Our Staff and Faculty
Lisamarie Reid
Ms. Reid joins us with over two decades of experience in education. Originally from the East coast, Ms. Reid began her career in education in 2002 as a New York City Teaching Fellow in an underserved, predominantly Latino neighborhood in The Bronx, New York. She transitioned from a public school to a Brooklyn, NY charter school as a Dean of Instruction and worked towards decimating the achievement gap with proven data results for four consecutive years. In her pursuit to continue to impact the lives of students, Ms. Reid relocated to San Jose, CA and became the Assistant Principal at Alpha Cornerstone Academy where she increased student mastery on NWEA MAP by 20%. She then transitioned to the ACE Empower team as Principal and secured a 5 year Charter Renewal during the Pandemic. Ms. Reid holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Master's of Science in Education. She is excited to bring her wealth of instructional knowledge as well as systems and routines to the new role of Executive Director for Perseverance Preparatory School.
La Verne Niles
Ms. Niles is an enthusiastic educator and lover of children. Originally from the East Coast, she has lived in several states accumulating a breadth of knowledge and experiences from various educational institutions. She has six years of experience working within the Philadelphia School District. She previously taught and held leadership positions within the religious sector for twelve years. Ms. Niles is passionate about teaching the whole child and incorporating a love of self and communal identity. She has been successful with promoting student achievement and building strong relationships with both students and families. Prior to entering the field of education, Ms. Niles was a prominent banker for ten years. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Services from the University of Hartford in Connecticut and a Master’s in Education from Chestnut Hill College in Pennsylvania.
Ms. Martinez graduated from Cal State East Bay in 2019 with a Bachelor's in Hospitality & Tourism. In addition to her degree, she has worked in customer service for over 15 years. She is looking forward to bringing her skills to the charter school community.
Michelle Martinez
Ms. Cruz, a San Jose native, is a full-time student at Evergreen Valley College pursuing an Associates degree with an emphasis in Health Science. After finishing her AA, she plans to transfer to Foot Hill College to work toward her Bachelors in Health Science and work as a pediatric dental hygienist. She finds joy in instilling students with the confidence they need to face the world. She is very grateful to be a part of the Perseverance Prep community
Rosa Cruz
Mr. Sargent is excited to bring his teaching and educational experiences to Perseverance Prep. He began his teaching journey at a university in Lithuania, and has also taught at the high school level in China. He has years of substitute teaching experience in the Central Valley of California. While substitute teaching, Mr. Sargent worked to earn his multiple subject teaching credential. He values critical thinking and believes that all students are deserving of a high-quality education. Mr. Sargent holds a bachelor’s degree from Houghton College, a master’s degree from American University, and a teaching credential from Western Governors University. Outside of the classroom, he enjoys spending time with family, traveling throughout California and the world, and listening to music.
Bradford Sargent
