Independence Mission Schools

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Independence Mission Schools

A promising future starts right here. Join us in making a difference.

About Independence Mission Schools

Independence Mission Schools helps underserved students of all faiths living throughout Philadelphia. Our inspiring new network of 15 schools blends the best of Catholic education with innovative teaching strategies designed to meet the unique learning needs of students from low-income communities.

Our unique model brings together a group of former parish elementary schools into a thriving independent network that is working to provide access to high-quality education to thousands of inner-city children.

Independence Mission Schools is a Pennsylvania nonprofit, tax-exempt charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

    Mission

    Independence Mission Schools provides a transformative Catholic education to children of all faiths in low-income neighborhoods across the city of Philadelphia.

    One of the poorest urban centers in the nation, Philadelphia has 400,000 residents living in poverty. Among students attending an Independence Mission School, 36% live in poverty, nearly double the rate of children across the nation. That’s a staggering number.

    Each day we open our doors to nearly 5,000 students, many carrying with them the challenges of life below the poverty line — food insecurity, home insecurity, violence and fundamental learning deficits. These circumstances could seem like insurmountable odds for these young learners. Yet they are resilient and come to us energized and full of promise.

    Unlocking this potential starts with a culture of love that values and embraces each child. The promise of God’s love, shown by our faculty and staff, is at the very core of the Catholic education our schools deliver. This atmosphere sets our students, from Pre-K to Grade 8, on the path to a promising future confident in their own worth so they can be ready to succeed both in and out of the classroom.

    History

    Philadelphia is home to the first Catholic schools in the nation and has a long history helping the city’s immigrant population get a successful start. As the urban landscape has evolved, our inner-city population has become much more diverse ethnically, racially, and religiously. Now, more than ever, Catholic education is vitally important to provide the promise of quality education to low-income families.

    Independence Mission Schools was born out of the recognition that urban Catholic schools are crucial civic assets and the need for a new model of operation to ensure their survival.

    It started with one school — St. Martin de Porres — located in the second poorest congressional district in the country. Once serving a largely Irish immigrant base, and one of many schools in the immediate vicinity, it is now the only Catholic school in this section of Philadelphia. The school serves a student body of 500 children, which is entirely African American and almost entirely non-Catholic. A small pool of dedicated philanthropists took on this school and began investing in the school’s facilities, programs, and strategic planning. Their approach was overwhelmingly successful and created the blueprint for the network that would later become Independence Mission Schools.

    In 2012 when the future of Catholic schools across Philadelphia was threatened, this same group of investors, along with a small group of other engaged citizens, rose to the need for leadership and set out to emulate the success of St. Martin de Porres on a broader scale. In 2013 they formed Independence Mission Schools as a 501(c)(3) non-profit, assuming the complete and independent operation of 15 schools from their parishes and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. The agreement underlying this transfer is one of national example and unprecedented for the degree of transparency and control of Catholic schools given to an independent organization.

    Board

    Rick Auletta

    President

    Independence Mission Schools

    Rick joined Independence Mission Schools as President in June 2017. Immediately prior to IMS, Rick served as CEO and President of Softgate Systems, Inc, a company, acquired by Paypal, that offered an electronic payment solution for consumers to pay their bills and utilities with cash in participating stores. Rick has over 18 years of sales experience in the financial industry. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Wagner College.

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    James Broussard

    Board Member

    Semi-Retired

    Jim graduated from the LaSalle College Evening Division, after which he launched a successful career in the insurance industry. A service-driven individual, he is a passionate advocate for a number of local organizations including the Girard College Development Fund and the Bethesda Project, which provides support to Philadelphia’s homeless.

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    Anthony Cellucci

    Board Member,
    Chair, Local Board Committee

    Co-Founder & Managing Partner
    The Beacon Group of Companies

    As a graduate of both Villanova University and an IMS elementary school in the Overbrook section of West Philadelphia (St. Frances Cabrini School), Anthony realizes first-hand the positive impact a Catholic education can have on a young person. He hopes to keep those same opportunities available via his work to support the Independence Mission Schools model.

