CONGRATULATIONS, CCA CLASS OF 2021!
Thomas D. Longenecker joined CCA in 2012 as chief operations officer and was appointed as president and chief executive officer effective July 1, 2020.
Mr. Longenecker leads a team of more than 600 professionals, who serve more than 11,000 students in grades K-12 across Pennsylvania.
His background comprises 22 years of school operations leadership, with previous experience working at Carlisle Area, Conrad Weiser Area and Susquenita school districts. He also served as an adjunct professor at Shippensburg and Wilkes universities.
Mr. Longenecker holds a Pennsylvania superintendent letter of eligibility, and received a master’s degree in educational leadership from Wilkes University, a bachelor’s degree in economics from Shippensburg University and an associate degree from Harrisburg Area Community College.
He also was a two-time recipient of the Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence and received the 2011 PASBO Award of Achievement.
In his spare time, Mr. Longenecker enjoys spending time with his family, outdoor activities and taking his boys for ice cream on his scooter with a sidecar.
Mr. Datorre joined CCA in 2018 and currently serves as executive vice president of operations, chief administrative officer, and chief compliance officer.
In these roles, he is the senior executive who oversees the daily operation of CCA and is second-in-command to the president and CEO.
Mr. Datorre is responsible for the direction of CCA’s academic programs, including oversight of teaching, academic and career outreach, special education programs, and enrollment and registration. He supports and enhances the academic endeavors of CCA by upholding the highest standards of risk management, fiscal probity and accountability, compliance with applicable legal requirements, and ensuring effective, transparent, accountable governance in line with best practices in academic and nonprofit organizations.
Prior to his current role, Mr. Datorre served as deputy chief counsel and assistant counsel at the Pennsylvania Department of Education, chief counsel at the Pennsylvania Office of Inspector General, assistant counsel at the Pennsylvania Department of Health, and assistant city attorney for the City of Miami Beach, Florida.
Mr. Datorre holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Miami Law School and a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Florida.
He is admitted to practice law in Florida and Pennsylvania state courts; the U.S. district courts of the Southern District of Florida, the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and the Middle District of Pennsylvania; and the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Mr. Datorre is a member of the Board of Directors for the Organization for Autism Research, a member of AMBUCS Lancaster, and a past member of the Board of Directors for the Pennsylvania Bar Association.
Mr. Datorre is married and has three children. In his free time, he enjoys running, summer, swimming, and the beach.
Mrs. Hakes joined CCA in 2015 and currently serves as executive vice president of finance and administration, chief financial officer, and chief human resources officer.
In these roles, she oversees CCA’s finances and accounting, human resource management, and real estate and property management.
With four years of public accounting experience and more than 32 years as a public school financial administrator – 28 years as a chief financial administrator – Mrs. Hakes has an in-depth understanding of school finances, budgeting, forensic accounting, and auditing.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a master’s degree in school business leadership.
Mrs. Hakes is a graduate of the Education Policy and Leadership Center Fellowship Program and the Leadership Harrisburg Executive Leadership Program.
She obtained her certified public accountant license in 1992, is an active Pennsylvania Certified School Administrator, and has been a member of the Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials (PASBO) for more than 30 years.
Mrs. Hakes is married to Mike and has two daughters, one son, and one step-daughter, and is a proud grandparent of one granddaughter. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, baking, reading, crafting with friends, antiquing, road trips, and attending car shows with her husband.
Mr. Eller joined CCA in 2018 and currently serves as senior vice president of outreach and government relations.
In this role, he is the senior adviser to the president and CEO and senior leadership team on outreach, media relations, and government relations.
Mr. Eller is responsible for overseeing both internal and external communications to enrolled and prospective families, staff, the public, the media, and government and elected officials and policymakers.
Prior to his current role, Mr. Eller served as executive director of a statewide public charter school advocacy organization, press secretary and director of communications at the Pennsylvania Department of Education, public relations coordinator at the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and producer at the Senate of Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in electronic media from Kutztown University and an associate degree from Reading Area Community College.
Mr. Eller is married and has two adult children.
Ms. Clarke joined CCA in 2012 and currently serves as vice president of data and analytics.
She is responsible for and oversees student enrollment, data reporting to state agencies, coordinating the ordering and shipping of curriculum materials to students, truancy, state testing, student records and health services, Middle States accreditation, and serves as the school’s open records officer.
Prior to joining CCA, Ms. Clarke worked for the Pennsylvania Department of Education in the following roles: policy analyst, executive assistant to the deputy secretary of elementary and secondary education, director of school services, and special assistant to the secretary. She also served as the executive director of the Pennsylvania Parent Teachers Association and internal communications coordinator at Capital BlueCross.
Ms. Clarke holds a master’s degree in Organizational Leadership and Adult Learning from George Washington University and a bachelor’s degree in Communications/Public Relations from Elizabethtown College.
