Administration
Charity Zawatski - Executive Director
Charity Zawatski is joining our school family from Upstate New York. Charity is relocating from Brownville, NY with her family and her Great Dane, Jazmine. She has worked in public education for the past 23 years. Charity attended Florida Southern College where she earned a B.S. in Biology with marine science. While traveling abroad for a semester and completing the Semester at Sea program, Ms. Zawatski was inspired to become a teacher and started the MST program at SUNY Potsdam to earn a Master's Degree in General Professional Education to become a teacher. Ms. Zawatski started her career as a French and Science Teacher for eight years before venturing into administration.
At that time, Charity attended SUNY Oswego to earn a Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Administration. She has served as a Reading Coach, Professional Development Specialist, and Teacher Trainer for schools in need of improvement. While in Syracuse, Charity worked in the field with superintendents and administrative teams on both strategic and corrective plans. She also spent much time directly in the classroom coaching and modeling best instructional practices with teachers and students. Ms. Zawatski then transitioned into a school principalship where she has spent the last thirteen years. She has experienced building closures, district restructuring, and much change over that time. She has rebuilt grade-level teams, led and supported inclusive and differentiated instruction. Charity is passionate about being a lifelong learner as she is currently a doctoral candidate through Nova Southeastern University completing her doctorate this fall. Charity has worked at all levels within the UPK-12 realm of education and brings diverse experience to the team and school.
Shannon Leahy - Assistant Principal of Student Services
As a proud Minnesota native and a die-hard Green Bay Packer fan, Shannon Leahy embodies the spirit of the green and gold! Her journey began in Winona, MN, where she nurtured her passion for education, earning a Bachelor of Science in Elementary and Early Childhood Education from Winona State University. Furthering Shannon’s commitment to lifelong learning, she obtained a Master of Science in Teaching, Learning, and Leadership from Southwest Minnesota State University.
With four years of enriching teaching experience in Byron, MN, and a year in the vibrant community of Naples, FL, Shannon has honed her skills in creating engaging and inclusive learning environments. Her academic and professional journey has been a testament to her dedication to education and leadership.
Away from the classroom, Ms. Leahy cherishes moments with Polina, her spirited petite Bernedoodle, and is embarking on an exciting home-search journey with her boyfriend, AJ. Shannon’s leisure time is a blend of culinary explorations, serene nature walks, and the thrilling escapades of superhero movies.
Shannon is thrilled to join the Oak Creek Charter and FORZA Education Management community and is eager to meet all the staff and students. She anticipates not only contributing to the collective success but also cheering on the OCCS Ocelots in every stride they take together. Here’s to embarking on this new adventure with enthusiasm and a shared commitment to excellence!
Ronald Renna– Executive Director of Grants and Fundraising
Ron has over forty years of professional experience in K-12 education and has been in the charter school business since its inception in the mid-1990s. He was a former board member of Gulf Coast Charter Academy and has written, opened, and operated over thirty charter schools in Florida.
Ron received a BA degree from the University of South Florida, a master’s degree in Bilingual/Multicultural Education, and an Educational Specialist degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Miami. He is bilingual in Spanish and English.
Ron began his career as a middle school and high school English and social studies teacher in 1977. He has been an elementary, middle, and high school principal for over 20 years. Ron has conducted workshops on finance, budgeting, governance, and start-up procedures. Ron has developed numerous materials to assist schools and has collaborated with schools in Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Ohio, Tennessee, Washington D.C., and overseas. Before creating his own school consulting firm, Ron served as Director of Operations in Florida and Georgia for one of the nation’s largest education management companies. In that position, Ron negotiated contracts with various School Boards, opened new schools, and ensured regulatory compliance. Ron has a wealth of experience and knowledge, and we are excited to have him on our team!