At Brilla, strong schools are made possible by the dedicated work of our Central Staff, whose impact reaches every campus across the network. These teams provide essential services in operations, enrollment, programs, and curriculum, creating the conditions for school leaders and teachers to focus fully on teaching and learning. Their work ensures that network-wide priorities are carried out with consistency, care, and intentionality at the campus level.
Mr. Alejandro Santiago, Programs Manager, brings deep purpose and lived experience to his role. A Bronx native, parent, and longtime educator, he is driven by the belief that schools can change a child’s outlook on life. After serving as an after-school director and dean, he felt called to do more. “Seeing how those two jobs affected the children just made me want to do more,” he shared. His work centers on positivity and character formation. “I realized the power of positivity and the power of perspective,” Mr. Santiago said. “I don’t want to enter a situation unless I can leave it better than it was before I got there.” Through programs and partnerships, he helps create environments where students and educators feel supported, seen, and motivated to grow.
As Director of Operations, Ms. Solange Perez oversees the systems that keep Brilla schools running smoothly and safely. “Operations includes basically everything besides instruction,” she explained. From logistics and safety to family communication, her work shapes the daily experience of students, staff, and families. Her commitment is deeply personal. “I was the student we’re teaching now,” she said. “I’m a first-generation immigrant, English is my second language, and I want to provide the access my parents didn’t have.” That commitment was especially visible during the early days of COVID, when operations teams distributed laptops, Wi-Fi, food, and direct support to families. Today, Ms. Perez focuses on building intentional systems so schools can operate with excellence year after year.
For Mr. Solomon Smith, Enrollment Manager in Residence, enrollment is about more than numbers. It is about relationships and trust. After beginning his career in the classroom, he found fulfillment working behind the scenes. “Teachers and principals are the stars of the show,” he shared. “Enrollment was a way to still serve families, just differently.” He describes his role as being “a glue…a nexus” that helps families move from curiosity to belonging. Grounded in a belief in parental choice, he emphasized, “Parents are the first educators. That is their right and their responsibility.” His work ensures families’ first interaction with Brilla is welcoming, transparent, and rooted in care.
Supporting instruction across every grade level is Ms. Yuleisy Burgos, Curriculum and Assessment Coordinator. Her work ensures that teachers and students have the materials they need to succeed. “All schools, all grades, and everyone, from students to teachers, have the materials they need to operate on a day-to-day basis,” she explained. By following pacing calendars and planning far ahead, Ms. Burgos helps maintain consistency and quality across campuses. She finds joy in seeing student growth over time. “At the beginning, they’re learning letters and sounds,” she said. “Now they’re reading little stories. It’s nice to see the progression.”
Together, these Central Staff members serve as the connective tissue of the Brilla network. Through careful planning, strong relationships, and a shared commitment to mission, they ensure that every school is supported and every student has the opportunity to thrive.
Brilla Public Charter Schools 