She also completed Leadership Harrisburg’s Executive Leadership Program and the EPLC Education Policy Fellowship Program.
As a notary public, Ms. Clarke is a member of the Pennsylvania Association of Notaries.
She is the parent of one child. In her free time, she enjoys crafts, baking, and reading.
Mr. Fraser has been with CCA since 2008, and currently serves as vice president and provost. With more than a decade of teaching experience, Adam brings knowledge of many types of school experiences, including a traditional brick-and-mortar school, cyber school and home-school setting.
At CCA, he directs teachers and staff who dedicate countless hours to personalizing education for more than 2,500 elementary school learners.
Mr. Fraser earned a bachelor’s degree from Baylor University and received a master’s degree from the University of Delaware.
Mr. Klingel joined CCA in 2016 and currently serves as vice president of technology.
With 18 years of experience in the technology field, he oversees the operations of multiple CCA technical teams, including networking and infrastructure, video production, and software development.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in information technology and is certified in Comptia A+ and Comptia Network+. He is a Cisco Certified Network Associate and has professional certifications with Microsoft, Dell, and Lenovo.
Mr. Klingel is married and has two children. In his spare time, he enjoys hiking, cycling, the outdoors, air-cooled antique Volkswagens, and traveling with his family.
Ms. Shane joined Commonwealth Charter Academy in 2011 as parent involvement coordinator before being named family involvement manager. She brings her prior leadership and organizational development experience to her current role as the director of family services. She leads a team that ensures federal program compliance, provides statewide training programs, facilitates curriculum-based educational field trips and social events, and provides mentor support to CCA learners and families statewide.
Before Ms. Shane joined CCA, she worked as an office manager for Dataware Inc. in York.
She attended Penn State University and American Public University for business. She’s been a United Way Capital Club and Bridges Society member since 2010. She is a certified Love and Logic facilitator, and Student Assistance Program certified. She previously served a term as president of a local chapter of the International MOMS Club.
In her free time, she enjoys gardening and traveling with her family.
Mrs. Azzalina has served as both a teacher and administrator with CCA since 2012 and currently serves as principal of the elementary school.
Combining more than 12 years of experience in both traditional and public cyber charter schools, Mrs. Azzalina has dedicated most of her career to the elementary school setting, which has deepened her knowledge of the needs and learning styles of young learners.
Prior to her current role, Mrs. Azzalina served as an elementary school assistant principal and dean of students, a classroom teacher, teacher leader, mentor, and various other roles.
Before joining CCA, Mrs. Azzalina was a kindergarten, first-grade, and fourth-grade teacher in Harrisburg City and Central Dauphin school districts.
She holds a master’s degree in educational leadership from American College of Education, a master’s degree in teacher leadership and instructional coaching from Wilkes University, and a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Elizabethtown College.
With more than 17 years in education, Mr. Yerkes has a strong foundation of experience that helps him serve as not only CCA’s middle school principal, but also an instructional leader. He joined CCA in 2007 as a teacher and has held several leadership positions before becoming an administrator in 2011.
Mr. Yerkes is passionate about supporting and guiding CCA teachers so they can provide the most effective and comprehensive instruction possible.
Mr. Yerkes earned a master’s degree at California University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor’s degree at Shippensburg University. He has a certification in school administration, as well as teaching certification for the elementary level, middle school math and middle school science.
In his free time, he enjoys playing soccer and other outdoor activities.
Before becoming a CCA administrator, Mr. Rusnak served as a middle and high school science teacher and coach for 10 years. Now a seasoned administrator with 18 years of leadership experience, Mr. Rusnak still draws upon those years as a teacher in his role as principal.
Mr. Rusnak holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Colgate University. He earned a principal certificate and superintendent letter from the University of Scranton.
Mr. Rusnak also serves as an adjunct professor for the University of Scranton and St. Joseph’s University. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family and playing golf.
Mr. Comegna brought his extensive experience mentoring young adults and children in a variety of disciplines to CCA in 2010. As Manager of Pupil Services, he acts as School Counselor for high school students, coordinates the counseling program and provides a variety of lessons and small groups for students in grades K-12 here at CCA. When he first began here at CCA, he was a key member involved in overseeing and growing the College in High School Program, before handing that over to our College and Career counselor.
His career began as a Child Life Counselor at Catholic Charities, where he counseled abused and neglected children ages 4-13. From there, Mr. Comegna moved to Hanover Senior High School for a school counseling internship. There he learned, through observation and assisting the school counseling process. He guided students on career development and college planning, and he led individual and group counseling sessions for students in grades 9-12.
Mr. Comegna holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in counseling education and school guidance counseling from McDaniel College. He is a member of the American School Counselor Association. He currently serves as an Assistant Scoutmaster in his local Boy Scout Troop and previously served as a leader of a church young adult education group.
