Our team is dedicated, compassionate, and acutely aware of the limitless potential of all students who are given opportunities to learn and grow. We go to great lengths to identify resources, partnerships, and programs that will support the conditions to create these opportunities for student success.
Ellen leads the CSC as Executive Director, directing and implementing the organization' s SIMPLE Whole Child Model in under-resourced PK-8 grade schools in the LA Archdiocese. She has extensive experience in education reform in the public, charter and urban Catholic school spaces. Ellen and the CSC team are committed to closing the literacy and numeracy gaps in the school communities they serve and are experiencing tremendous progress in achieving those outcomes. She is a member of LMU School of Education's, Board of Visitors; former co-leader of the LA Catholic Funders Leadership Innovation Team and current member of the Catholic Education Cooperative. Ellen believes that with a focus on equity and access to quality education, meaningful opportunities for all students can be created, regardless of the zip codes in which they live.
Steve was a professor at Santa Clara University for 31 years where he directed programs for the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics. He joined the CSC team in 2017 and currently facilitates the CSC's Leadership Supports including curriculum adoption and implementation with fidelity; data collection and analysis; leadership training and coaching; mentorship of school leaders through the planning and implementation of CSC's SIMPLE Approach; and facilitating the CSC's Leadership, Financial, and Socio-Emotional Learning Professional Learning sessions. Steve brings an exceptional wealth of knowledge and experience to the CSC from a career in Catholic school instruction and administration at the elementary, secondary, and university levels, as well as considerable background in accounting and financial management.
Born and raised in an under-resourced community in the Philippines and educated in Catholic schools from kindergarten through high school, Crisabel experienced firsthand the transformative power of education—an experience that continues to fuel her passion for equity and access. Now serving as CSC Director of Instruction, Crisabel brings over a decade of experience in elementary education, instructional coaching, and curriculum implementation. She holds a master's degree in Urban Education with a literacy specialization from Loyola Marymount University and supports schools in strengthening instructional practices and using data to drive student growth. Her work is grounded in a deep commitment to teacher empowerment and student achievement as foundations for lasting impact in schools and communities.