Board of Trustees Members
Travis Gery
has four children enrolled in Agora Cyber Charter School. He has served on the Board of West-Mont Christian Academy and currently serves on the board of the Pottstown Corps of the Salvation Army, and is the chairman of the Cradle of Liberty Council, Continental District, Boy Scouts of America.
Mr. Gery has been engaged in the private practice of law since 2003, concentrating in the areas of civil litigation, general liability, insurance coverage, employment matters, environmental law, and bankruptcy. Before entering private practice, he was an Assistant United States Attorney, Pennsylvania Deputy Attorney General, and Chief Deputy District Attorney. Mr. Gery also served on active duty as a Lieutenant in the United States Navy, Judge Advocate General’s Corps. He has tried over 75 jury cases to verdict.
From 2002 to 2003, Mr. Gery was an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia, where he supervised and directed complex drug-trafficking and money-laundering investigations, conducted federal Grand Jury investigations, and prosecuted individuals and organizations charged with federal drug and money-laundering crimes. From 1999 to 2003, he served as a Pennsylvania Deputy Attorney General. He supervised investigations of money-laundering and drug-trafficking, conducted Grand Jury investigations and prosecuted individuals and organizations involved in money-laundering and drug-trafficking. Mr. Gery also litigated civil forfeiture proceedings in the Central and Northeast regions of Pennsylvania. From 1993 to 1999 he was an Assistant District Attorney in Cumberland County, PA, rising to the position of Chief Deputy District Attorney. He supervised the Cumberland County Criminal Investigations Division, Auto Theft Prevention Task Force, Insurance Fraud Prevention Task Force, and Drug Task Force. He prosecuted all felony drug cases in Cumberland County. He also supervised all crimes against children and sexual assault investigations, and prosecuted individuals charged with those crimes.
From 1990 to 1993, while on active duty in the United States Navy, Judge Advocate General’s Corps, Mr. Gery served as Senior Trial Counsel, Senior Defense Counsel, and Head of Civil Law, and supervised enlisted service-members and civilian personnel. He is currently a Commander in the United States Navy Reserve. He has been awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal twice, the Navy Commendation Medal once, and the Meritorious Service Medal twice.
Mr. Gery received his J.D. from Widener University School of Law in 1989, graduating with honors. He received his B.A. from Dickinson College in 1986.
Bonita Harmon has two children enrolled at Agora Cyber Charter School, and has worked very closely with cyber school teachers to bring her son to grade-level. She values the flexibility and safety of the cyber charter school model-allowing time for cultural activities and other opportunities for socialization, which compliment the school’s academic program.
Bonita is extremely involved with the community at large and volunteers her time as a faculty member at the Temple University/Pan-African Studies Community Education Program, working with adolescent students at the Entertainment and Community Education Center. Bonita also serves on the Board of Directors of Dot’n Ray, Inc., a non-profit organization, as founder, president, and CEO. In 2007, she worked as the Youth Program Director of the Uptown Entertainment & Development Corporation. Since 2004, she served as the Program Director of The Greatest Philadelphia Performing Arts Enrichment Program.
Bonita received a Certificate of Appreciation in 2005 at the Temple University/Pan-African Studies Community Education Program, and a Certificate of Appreciation from New Freedom Theatre’s Performing Arts Training Program in 2004. She was also a provider for the Congreso de Latino Unidos, Inc.‘s Beacon Program in Philadelphia from 2002-2004, and in 2001 she earned a Merit Recognition and Commendation at Silver Springs-Martin Luther School in Plymouth Meeting, PA. Bonita furthered her education at Camden County College in Camden, NJ and Rowan College in Glassboro, NJ.
Kadedra Haynes is currently an inner-city school counselor working with high school students from very diverse and challenging backgrounds. She feels that she has come full circle after attending high school and living in the inner city for most of her life. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Millersville University and a master’s degree in counseling psychology, with a specialization in elementary and secondary school counseling, from Holy Family University.
Kadedra’s passion for guiding children and adolescents throughout their educational journey spans all age groups, backgrounds, and educational models. She has worked in a medium-sized suburban middle school with a large special education and international population, as well as a large suburban high school with more than 4000 students. However, it was not until two years ago, when she was able to work for Agora Cyber Charter School, that she was able to be a part of a new and innovative educational model.
James T. Parsons has extensive international management experience, including P&L responsibilities, start-ups, finance, business development, business alliances, strategic planning, manufacturing, and sales. He also has significant experience in management consulting for companies with time sensitive and crucial problems, and domestic and international negotiating experience with government, financial, and business entities.
James previously acted as consultant for Business Strategies International, a management consulting firm assisting companies seeking new international manufacturing, outsourcing or other marketing opportunities, requiring financial, operational, sales, marketing, legal or investment advice.
