The Foundation Academies Board of Trustees (F.A.B.O.T.) is dedicated to strengthening our collaborative influence and serving as a positive pillar in the Trenton community. Through their commitment and guidance, the Board plays a crucial role in supporting our mission and ensuring that our school remains a beacon of excellence and opportunity for all our scholars.

Richard serves as Managing Director at LeveragED Foundation. Before joining the LeveragED team, Richard served as Managing Director of Schools at Success Academy, managing a portfolio of 13 elementary and middle schools. In addition to managing schools, he also designed and led Success Academy's teacher on-boarding and training program, training over 700 new teachers. Richard had many roles at Success including teacher, Dean of Students, Principal and Director of Culture. As a principal, his school was recognized with a National Blue Ribbon Award for its academic results, one of only five schools in Harlem to ever receive that award. Richard received his BS from SUNY College at Old Westbury, MBA from University of Phoenix and Doctoral degree in Educational Leadership and Management from Capella University.

Richard Seigler-Carter

Board President

Stacy earned her Master of Science in Professional Counseling from Grand Canyon University and her Bachelor of Arts in Law & Justice Studies and Sociology with a concentration in African American Studies from Rowan University. She is the Director of Mercer County Community College’s Upward Bound program.

Stacy A. Denton

Secretary/Treasurer

Howard Powers is a dedicated family man, married and the father of three sons. He has an extensive professional background, having served as a Managing Director at J.P. Morgan. Transitioning from finance to education, Howard became the History Chair at Princeton Day School, where he not only taught but also coached, demonstrating his commitment to holistic student development. Howard holds an A.B. from Bowdoin College and an M.A. from King's College London, reflecting his strong academic foundation and passion for lifelong learning. His leadership extends beyond his professional roles; he previously served as the President of Friends of Foundation Academies and is currently a Trustee of Princeton Day School.

Howard Powers

Duncan Harrison Jr. joined the Princeton University Office of Community and Regional Affairs in 2021. In his role as Assistant Director for Regional Affairs, he strengthens engagement between the University and community organizations. Duncan was the youngest African-American in the City of Trenton’s history to be elected as Councilman At-Large, serving from 201-2014. He previously served as Associate Executive Director for the Father Center of New Jersey. A native Trentonian, Duncan received his Bachelor of Arts in sociology focused on criminal justice from Delaware State University, and as a National Urban Fellow, he received his Master’s in Public Administration from Bernard M. Baruch College, the City University of New York. He has received certifications from Harvard University, Cornell University, and the University of Pennsylvania. Duncan is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Duncan Harrison, Jr.

Sharifa is a career educator and an outcome-driven leader who is innately invested in the ability and success of all young people, as well as those with the weighted responsibility and honor of serving them. Her experience and commitment to urban education, coupled with her intense passion for the profession and those she serves, has driven her to commit her life’s work to ensuring that all young people have access to a high-quality education and equitable opportunities that will ultimately empower them to lead choice filled lives.

Throughout her multi-decade career, Sharifa has had the honor and privilege of serving some of the nation’s finest students and educational leaders spanning sectors in traditional public, public charter, independent, and private faith-based schools across the country from New York to Washington DC, Baltimore, New Orleans, Memphis, Chicago, Milwaukee, Portland, and Philadelphia. Since starting her career as a High School Social Studies teacher, she has moved on to serve as an Instructional Coach, Assistant Principal, Principal, as well as Senior level district leadership where she honed her skill and deepened passion for transforming schools.

Since leaving school-based leadership, Sharifa has served as a Non-Profit leader tasked with managing a $75+ million school investment portfolio inclusive of 65+ schools across the city of Philadelphia as well as a Program Director responsible for curating, facilitating, and leading high-quality professional development programming and leadership coaching to 1/3 of all school and district leaders in the city of Philadelphia. In her current role as Director of Leadership Development, she works with leaders, teams, and organizations across the country to hone their leadership skills, develop sustainable organizational models, and drive transformational results.

In 2020 she officially launched the Persist Education Group. PersistEd is a national consulting firm dedicated to dramatically transforming the educational experiences and outcomes of young people through the persistent development of those who serve them.

Sharifa is a New York native, who when not supporting leaders and driving transformational outcomes, can be found traveling the world or exploring Philadelphia with her beloved pup Marley.

Sharifa Edwards

Todd is Director of Teacher Certification and a lecturer for Princeton University’s Program in Teacher Preparation. He serves as secretary for the New Jersey Association of Colleges for Teacher Education and is a member of the Accreditation Panel for the Teacher Education Accreditation Council. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Princeton University and earned his doctorate in educational evaluation from the University of Virginia. 

Todd W. Kent, Ph.D.

For the last thirty years, Carl and his wife Vanessa Sandom have lived in Hopewell Township, NJ, where they raised their two sons. In 2007, Carl founded Seiden Pharmaceutical Strategies, LLC, which primarily provides business strategy consulting services to biopharmaceutical companies and investment banks, as well as investment analysis to institutional investors. From 1992 to 2006, Carl was a highly-regarded pharmaceutical industry securities analyst employed by Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., JPMorgan Equity Research, and UBS Securities. Prior to that, Carl was an executive at Bristol-Myers Squibb and General Electric. Carl earned an MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Science in biology from Union College.

Carl Seiden

Foundation Academies Board of Trustees
2024-25 Meeting Schedule

  • Wednesday, August 14, 2024

  • Wednesday, August 28, 2024

  • Wednesday September 25, 2024

  • Wednesday October 30, 2024

  • Wednesday November 20, 2024

  • Wednesday December 18, 2024

  • Wednesday January 29, 2025

  • Wednesday February 26, 2025

  • Wednesday March 26, 2024

  • Wednesday April 30, 2024

  • Wednesday May 14, 2025

  • Wednesday May 28, 2025

  • Wednesday June 25, 2025

All meetings will be held in person at 22 Grand Street, Trenton, NJ 08611, and will begin at 5 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

Individuals who wish to speak at any regular FA Board meeting (including those representing organizations) must register in writing, by 4:00 p.m., five calendar days prior to the day of the meeting, with his/her name address, telephone number and a description of the subject to be addressed using this form - click here.

All speakers, regardless of whether he or she represents an organization, will be allotted no more than five minutes for comment. The subject matter of public comment shall be limited to matters of public concern.

FABOT Meeting Minutes

Advisory Grievance Committee

The bylaws of Foundation Academy state the following: In accordance with New Jersey law (N.J.S.A.18A:36A-15), the Board of Trustees shall establish an Advisory Grievance Committee comprised of both parents and teachers to make non-binding recommendations to the Board of Trustees concerning the disposition of complaints.

The Advisory Grievance Committee shall have four members who will serve one year terms, with one member designated as chairperson by the other committee members. Committee members shall be appointed each year at the first Board of Trustees meeting following the annual meeting or as soon thereafter as practicable. Advisory Grievance Committee members may serve no more than two consecutive terms on the committee.