a Bachelor of Science in International Business and Economics with a concentration in Japanese from Temple University.
Shawna Starling, Vice President, Intervention and Development
Having served in a leadership capacity within early intervention and special education for over 15 years, Shawna brings passion, drive, and focus to enrich the lives of our staff and students through optimal growth and learning opportunities. Shawna’s mission is to nurture the early growth and development of young children and nurture the nurturer and cultivate sustainability in communities to achieve long-term positive effects on the global society.
Allison Grundy, Vice President, Education and Development
Allison is a graduate of the University of Oregon, holds a Master’s degree in Urban Education from the University of Pennsylvania, and has a Principal Certification from Relay Graduate School of Education. She has spent the past decade working in urban education in the great city of Philadelphia. She started her career as a teacher of exceptional learners, later moving into school leadership. She served as an Assistant Principal of Specialized Services, an Assistant Principal for grades kindergarten through second, and most recently as a principal of a K-8 public charter school. She is a passionate educator deeply committed to teacher development, family engagement, and providing all students with a high-quality educational experience.