At Beane Associates, Inc. he was senior vice president and marketed the firm’s capabilities and experience to lenders from Connecticut to Maryland. He also wrote and presented seminars and lectures to lenders, venture capital groups and law firms, and assisted 85 firms in restructuring their operations, finances, sales and marketing.
With Ray-o-Vac Corporation, James worked in various capacities in Philadelphia, Ecuador, and Iran, and ran marketing and manufacturing operations in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela with The West Company. He also taught in the Philadelphia public school system and at Montana State University after being in the Peace Corps in Ecuador.
James holds a BS in Industrial Management from LaSalle University and is a certified management consultant from the Institute of Management Consultants in New York. He has completed graduate study work in statistics at UCLA and in American philosophy at Temple University in Philadelphia, as well as MBA executive program studies at the University of Miami-Coral Gables.
James is a member of the following associations: Institute of Management Consultants, New York; Turnaround Management Association, Chicago; American Bankruptcy Institute, New York; Robert Morris Associates, Philadelphia; Global Interdependence Center; Ireland Chamber of Commerce USA; Mexican Cultural Society; Mayo of Ireland Society; Global Interdependence Center; World Affairs Council
Mary Steffey and her husband have been cyber schooling with the K12 curriculum for eight years, first through PAVCS and the last three years with Agora Cyber Charter School. Mary is passionate about this model of education as she has seen the tremendous benefit it has been for her children, who have various special needs including mental retardation, autism, and dyslexia. She is thrilled that her children don't have to deal with the stigma that many children in brick-and-mortar schools have to face every day. Her children (except one) have no idea they have special needs and she believes that this is one of the greatest benefits of cyberschooling.
Mary is very dedicated to providing the best education she can for her children and to that end has become certified in the Association Method for Language Deficient Children, which is one of the approved Orton-Gillingham based multi-sensory programs for dyslexic children. She has also attended numerous trainings in Sensory Integration Disorder, Reactive Attachment Disorder, Parenting with Love and Logic and many, many more.
Mary and her husband have been therapeutic foster parents for the past twelve years and received the foster parenting Certificate of Excellence in Teamwork in 2003 and the Certificate of Excellence in Passion for Service in 2007.
Mary worked as a social worker in a children's shelter and group home with dependent and delinquent youths for ten years. Following that she worked for Boyertown School District for seven years before having her children.
Mary is a passionate advocate for children and has many years experience advocating both for her own children and those she has worked with. Mary is thrilled to be serving on the Agora Board of Trustees.
Mr. Gery has been engaged in the private practice of law since 2003, concentrating in the areas of civil litigation, general liability, insurance coverage, employment matters, environmental law, and bankruptcy. Before entering private practice, he was an Assistant United States Attorney, Pennsylvania Deputy Attorney General, and Chief Deputy District Attorney. Mr. Gery also served on active duty as a Lieutenant in the United States Navy, Judge Advocate General’s Corps. He has tried over 75 jury cases to verdict.
From 2002 to 2003, Mr. Gery was an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia, where he supervised and directed complex drug-trafficking and money-laundering investigations, conducted federal Grand Jury investigations, and prosecuted individuals and organizations charged with federal drug and money-laundering crimes. From 1999 to 2003, he served as a Pennsylvania Deputy Attorney General. He supervised investigations of money-laundering and drug-trafficking, conducted Grand Jury investigations and prosecuted individuals and organizations involved in money-laundering and drug-trafficking. Mr. Gery also litigated civil forfeiture proceedings in the Central and Northeast regions of Pennsylvania. From 1993 to 1999 he was an Assistant District Attorney in Cumberland County, PA, rising to the position of Chief Deputy District Attorney. He supervised the Cumberland County Criminal Investigations Division, Auto Theft Prevention Task Force, Insurance Fraud Prevention Task Force, and Drug Task Force. He prosecuted all felony drug cases in Cumberland County. He also supervised all crimes against children and sexual assault investigations, and prosecuted individuals charged with those crimes.
From 1990 to 1993, while on active duty in the United States Navy, Judge Advocate General’s Corps, Mr. Gery served as Senior Trial Counsel, Senior Defense Counsel, and Head of Civil Law, and supervised enlisted service-members and civilian personnel. He is currently a Commander in the United States Navy Reserve. He has been awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal twice, the Navy Commendation Medal once, and the Meritorious Service Medal twice.
Mr. Gery received his J.D. from Widener University School of Law in 1989, graduating with honors. He received his B.A. from Dickinson College in 1986.
Bonita Harmon has two children enrolled at Agora Cyber Charter School, and has worked very closely with cyber school teachers to bring her son to grade-level. She values the flexibility and safety of the cyber charter school model-allowing time for cultural activities and other opportunities for socialization, which compliment the school’s academic program.
