Leadership
Meet the Senior Leadership Team
Candice Bobo
Interim Head of School
Candice Bobo brings over 20 years of experience leading schools and networks in Washington, DC. Most recently, she served as Executive Director of Rocketship Public Schools, overseeing a regional network of schools serving over 1,500 students and 200 staff. Prior…
Craig Bednarovsky
Chief Operating Officer
Craig brings over twenty years of leadership experience in sales, marketing, operations, and product management, as well as a strong background in entrepreneurship and consulting. He has a proven track record of building businesses from the ground up, managing budgets…
Nayamka Long
Chief Academic Officer
Nayamka Long was a founding teacher of Creative Minds and the first member of our school’s instructional leadership team. Before stepping into the role of CAO, she directed CMI’s lower school program and served as interim director of teaching &…
Dr. Emmanuel Taiwo
Executive Director of Inclusion
Dr. Taiwo is a seasoned education leader with nearly twenty years of experience advancing equity and academic excellence across diverse learning environments in and abroad. As the Executive Director of Inclusion, he leads system-wide programs and initiatives to improve outcomes…
Jillian Gillespie
Lower School Principal
Jillian Gillespie is a values-driven leader who places empathy, integrity, and joy at the heart of her work. With over 11 years of experience in education—from Classroom Teacher to Head of School—she is committed to creating a school culture that…
Ayesha Abdul-Rahim
Upper School Principal
Ayesha Abdul-Rahim is a dedicated school principal with almost 30 years of experience in education. She is a passionate advocate for student success. She is committed to creating a safe, inclusive, and academically rigorous environment where students are empowered to…
Sara Syryla
Director of Professional Development and Student Support
Now entering her eighteenth year in education and her third year at Creative Minds, Sara Syryla is excited to serve as the Director of Professional Development and Student Support for the 2025–2026 school year. She began her early childhood bilingual…