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 a lifelong advocate for educational equity and opportunity.
Recognized as a thought leader in the field, Mr. Mattison has shared his insights on platforms like SUNY’s ‘More Great Seats for Kids’ podcast and the ‘Charter School Insider’ podcast, reaching a broad audience of educators and leaders. He has presented at the New Schools Venture Fund Summit and the National Charter Schools Conference, helping shape the national dialogue on effective and sustainable charter school practices.
Mr. Mattison has led schools that consistently outperform local districts and close achievement gaps for underserved students. Since its inception, 99% of scholars at South Shore Charter School have met or exceeded growth goals in reading and math each year on the NWEA MAP assessment. Prior to founding South Shore, he served as a principal where his school consistently outperformed the local district and was recognized for strong student growth and academic achievement.
In addition to his academic leadership, Mr. Mattison has demonstrated exceptional financial stewardship. He oversees the school’s finances to consistently realize annual surpluses and maintain clean financial audits. He also built a strong operations team from the ground up, codifying systems for staff and student recruitment, facilities management, and operational efficiency, each designed for scalability. He is currently leading a $20 million facilities development project to support long-term growth.
Mr. Mattison’s leadership is grounded in the school’s core values: Integrity, Grit, Resilience, Excellence, Accountability, and Tenacity. These values form the belief that every scholar and staff member can proudly say, ‘I am GREAT.’
He holds New York State certifications in teaching and school leadership and is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership. He is a proud husband and father of three wonderful children. Mr. Mattison is committed to expanding access to high-quality public charter schools in high-needs communities across Long Island, New York.
Georgina Garcia 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. Ms. Garcia 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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