    William P. Curtis, Jr.

    Board Member

    Partner
    Porter & Curtis, LLC

    Bill holds a B.S. in Accounting and M.B.A. in Finance from St. Joseph’s University as well as a JD from Temple University School of Law. Through his work at Porter & Curtis, Bill and his team provide insurance, claims administration, and risk management information system support. They are known nationally for their work providing these services to Catholic dioceses.

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    Jack Donnelly

    Board Member,
    Chair, Governance Committee

    Former CEO
    L.F. Driscoll

    Following his graduation from Drexel with a Civil Engineering degree, Jack joined L.F. Driscoll and rose through the ranks, becoming President, CEO, and owner. He sold the company in 2009 and retired in 2014. Jack is a parishioner at St. Katharine of Siena Church in Wayne and is a dedicated philanthropist. He received the Humanitarian Award from the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) in 2016.

    John Figge

    Board Member

    President
    JOF Investments

    John moved to the Greater Philadelphia region in 2002 following time spent in the Boston area and California. He helped establish a School Board and served as the first board president of the DePaul Catholic School in Germantown, now an IMS school. John currently resides in Bryn Mawr with his wife, Lisa, and their four children.

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    Bishop Michael J. Fitzgerald

    Board Member

    Auxiliary to the Archbishop of Philadelphia

    Bishop Fitzgerald was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in 1980 beginning his ministry as Parochial Vicar at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish. In 2010, Bishop Fitzgerald was ordained Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia. He is a Fourth Degree Member of the Knights of Columbus and a member of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.

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    Lauralee V. Howley

    Board Member

    Executive Director
    Howley Foundation

    Lorie’s passion for helping others reach their education dreams began as a benefactor for a single student. Today, as the Executive Director of the Howley Foundation, Lorie helps hundreds of students in Ohio and Philadelphia get a transformative school experience.

    Michael S. Jackson

    Board Member,
    Chair, Finance Committee

    Partner, Tax
    GrantThornton, LLP

    Mike began his career with Ernst & Young, LLP and has over 20 years of experience in tax compliance, financials planning, and wealth transfer strategies. He is a CPA and co-author of two books – The Tools and Techniques of Income Tax Planning and The Tools and Techniques of Financial Planning – which are widely used as educational resource material by those in the financial planning profession.

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    Br. Richard Kestler, FSC

    Board Member,
    Chair, Catholic Identity Committee

    Former President
    West Catholic Preparatory HS

    Brother Richard has been a De La Salle Christian Brother for over fifty years, serving the needs of people in various stages of life. He is a native Philadelphian, proud of his early education from the Sister Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the De La Salle Brothers, and realized early in his youth that he wanted to be a teacher. He recently retired from his position as President of West Catholic Preparatory High School in West Philly.

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    Dr. Mary McDonald

    Board Member
    Chair, Academic Committee

    President
    MCD Partners

    Mary is known as the architect of the Jubilee Schools in Memphis. Her education career spans everything from teaching algebra, to school and system leadership, to leadership mentoring and consulting. In 2012, she founded, and is CEO/Presidents of, MCD Partners, a national education consulting firm with a focus on urban education. She shares her incredible insights nationally as a published author and national speaker, and was the featured speaker at the White House Summit on Urban Education.

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    Brian McElwee

    Board Chairman,
    Chair, Executive Committee

    President
    Valley Forge Investment Corp.

    Brian has long been a believer in the importance of the Catholic School system to the city of Philadelphia. In addition to his role with IMS, he serves on the Board of BLOCS, an organization that raises and allocates scholarship funds that allow students to attend Catholic schools. His advocacy in the area of scholarship funding has helped ensure that all families, regardless of income, have access to a high-quality education for their children. Brian received his Bachelor’s Degree and MBA from Drexel University in 1972.