Bonita is extremely involved with the community at large and volunteers her time as a faculty member at the Temple University/Pan-African Studies Community Education Program, working with adolescent students at the Entertainment and Community Education Center. Bonita also serves on the Board of Directors of Dot’n Ray, Inc., a non-profit organization, as founder, president, and CEO. In 2007, she worked as the Youth Program Director of the Uptown Entertainment & Development Corporation. Since 2004, she served as the Program Director of The Greatest Philadelphia Performing Arts Enrichment Program.
Bonita received a Certificate of Appreciation in 2005 at the Temple University/Pan-African Studies Community Education Program, and a Certificate of Appreciation from New Freedom Theatre’s Performing Arts Training Program in 2004. She was also a provider for the Congreso de Latino Unidos, Inc.‘s Beacon Program in Philadelphia from 2002-2004, and in 2001 she earned a Merit Recognition and Commendation at Silver Springs-Martin Luther School in Plymouth Meeting, PA. Bonita furthered her education at Camden County College in Camden, NJ and Rowan College in Glassboro, NJ.
Kadedra Haynes is currently an inner-city school counselor working with high school students from very diverse and challenging backgrounds. She feels that she has come full circle after attending high school and living in the inner city for most of her life. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Millersville University and a master’s degree in counseling psychology, with a specialization in elementary and secondary school counseling, from Holy Family University.
Kadedra’s passion for guiding children and adolescents throughout their educational journey spans all age groups, backgrounds, and educational models. She has worked in a medium-sized suburban middle school with a large special education and international population, as well as a large suburban high school with more than 4000 students. However, it was not until two years ago, when she was able to work for Agora Cyber Charter School, that she was able to be a part of a new and innovative educational model.
James T. Parsons has extensive international management experience, including P&L responsibilities, start-ups, finance, business development, business alliances, strategic planning, manufacturing, and sales. He also has significant experience in management consulting for companies with time sensitive and crucial problems, and domestic and international negotiating experience with government, financial, and business entities.
James previously acted as consultant for Business Strategies International, a management consulting firm assisting companies seeking new international manufacturing, outsourcing or other marketing opportunities, requiring financial, operational, sales, marketing, legal or investment advice.
At Beane Associates, Inc. he was senior vice president and marketed the firm’s capabilities and experience to lenders from Connecticut to Maryland. He also wrote and presented seminars and lectures to lenders, venture capital groups and law firms, and assisted 85 firms in restructuring their operations, finances, sales and marketing.
With Ray-o-Vac Corporation, James worked in various capacities in Philadelphia, Ecuador, and Iran, and ran marketing and manufacturing operations in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela with The West Company. He also taught in the Philadelphia public school system and at Montana State University after being in the Peace Corps in Ecuador.
James holds a BS in Industrial Management from LaSalle University and is a certified management consultant from the Institute of Management Consultants in New York. He has completed graduate study work in statistics at UCLA and in American philosophy at Temple University in Philadelphia, as well as MBA executive program studies at the University of Miami-Coral Gables.
James is a member of the following associations: Institute of Management Consultants, New York; Turnaround Management Association, Chicago; American Bankruptcy Institute, New York; Robert Morris Associates, Philadelphia; Global Interdependence Center; Ireland Chamber of Commerce USA; Mexican Cultural Society; Mayo of Ireland Society; Global Interdependence Center; World Affairs Council
Mary Steffey and her husband have been cyber schooling with the K12 curriculum for eight years, first through PAVCS and the last three years with Agora Cyber Charter School. Mary is passionate about this model of education as she has seen the tremendous benefit it has been for her children, who have various special needs including mental retardation, autism, and dyslexia. She is thrilled that her children don't have to deal with the stigma that many children in brick-and-mortar schools have to face every day. Her children (except one) have no idea they have special needs and she believes that this is one of the greatest benefits of cyberschooling.
Mary is very dedicated to providing the best education she can for her children and to that end has become certified in the Association Method for Language Deficient Children, which is one of the approved Orton-Gillingham based multi-sensory programs for dyslexic children. She has also attended numerous trainings in Sensory Integration Disorder, Reactive Attachment Disorder, Parenting with Love and Logic and many, many more.
Mary and her husband have been therapeutic foster parents for the past twelve years and received the foster parenting Certificate of Excellence in Teamwork in 2003 and the Certificate of Excellence in Passion for Service in 2007.
Mary worked as a social worker in a children's shelter and group home with dependent and delinquent youths for ten years. Following that she worked for Boyertown School District for seven years before having her children.
Mary is a passionate advocate for children and has many years experience advocating both for her own children and those she has worked with. Mary is thrilled to be serving on the Agora Board of Trustees.