Dermoth Mattison is the Founder and Executive Director of South Shore Charter School, a nationally recognized public charter school serving communities across Long Island, New York. With nearly 20 years of experience in charter school leadership, he is committed to expanding access to high-quality public education for historically underserved communities.
Under his leadership, South Shore Charter School has achieved exceptional academic results. Since inception, scholars have performed at the 99th percentile nationally in both ELA and Math on the NWEA MAP assessment. Prior to founding South Shore, Mr. Mattison served as a principal, where his school consistently outperformed the local district and was recognized for strong student growth and achievement.
Mr. Mattison is known for building strong, scalable systems that support both academic excellence and operational sustainability. He oversees the school’s financial stewardship, maintaining clean audits and annual operating surpluses, and has built durable systems for staffing, enrollment, compliance, and school operations. He is currently leading long-term facilities planning to support sustainable growth.
Mr. Mattison regularly contributes to national conversations on effective and sustainable charter school models. He has shared insights through SUNY’s More Great Seats for Kids podcast, nationally distributed podcast and radio platforms, and convenings such as the National Charter Schools Conference and the National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA) conference.
His leadership is grounded in South Shore’s core values: Integrity, Grit, Resilience, Excellence, Accountability, and Tenacity, captured in the belief that every scholar and staff member can proudly say, “I am GREAT.”
He holds master’s degrees in Childhood Education and Educational Leadership, along with New York State certifications in teaching and school leadership, and is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in educational leadership. Mr. Mattison is a proud husband and father of three and remains focused on building high-performing public schools that create lasting opportunity across Long Island.
Georgina Rodriguez has a track record of serving as a highly effective operational leader in the New York charter sector. She graduated from the State University of New York at Albany with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Criminal Justice. Mrs. Rodriguez has experience in organizational leadership, project management, government compliance and community-based organizational development. Fluent in Spanish, she is passionate about public service and making a positive impact in the South Shore Charter School community.
Arsenio Heslop has served in the field of education for nearly a decade. He previously served as an instructional leader and classroom teacher in New York Public Schools. Mr. Heslop received a Master’s of Science with a double major in Childhood Education and Special Education from the Metropolitan College of New York. He also holds a Master’s Degree in School and District Leadership from Touro College. Mr. Heslop is passionate about serving the South Shore Charter School community as Principal.
Ryan Miller has served in the field of management, finance, and auditing for nearly a decade. Mr. Miller’s guided years of education were received internationally, receiving up to a Bachelor’s of Science in Management Studies Accounting at the University of the West Indies. He also holds a Master of Science in Taxation from Baruch College. He has a passion for serving the South Shore Charter School community and developing students into socially responsible leaders.
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