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    Anne McGoldrick

    Board Member,
    Chair, Development Committee

    Former President
    Independence Mission Schools

    Anne is thrilled to serve on the IMS board after spending the last 5 years as part of the founding IMS management team, first as our CFO and from March 2015 as President.
    While she loved her role in leading IMS in its early years, she is even more excited to now serve as Chair of our Development Committee and help develop the unfolding legacy of Independence Mission Schools for our city. Anne is a Philadelphia native and proud product of Catholic schools.

    Richard Nourie

    Richard Nourie

    Board Emeritus

    Former Principal and Sr. VP
    Johnson and Higgins

    In addition to his 40-year career in Employee Benefits and Financial Services, Dick has been involved in many philanthropic endeavors throughout his life. For almost 30 years, he served The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in various capacities, both nationally and locally. Dick also served on the Board of the Bethesda Project for eleven years, and he is currently a member of the Board of St. Malachy School.

    Ken Phelan

    Board Member

    Chief Risk Officer; US Department of the Treasury

    Ken joined the U.S. Department of the Treasury as its first ever Chief Risk Officer in November of 2014. Prior to this, he served as the Chief Risk Officer for a number of large financial institutions. Ken holds a JD from Villanova University School of Law and a Masters in Economics from Trinity College, Dublin, and has more than 20 years of experience in finance across risk management, capital markets and structured products.

    Daniel Pickens

    Board Member

    Partner
    BA Securities

    Now a partner with BA Securities, Dan has more than 20 years of corporate finance and mergers and acquisition experience at several large regional investment banks. He has served on the boards of various corporations, both public and private, and is currently on the boards of St. Malachy School and St. Thomas Aquinas School.

    Maris Ogg

    Board Member

    President
    Tower Bridge Advisors

    Maris has long been an advocate for youth and education. In addition to IMS, she serves on the Board of the Presbyterian Children’s Village, The Board of St. James School, the Owl Fund Advisory Board, the Carson Valley Children’s Aid Advisory Board and the Philadelphia Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society.   In her spare time, Maris enjoys gardening, travel, music and woodworking.

    Michael Rashid

    Board Member

    Former President and CEO
    AmeriHealth Caritas

    Michael most recently served as President and CEO of the AmeriHealth Mercy Family of Companies, following 14 years of serving as the company’s Executive Vice President. He earned a Master’s of Business Administration in Finance from the Harvard Business School and a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from the University of Southern California.

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    Marc Richman

    Board Member

    Managing Director
    Private Wealth Advisor
    Morgan Stanley, Private Wealth Management

    Prior to his work with Morgan Stanley, Marc served as a member of the Private Wealth Management Group of Deutsche Bank. Marc is a member of the Board of Directors of The Agnes Irwin School and St. Martin de Porres, an IMS school.

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    Joseph Stapleton

    Board Member,
    Chair, Legal and Compliance Committee

    Partner
    Montgomery, McCracken, Walker & rhoads, LLP

    Joe is a corporate partner at Montgomery, McCracken, Walker & Rhoads, where he co-chairs the firm’s Technology Law Group. He is a member of the Board of St. Christopher’s Foundation for Children as well as the Board of St. Martin de Porres, an IMS school. Joe is a longtime volunteer at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

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    Michael Young

    Board Member,
    Chair, Facilities Committee

    Founder
    Young Capital and Classic Management, Inc.

    Michael founded Classic Management Inc. in 1982, a residential and commercial property management and development firm of which he serves as CEO. He is a member of various Boards including BLOCS, St. Martin de Porres, an IMS school, and Invisible Sentinel. Michael and his wife Sue have helped support inner-city students with scholarships to Philadelphia’s more prestigious high schools for 15 years.

    Model

    The dynamic model supporting the operation of Independence Mission Schools is a critical factor in our organization’s overall success. Three key factors are the core of our innovative system:

    Modern Operating Infrastructure

    Our central office provides support for managing the business of schools, so our schools can be in the business of educating children. Our universal financial aid process, robust accounting and financial systems, and strategic talent acquisition plan are all designed to support school leadership while providing transparency and accountability.

