Staff
The Association's four-person staff consists of an Executive Director, a Public Policy & Advocacy Director, a Public Policy & Advocacy Lead Lobbyist, a Member Relations & Communications Director, and an Administrative & Operations Assistant.
The Association also contracts a part-time accountant.
Cienian, Joey
Executive Director
Phone: 651-789-3090 ext. 1
Joey has a Masters Degree in Teaching from Hamline University and Bachelor Degrees in History and Political Science from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Joey worked for over a decade at the High School for Recording Arts where he served as the Director of Education. Before working at HSRA, he was a Political Organizer for Greenpeace in Arizona and Minnesota. He is a political advocate committed to equity and social justice, passionate about civic engagement, and a storyteller. Joey also enjoys making art and music, playing basketball, and enjoying the great Minnesota outdoors with his wife Annie and daughters Willa and June.
Garcia Luna, Cari-Ana
Public Policy & Advocacy Director
Phone: 651-789-3090 ext. 2
Cari-Ana is an experienced educator with 15 years in the field, having served as both a teacher and the Director of a charter high school. She holds a BA in History and Religion from Augsburg College and earned her secondary social studies education licenses through the Urban Teacher Graduate Program at Metropolitan State University.
Deeply committed to her community, Cari-Ana actively volunteers and participates in various educational and community organizations. She is passionate about empowering youth to create meaningful change.
Outside of her professional life, Cari-Ana is a proud mother of an artistically talented son studying at MCAD and shares her home with three affectionate pitbulls. She enjoys spending time outdoors, traveling, experiencing live music, and exploring the art world.
Mitchell, Shannon
Public Policy & Advocacy Lead Lobbyist
Phone: 651-789-3090 ext. 2
Shannon has worked in the policy and advocacy space for ten years, most of those being within the education landscape. She has spent a lot of time at the legislature, working with grassroots organizations to take member priorities and turn them into advocacy campaigns that have resulted in meaningful legislative changes. Prior to that, Shannon was a middle school teacher and this experience greatly impacted her perspective on what’s possible for students and educators under the right circumstances.
Padgett, Michael
Member Relations Director
Phone: 651-789-3090 ext. 3
Michael earned a B.A. in English and a B.S. in Psychology from Old Dominion University and a M.A. in Teaching from Hamline University. Prior to MACS, Michael worked at High School for Recording Arts, where he served as an academic advisor, English and Humanities teacher, and Education Development Strategist, as well as PiM Arts High School, where he served as an English teacher. He has also worked in the field of psychology, helping individuals affected by severe and persistent mental illness, as well as families impacted by housing instability and children on the autism spectrum. Michael is a passionate advocate for equity, justice, and developmental progress in education. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, writing, art, music, cooking, traveling and sports.
Johnson, Genevieve
Administrative & Operations Associate
Phone: 651-789-3090 ext. 4
genevieve@mncharterschools.org
Genevieve holds a B.A. in Business Administration – Human Resources from the University of Wisconsin-Stout and has over 25 years of experience working in administrative support. Though never an educator in the public school system, Genevieve taught dance professionally for 18 years as a contracted artist in public schools, private schools, universities, arts programs, non-profits, and community centers from southeastern Minnesota to Los Angeles, California. Her passion for teaching – and advocacy for every type of student – expands into her role for working with MACS. Genevieve believes in the power of charter schools, particularly in the ways they center the needs of specific communities with a focus on our youth.
Genevieve is a proud mom of a charter school kid, fierce protector of LGBTQ2IA+ rights, animal lover, plant appreciator, and supporter of the incredible activism garnered by community support in the Twin Cities. The warm months in Minnesota mean lots of camping and beach time for her and her kiddo; winter months are full of joyful sledding and costume making for her performance career.