Max Smith

Chair

Finance 
Fundraising
Educational Accountability

Max Smith Jr. is the Chair of the Amani Public Charter School Board of Trustees. Mr. Smith has always been passionate about politics, activism, and effecting change within his community and brings that same energy and enthusiasm to the Amani family. A lifelong New Yorker, Mr. Smith has a B.A. in Government from Cornell University. Mr. Smith’s professional background includes work in the legal field, and extensive work in the political and government arenas. This included working as an organizer on President Barack Obama’s reelection campaign, as well as the 2013 Mayoral election and a strategist on numerous local races. Mr. Smith was also the Executive Director of Democracy for New York City, a political action committee that supported progressive candidates running for office as well as other organizations as a vehicle for grassroots activism throughout New York City and beyond. Mr. Smith has also worked as a Program Manager for the New York City Department of Education, where he assisted New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio on the initial rollout of universal pre-kindergarten in New York City. Mr. Smith looks to bring his experience to Amani and provide the same educational opportunities to Mount Vernon’s youth.

Gina Sardi

Vice Chair

Governance 
Educational Accountability

Gina was the Founder, Principal and Chief Executive Officer of the New York City Montessori Charter School in the South Bronx. This school opened in 2011 (the same year that Amani opened) with 104 students and grew to have 325. It was the only Montessori charter school in NY State, and the only Montessori public school in NY City. Founding and directing this school was the culmination of over 42 years of experience as a school leader and educator, which started with teaching, co-founding, and co-directing in an experimental school in Venezuela and included 20 years as an educational director of an Independent School in NYC. At NYCMCS, Gina developed innovative educational programs that met the demands of the State Education Department, and applied Montessori principles and differentiated instruction. Since her retirement she has worked as mentor and consultant for several schools and educators and has pursued her life-long passion for art, taking classes, drawing and painting, and organizing an Art Collective to provide art classes and open studio time. Gina has a BS in Secondary Education and Spanish Literature from Long Island University and an MS in School Leadership from St. John’s University.

John Kuo

Treasurer

Finance

John W. Kuo serves as the Treasurer and chair of the Finance Committee of the Amani Public Charter School Board of Trustees. He is a retired general counsel of Fortune 1000 companies and now serves on company and not-for-profit boards and engages in community and volunteer activities. In addition to Amani, John is on the board of directors of Mirion Technologies (NYSE:MIR), a radiation safety company, and chairs its Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee and serves on its Compensation Committee. He is also on the advisory council of the Asian Pacific Fund; and was the past chairman of the Administrative Board of Cornell University Council and past President of the Berkeley Law Alumni Association Board. Professionally, John has been in life sciences for almost 20 years, most notably 15 years as SVP, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Varian Medical Systems, a Fortune 1000/S&P500 medical device company devoted to treating cancer. Most recently, he was the CLO at Visby Medical, a late-stage start-up pioneering rapid, portable PCR technology. John has worked in the energy, high tech and life sciences industries, and has been an expat working in Scotland and Singapore. John speaks on cross-border transactions, general counsel practice, corporate governance and diversity & inclusion.

Paul Morenburg

Member

Finance 
Fundraising

Paul Morenberg is chairperson of the Fundraising Committee of the Amani Board of Trustees. A resident of Wayland, Massachusetts, Paul previously served on the Wayland Public Schools Foundation, where he encouraged local businesses to support the public schools. Paul currently serves on the Personnel Board for the Town of Wayland. For about twenty years, Paul has operated a small law practice specializing in employment law and business litigation. He is a seasoned trial attorney, who has tried cases in state and federal courts. Paul is also trained as a mediator, and he is certified in discrimination prevention training. He is a graduate of Cornell University and Boston College Law School.

Latoya Attis

Member

Governance 
Educational Accountability

Stephanie Edwards

Member

Educational Accountability 
Governance
Fundraising

Sondra WuDunn

Secretary

Educational Accountability 
Capital Planning

Alex Spencer

Board Member

Finance
Fundraising
Capital Planning