    Empowering Autonomy

    Our independent schools are at the center of decision-making to best serve their students. This ensures they retain their school identity which is critical to building social capital in their communities. Each school leadership team manages its own budget, makes hiring decisions, and makes and meets its own enrollment goals. Additionally, each school boasts its own local board to support philanthropy efforts and advance their ties to alumni, community and corporate partners.

    Faith Driven for Academic Success

    Our drive for high-quality academics is intrinsically linked with our strong Catholic identity. Catholic schools have always known it is about more than what you learn in the classroom, it is about who you become. Building on this legacy, the focus of personal responsibility and development is central to our approach and vital to our students’ success.

    FAQ

    Who do Independence Mission Schools serve?

    The short answer: everyone! Independence Mission Schools is a non-profit network of 15 elementary schools with a strong legacy of helping inner-city children succeed. Our goal is to provide high-quality education in a faith-driven environment for students of all faiths and all cultures. Our mission is to provide a transformative Catholic education that closes the achievement gap for our students and empowers them to reach their full potential today and in the future.

    What is Independence Mission Schools?

    IMS is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) managing a network of 15 independent Catholic schools.

    Are IMS Schools Catholic Schools?

    Yes, IMS schools are Catholic schools, but they are not owned or operated by a parish or the Archdiocese. While the majority of our students are non-Catholic, parent surveys show one of their top reasons to choose an IMS school is because they want their child educated in an environment that emphasizes character development. Our curriculum emphasizes respect of the diversity of our student population while teaching from a traditional Catholic perspective, Gospel values that are respected by all faiths.

    What is the Biggest Challenge IMS Students Face?

    IMS students who are living in poverty or in high poverty communities face a multitude of challenges including food insecurity, home insecurity, violence and fundamental learning deficits that disrupts focus and their ability to learn. For our students to be successful, we know we must meet these needs first for them to be ready to learn.

    Leadership

    Mamie Doyle Mannella is Chief Operating Officer, (COO) at Independence Mission Schools (IMS)

    In this capacity, she oversees the day to day operations of the central management office to ensure that the operational systems, processes, and personnel, are aligned properly to achieve the stated objectives of the organization.

    Mamie began her career in education through Teach for America (TFA) and taught 6th grade in the Kensington community of Philadelphia. Following her time in the classroom, she joined TFA’s central office staff in a variety of capacities, including leading the region’s fundraising and development efforts as Managing Director of Development and later as Chief of Staff where she oversaw the region’s internal strategic planning operations and processes, and its talent recruitment efforts.

    After her time at TFA, Mamie served as Special Assistant to the Deputy Commissioner at the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE). Additionally, she served as Director of the Office of Educator Recruitment & Preparation at NJDOE supporting over 600 districts and dozens of educator preparation programs across the state to improve the support and training of new teachers. She then worked for the Rodel Foundation of Delaware as their Senior Director of Policy.

    Mamie grew up in St. Louis and attended Catholic school throughout elementary and high school.   She now resides in Philadelphia with her husband, Marc and their son, Quincy.

    Greg Vincent is the Chief Academic Officer (CAO) at Independence Mission Schools IMS

    Greg is a former NYC public school teacher and department chair who has worked for over 15 years to expand educational opportunities for underserved students. As an executive at The New Teacher Project (TNTP) Greg oversaw a department of over 50 consultants working across dozens of school districts on a range of projects to increase teacher and leader effectiveness. This work included the re-design of the organization’s teacher training programs and work with school systems to align curriculum, instruction, and professional development practices to the Common Core State Standards.

    Greg grew up in the Catholic faith as a member of St. Bridget’s parish in East Falls. He holds a BS in Civil Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a Master’s in City Planning degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He is a proud father and husband.