Dear OCSA Families, Faculty, and Staff,
I hope this message finds you safe and healthy as we settle into the spring semester and conclude the third week of classes. I am so encouraged by the commitment and resilience of our entire OCSA family as we navigate this challenging time. I am seeing wonderful plans for unique programming, learning experiences, performance opportunities, and instructional innovation this semester, and I am grateful to our faculty and staff for their dedication to serving OCSA’s students at the highest levels possible.
As OCSA continues to grow and develop, the school’s leadership has been examining the best ways to more effectively serve our unique student body and support our faculty and staff. After careful review and consideration, we had planned to restructure the OCSA Administrative Team at the start of the 2020-2021 school year. However, we paused that process in order to focus on the delivery of our distance learning instructional program as a result of the pandemic.
Looking ahead, as we continue to plan for our dual learning academy model and an eventual return to on-campus instruction, we are now ready to proceed with the transition to a revised administrative model. I am pleased to announce that, on Wednesday, January 27, OCSA’s Board of Trustees unanimously approved a restructure of our Administrative Team to better meet the needs of our students and stakeholders this school year and as we move into the future.
Effective this coming Monday, February 1, Mr. Michael Ciecek has been promoted to serve as OCSA’s Principal, overseeing the operations of the academic and arts programs and helping to guide the school’s instructional strategic plan. Under the leadership of Mr. Ciecek, the OCSA Administrative Team will manage the day-to-day operations of the school and lead our faculty and staff in delivering a rigorous college-preparatory academic program coupled with pre-professional arts training.
Reporting to Mr. Ciecek and collaborating alongside him will be the same members of our current Dean Team:
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Mrs. Sally Lopez, Dean of Instruction, will manage the academic instructional program, professional development for all teachers, and standardized testing. Mrs. Lopez will also oversee student supervision of 9th and 10th grades.
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Mrs. Becca Freeland, Dean of Student Services, will supervise the Student Services Office and support the school counselors in their service to all OCSA students. Mrs. Freeland will also oversee student supervision of 11th and 12th grades.
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Dr. Maria Lazarova, Dean of Arts, will lead the arts conservatory instructional program and support the conservatory directors in the implementation of their individual curriculums. Dr. Lazarova will also oversee student supervision of 7th and 8th grades.
Also effective Monday, February 1, Dr. Gregory Endelman has been promoted to serve as the Executive Director of Special Services in light of his growing responsibilities overseeing the Special Services Departments for both OCSA and our sister school CSArts-SGV. Mr. Leon Metoyer, Learning Specialist, will continue in his current role collaborating with Dr. Endelman and supporting the needs of all students through our Special Services Department. Mr. Metoyer will also assist with student supervision of special needs students.
As always, our Executive Leadership Team will collaborate with and support OCSA’s Administrative Team. Together, I am confident that we will continue to provide a creative, challenging, and nurturing environment for our students.
Thank you for your support of the school’s ongoing growth and development. If you have any questions for the OCSA Administrative Team, please feel free to contact them directly at ocsa.administration@ocsarts.net.
All good things,
Ralph S. Opacic, Ed.D.
Founder & Executive Director
Orange County School of the Arts
