As a tuition-free public charter school,
Phoenix International School of the Arts (PISOTA) will operate in partnership with Charles County Public Schools to offer students an arts- and international-focused school. Our innovative, whole-child approach prepares young people for leadership in a global and creative world.
We are a tuition-free public school, serving middle school students. We are open to all students in Charles County, Maryland, including students with disabilities and multilingual learners. We welcome all.
We cultivate 6th, 7th and 8th grade students to be globally-minded artists and leaders in Charles County, Maryland.
At PISOTA, students are steeped in our arts curriculum and get access to arts learning in dance, music, acting, visual arts, or museum studies, every day. We also bring an international perspective to everything we teach.
We believe that when students understand the many perspectives impacting our world, they are better positioned to tackle complex problems and design innovative solutions to improve our world.
Students receive arts education, every day.
About
Rickkay King, M.A.
Co-Founder & Director of Interdisciplinary and Auxiliary Programs
Dr. R. Demetri Sermons
Founding Middle School Principal
Angelica Jackson is the CEO and Co-Founder of Phoenix International School of the Arts (PISOTA), Charles County’s first public charter middle school with a dual-study program in the arts and international studies. She's a national thought leader and works with innovative education organizations such as 4.0 Schools, Transcend Education, and Catalyst @ PennGSE. Jackson has initiated education partnerships with Pharrell and Grammy-winning artists. She's been profiled by Black Enterprise and Philly Magazine and is a first-generation college graduate with degrees from UVA and UPenn.
Angelica Jackson, M.S.Ed.
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Dr. R. Demetri Sermons
Founding Middle School Principal
Rickkay L.T. King is Co-Founder and Founding Director of International Education at Phoenix International School of the Arts (PISOTA) in Maryland. He's also President and CEO of The Now Boarding Corporation, promoting language acquisition among marginalized male high school students. Mr. King has led leadership sessions for organizations like Diversity Abroad and Pepperdine University, and is an adjunct professor at Pepperdine's Graduate School of Education and Psychology. He's an expert in organizational leadership and non-profit management, and is pursuing a doctorate in Global Leadership & Change.
Angelica Jackson, M.S.Ed.
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Rickkay King, M.A.
Co-Founder & Director of Interdisciplinary and Auxiliary Programs
Dr. Sermons has 25+ years of experience in education and is the founding Principal of PISOTA. He's held leadership positions in public schools in the Southeast and is a proud advocate for urban youth. Dr. Sermons is a mentor, musician, and avid reader with a passion for education and providing opportunities for success. His motto is “Be Great on Purpose”.
Arisha Bennett-Benjamin
Special Education
Teacher
Erniz Quiles-Cruz
Spanish / Dance / Theater
Teacher
Lauren Washington
Social Studies /
Global Perspectives
Teacher
Melanie Sokol
English Language Arts
Teacher
Brian Selph
Mathematics
Teacher
Tia Sasser
Science
Teacher
Shannon Stine
Special Education
Instructional Assistant
Theresa Everette
Clerical
Principal's Secretary
Daniel Campos
Music
Teacher
Jaylen McDuffie
Health/PE
Teacher
Stacey Antonioli
Digital Literacy
Teacher
Keshia Henderson
Art/Design
Visiting Artist
D'Mari Bibbs-Walker
Special Education
Instructional Assistant
Mark Dean
Art/museum studies
Visiting Artist
Logan P. Richards
Support Staff
Computer Analyst
Ashland Murphy
Special Education
Teacher
Daniel Goldring
Building Services
Manager
Tina Spence
Building Services
Nurse Rose
School Nurse
Sreeparna Mitra, CA
Partner at Ernst & Young
Derek Johnson
Guy Johnson, J.D.
Monique Walker
Vice President of Marketing at The John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts
Senior Program Director, Federal and National Networks P-12 at The Opportunity Institute
CEO at the National Association of American African Dance Teachers (NAAADT)
Candiace Dillard Bassett
Phoenix Ambassador
Dr. CharlRe’ Slaughter-Atiemo
MD, FAAP, Co-Owner, General Pediatrician, PM Kidz Pediatric Primary & Acute Care Clinic
Sree Mitra is a Principal in EY's US Consulting practice with 22+ years of experience. She consults on business strategy, growth, transformation, and risk management for large organizations. Sree is responsible for sales & growth, operational excellence & governance, and driving the talent agenda. She's a strong advocate for women and diverse professionals and volunteers in her local community.
Derek Johnson
Guy Johnson, J.D.
