Board Members

Colleen Cassidy

Colleen Cassidy, Chris’ youngest sister, spent many years as a marketing consultant in the healthcare industry. Her passion is understanding consumers’ and clinicians thought processes leading to decisions.

Colleens' MBA is from the Haas School of Business. Colleen has created ‘The Colleen and Christine Cassidy Scholarship’ to support students who are economically disadvantaged and may need housing or food.

Chris was so passionate about supporting individuals who need additional support. Especially disabled and disadvantaged, she knew what those people were able to achieve if they received the appropriate needed support. Chris’ legacy is her support and advocacy for basic educational needs such as reading books—a critical element to benefit all elementary school students.

Julieanne Harmatz

Julieanne Harmatz retired from teaching elementary school in 2023. She grew up in Southern California attending public schools. After graduating from UC Santa Barbara, Julieanne worked in consulting, newspaper publishing, and advertising before becoming an elementary school teacher.

Julieanne and her husband, Mitch, found Park Western Elementary for their six-year old. By the time their second child was ready for kindergarten, Chris Cassidy was principal. When their third child entered kindergarten, Julieanne was a teacher at Park Western. Chris was a tremendous inspiration and guide throughout Julieanne’s career as a educator. From encouraging her to enter the teaching profession to fostering the belief that all children can learn with good teaching and access to beautiful books.

Mitch Harmatz

Mitch Harmatz, a retired entrepreneur began his career as a lecturer and coach at Cal State Dominguez Hills. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education and a Master’s Degree in Education, both from Cal State Dominguez Hills. After leaving education, Mitch embarked on multiple startups and business opportunities before finally retiring in 2020.

Mitch’s wife, Julieanne, taught at Park Western Elementary School for nearly 20 years. During that time, all three of their children attended Park Western and received tremendous benefits from the literacy work led by Chris Cassidy as the principal of Park Western and later as a director of instruction at Los Angeles Unified School District.

Dayna Wells

Dayna Wells brings a wealth of experience in education to her role as a board member for the Chris Cassidy Project. As a former principal with the Los Angeles Unified School District, she led transformative improvements in every school she served, raising the level of teaching and exponentially increasing student growth. Her leadership was instrumental in closing the achievement gap and fostering a culture of inclusivity and academic excellence. Throughout her career, Dayna focused on supporting underserved students, including students of color, English language learners, and children with special needs, and championed professional development to ensure teachers had tools to succeed.

The Chris Cassidy Project is especially meaningful to Dayna, as it honors her late mentor and close friend, Chris Cassidy. Chris had a profound influence on Dayna’s life and career, sharing her passion for education and literacy. As a board member, Dayna continues Chris’s legacy by ensuring students have access to diverse, high-interest books that engage and inspire them. Her deep connection to the project’s mission reflects her lifelong dedication to supporting students and teachers, ensuring every child has the opportunity to succeed, both in and out of the classroom.

Nicole Newman

Nicole Newman is a dedicated health advocate, journalist, and passionate community volunteer. Nicole is committed to making a positive impact on the world.

With a degree in Photojournalism and a minor in Health Education from San Francisco State University, Nicole has a strong foundation in communication and health promotion. She has a passion for sharing stories and inspiring others through her work.

Nicole's volunteer experience includes serving as a Board Member for The Chris Cassidy Project and volunteering at Grace Lutheran Church to provide meals for the homeless and low-income community. Her dedication to community service reflects her belief in the power of giving back to society.