Executive Team
Dedicated leaders committed to educational excellence
Leona Group Schools lives out what it means to know each student "by name, by face, and by family."
Founded by the late Dr. Bill Coats, a national leader in education reform, Leona Group Schools continues to redefine what's possible in public education. His legacy lives on through more than 900 educators and staff at 28 Arizona campuses in removing barriers to education and success for K-12 students.
Leadership
Michele Kaye
Chief Executive Officer
Michele Kaye is Chief Executive Officer at Leona Group Schools, a K-12 network of 28 public charter schools throughout Arizona. She joined Leona Group Schools in January 2000 as an English teacher at Maya High School in west Phoenix. Prior to being named CEO, Michele held a number of positions within the organization including Assistant School Leader, Curriculum Coach, Director of Leona's Quality Schools Initiative, and Chief Operating Officer.
An immediate past member of the Arizona State Board of Education, Michele currently serves as a board member of the Arizona Charter Schools Association and Hopi Relief, a local non-profit organization serving the Hopi community. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Arizona State University and a Master of Education degree in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University. Michele is the proud mother of three children.
Mary Berg
Vice President of Academic Support Services
Mary Berg began her career at The Leona Group in 1999 at Summit High School as a math teacher, assistant principal and curriculum coach until moving to TLG corporate to work with the Director of QSI. Mary currently coordinates the Academic Support Services team to ensure that all of its efforts are support-driven and focused on the academic success of our schools.
Mary holds a Bachelor of Arts in Human Resource Management, a post baccalaureate in secondary mathematics education and a Masters degree in physical therapy.
Patrick Lawrence
Chief Financial Officer
Patrick Lawrence graduated from Adrian College in Adrian, Michigan with a Bachelor's of Business Administration in accounting with an emphasis on business administration. Lawrence worked at a large insurance company in Michigan for five years before joining The Leona Group in 1997. Mr. Lawrence serves in the capacity of chief financial officer and is currently based out of the Arizona corporate office.
Rachael Parks
Vice President of Human Resources
Rachael Parks joined The Leona Group as part of the Michigan office in 1999. She relocated to the Arizona office in 2001 and began her work in Human Resources. Ms. Parks was an HR Generalist and then Benefits Manager overseeing all HR practices. From 2011-2020, Ms. Parks served as the Director of Technology for all of The Leona Group's operations. Most recently, Ms. Parks has returned to her roots as the Vice President of Human Resources. Her long tenure at Leona, and rich, varied experience make her an ideal fit for this role.
Our Commitment to You
Our leadership team is committed to transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement. We believe in:
Open Communication
We maintain open lines of communication with families, staff, and community members.
Data-Driven Decisions
We use data to inform our decisions and measure our progress toward goals.
Continuous Learning
We invest in professional development for ourselves and our entire team.
Student-Centered Focus
Every decision we make is guided by what's best for our students.
Questions or Feedback?
Our leadership team is always available to hear from families and community members.