2024-2025 Faculty & Staff
Administration
Charity Zawatski - Executive Director & Interim Principal
Charity Zawatski is joining our school family from Upstate New York. Charity is relocating from Brownville, NY with her family and her Great Dane, Jazmine. She has worked in public education for the past 23 years. Charity attended Florida Southern College where she earned a B.S. in Biology with marine science. While traveling abroad for a semester and completing the Semester at Sea program, Ms. Zawatski was inspired to become a teacher and started the MST program at SUNY Potsdam to earn a Master's Degree in General Professional Education to become a teacher. Ms. Zawatski started her career as a French and Science Teacher for eight years before venturing into administration.
At that time, Charity attended SUNY Oswego to earn a Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Administration. She has served as a Reading Coach, Professional Development Specialist, and Teacher Trainer for schools in need of improvement. While in Syracuse, Charity worked in the field with superintendents and administrative teams on both strategic and corrective plans. She also spent much time directly in the classroom coaching and modeling best instructional practices with teachers and students. Ms. Zawatski then transitioned into a school principalship where she has spent the last thirteen years. She has experienced building closures, district restructuring, and much change over that time. She has rebuilt grade-level teams, led and supported inclusive and differentiated instruction. Charity is passionate about being a lifelong learner as she is currently a doctoral candidate through Nova Southeastern University completing her doctorate this fall. Charity has worked at all levels within the UPK-12 realm of education and brings diverse experience to the team and school.
Shannon Leahy - Assistant Principal of Student Services
As a proud Minnesota native and a die-hard Green Bay Packer fan, Shannon Leahy embodies the spirit of the green and gold! Her journey began in Winona, MN, where she nurtured her passion for education, earning a Bachelor of Science in Elementary and Early Childhood Education from Winona State University. Furthering Shannon’s commitment to lifelong learning, she obtained a Master of Science in Teaching, Learning, and Leadership from Southwest Minnesota State University.
With four years of enriching teaching experience in Byron, MN, and a year in the vibrant community of Naples, FL, Shannon has honed her skills in creating engaging and inclusive learning environments. Her academic and professional journey has been a testament to her dedication to education and leadership.
Away from the classroom, Ms. Leahy cherishes moments with Polina, her spirited petite Bernedoodle, and is embarking on an exciting home-search journey with her boyfriend, AJ. Shannon’s leisure time is a blend of culinary explorations, serene nature walks, and the thrilling escapades of superhero movies.
Shannon is thrilled to join the Oak Creek Charter and FORZA Education Management community and is eager to meet all the staff and students. She anticipates not only contributing to the collective success but also cheering on the OCCS Ocelots in every stride they take together. Here’s to embarking on this new adventure with enthusiasm and a shared commitment to excellence!
Roger Lewis - Assistant Principal of Academics
Roger Lewis brings over two decades of educational expertise to Oak Creek Charter School, joining “Team Forza” as the Assistant Principal of Academics. Hailing from Cincinnati, Ohio, Mr. Lewis has a distinguished background in both teaching and administration (K-12).
Mr. Lewis earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Eastern Kentucky University and his Master of School Administration from Xavier University. His teaching career spans 10 years, during which he taught Health, Physical Education, and Jr. High Life Science. Additionally, he has an impressive coaching history, having led boys and girls varsity basketball, boys varsity cross country, girls varsity track, and baseball. Notably, he was named Northern Kentucky Girls Basketball Coaches Association “Coach of the Year,” transforming a struggling basketball program into a winning team.
In his initial administrative role, Mr. Lewis served as Principal at Schiel Primary School for Arts Enrichment in Cincinnati. Under his leadership, the school achieved the highest rating of “Excellent School” for three consecutive years and received accolades from the Ohio Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Education, including being named a “Blue Ribbon School.”
Following his success at Schiel, Mr. Lewis became Principal of North Avondale Montessori School, overseeing a Pre-K to grade 6 program. His innovative strategies led to significant improvements in academic performance, particularly in math, science, and ELA. His decade-long tenure at North Avondale solidified its reputation as one of the top Montessori schools in Southwest Ohio.
Outside of his professional achievements, Mr. Lewis enjoys an active lifestyle. He has participated in the Chicago and Columbus marathons, numerous 5K and 10K races, and maintains a regular routine of walking and weight training. A dedicated sports fan, he continues to support the Cincinnati Bengals and Cincinnati Reds. Mr. Lewis resides in Naples, Florida with his wife Lisa and their beloved Shih-tzu/Bichon mix, Louie.
Ron Renna - Grant Writer