The Golden Door Charter School

Ms. Aviles was born and raised in Jersey City. She has made her career for the past 26 years as a fine arts shipping consultant with Masterpiece International. She was educated in the public school system in Jersey City and attended Jersey City State and Roberts Walsh Business School. She has served on Golden Door's Board of Trustees since spring 2002 and has served as President of the Board since spring of 2003. She is a single parent of three boys. Her eldest son is an alumnus of Golden Door and currently attending college in Florida. Her two younger sons have attended Golden Door since kindergarten.

Mirza Negron-Morales, Trustee

Ms. Negron has over 29 years' experience with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in the following positions: Director of Public Housing, New York Field Office (1995-Present); Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing, Washington, DC (1998); Acting Director for Troubled Agency Recovery, Washington, DC (1998); Director of Program Support, New York Regional Office (1989-1995); Section 8 Specialist, New York Field Office (1986-1989). Associations and Accomplishments: St. Peter's College Alumni Association, Parent Teacher Association, Vice President of the Board of Trustees for the Golden Door Charter School, The National Conference of Puerto Rican Women, Inc. Woman of the Year Award-1998, Secretary's Award for Excellence-1998, Assistant Secretary's Award-1998, Certificate of Merit-9/98, Secretary's Certificate for Superior Accomplishment-5/98, New York City Housing Authority Tribute to Women in the Forefront of Public Housing-1999, Vice President's National Performance Review Hammer Award-1999, Secretary's Best Practice Outstanding Award 1999, Recognition Medal of Merit from the President of the United States-2001, Secretarial Award for Hurricane Katrina efforts in 2006, Assistant Secretary's Award for Hurricane Katrina Efforts in 2006, Numerous Outstanding Performance Awards-present. Education: Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Peter's College-1979, Executive Education Program from the University of Maryland-1996, Leadership Program Graduate from the Office of Public and Indian Housing. Personal Information: Three children: Celina 20, Janelle 16, and E'lon 14. Janelle and E'lon are both 8th grade graduates of the Golden Door Charter School.

Ferdinand Fuentes, Trustee

Mr. Fuentes has been a trustee of the Golden Door Board for a total of seven years. He has been a United States Postal Inspection Service Police Officer for the past 33 years. He has resided in Jersey City for 23 years. He graduated with his bachelor's degree from Fordham University, Lincoln Arts Center. He has three children, one of which attended Golden Door since its inception in 1998 and graduated 8th grade from Golden Door in 2006.

Theda Crawford, Trustee

Theda Crawford, a voting member of the Golden Door Charter School Board of Trustees, is employed at Investment Services as a performance consultant and learning and development specialist. Her understanding of people and what motivates and/or discourages them brings a crucial skill to the board. This skill is very important when it comes to dealing with staff members, students, and parents. She is a great asset to the school's Board of Trustees.