Monique Walker
Vice President of Marketing at The John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts
Senior Program Director, Federal and National Networks P-12 at The Opportunity Institute
CEO at the National Association of American African Dance Teachers (NAAADT)
Candiace Dillard Bassett
Phoenix Ambassador
Dr. CharlRe’ Slaughter-Atiemo
MD, FAAP, Co-Owner, General Pediatrician, PM Kidz Pediatric Primary & Acute Care Clinic
Candiace Dillard Bassett, former Miss United States and Howard University graduate, has worked in the White House and on President Obama's campaign. She's a TV star and singer, with her album "Deep Space" reaching #24 on the R&B charts. An entrepreneur and women's empowerment advocate, Candiace is married to restaurateur Chris Bassett and recently earned her MBA from Howard University.
Sreeparna Mitra, CA
Partner at Ernst & Young
Monique Walker
CEO at the National Association of American African Dance Teachers (NAAADT)
Dr. CharlRe’ Slaughter-Atiemo
MD, FAAP, Co-Owner, General Pediatrician, PM Kidz Pediatric Primary & Acute Care Clinic
Derek Johnson
Guy Johnson, J.D.
Vice President of Marketing at The John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts
Senior Program Director, Federal and National Networks P-12 at The Opportunity Institute
Dr. CharlRe’ Slaughter-Atiemo is a board-certified pediatrician, co-owner of PM Kidz clinics, and founder/CEO of CayTer 2 You Baby. She's provided pediatric care for 14+ years, started CayTer 2 You Baby in 2015 and PM Kidz clinic in 2019, and earned numerous honors and awards. Dr. Slaughter-Atiemo enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, reading, and traveling.
Sreeparna Mitra, CA
Partner at Ernst & Young
Derek Johnson
Guy Johnson, J.D.
Vice President of Marketing at The John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts
Senior Program Director, Federal and National Networks P-12 at The Opportunity Institute
Candiace Dillard Bassett
Phoenix Ambassador
Monique Walker
CEO at the National Association of American African Dance Teachers (NAAADT)
Derek A. Johnson is Director of Marketing at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, overseeing 2,000+ annual programs and performances. He builds new audiences for the arts and is a flutist and Teaching Artist with the DC Youth Orchestra Program. Derek is also part of Leadership Greater Washington’s Rising Leaders class of 2021 and serves on the board of One More Plate, Inc.
Sreeparna Mitra, CA
Partner at Ernst & Young
Candiace Dillard Bassett
Phoenix Ambassador
Dr. CharlRe’ Slaughter-Atiemo
MD, FAAP, Co-Owner, General Pediatrician, PM Kidz Pediatric Primary & Acute Care Clinic
Guy Johnson, J.D.
Monique Walker
Senior Program Director, Federal and National Networks P-12 at The Opportunity Institute
CEO at the National Association of American African Dance Teachers (NAAADT)
Guy is a senior educational leader with 16 years of experience in K-12 education, civil rights, data analysis, and equity. He specializes in using data to identify educational inequities and forming public-private partnerships to address them. He's advised groups in Mississippi, Georgia, Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina and is an Adjunct Professorial Lecturer at American University.
Sreeparna Mitra, CA
Partner at Ernst & Young
Candiace Dillard Bassett
Phoenix Ambassador
Dr. CharlRe’ Slaughter-Atiemo
MD, FAAP, Co-Owner, General Pediatrician, PM Kidz Pediatric Primary & Acute Care Clinic
Monique Walker
CEO at the National Association of American African Dance Teachers (NAAADT)
Derek Johnson
Vice President of Marketing at The John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts
Monique Newton Walker is a performer, educator, and choreographer specializing in African dance, with a Bachelor of Arts and Master Teacher certification. She has performed with renowned dance ensembles and serves as an Arts Administrator and Executive Director of the National Association of American African Dance Teachers, bringing community dance workshops to Charles County, MD.
Sreeparna Mitra, CA
Partner at Ernst & Young
Derek Johnson
Guy Johnson, J.D.
Vice President of Marketing at The John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts
Senior Program Director, Federal and National Networks P-12 at The Opportunity Institute
Candiace Dillard Bassett
Phoenix Ambassador
Dr. CharlRe’ Slaughter-Atiemo
MD, FAAP, Co-Owner, General Pediatrician, PM Kidz Pediatric Primary & Acute Care Clinic
Affiliations
Community Partners
Enroll
The PISOTA team is so thrilled to welcome interested founding families to our learning community! Phoenix International School of the Arts will open in School Year 2023-2024 for Charles County students entering 6th, 7th, and 8th grade, and is tuition-free for all students.
