Leah Bass-Baylis

Principal
"Students will not care how much you know until they know how much you care."
—Anonymous

Champs Charter High School of the Arts, multi-media and performing is a place where people truly care. I am honored to be able to serve the Champs community in the capacity of principal.

Leah Bass-Baylis joined CHAMPS as Principal in July ’09. She worked closely with former CHAMPS Executive Director, Teri Riggs and founder, Dr. Isaacs, to develop and present the CHAMPS charter petition to the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education. She has been a CHAMPS board member for the last 4 years.  Prior to coming to CHAMPS, Ms. Baylis served as an Assistant Principal at Robert A. Millikan MS and Performing Arts Magnet where her primary responsibility was the oversight of the Performing Arts Magnet and Academy with a student population of approximately 1,000. Ms. Baylis coordinated the applications and activities that resulted in Millikan’s redesignation as a 2007 School To Watch by the League of Middle Schools and, in April of 2007, Millikan’s designation as California Distinguished School. Ms. Baylis was a member of the inaugural team of educators selected to develop and teach in the Magnet.

In 1998, Ms. Baylis was promoted to the position of Dance Coordinator and eventually Dance Specialist for Los Angeles Unified School District. She was the first to hold this position and was an integral part of the LAUSD Arts Education program that resulted in the creation of hundreds of new comprehensive arts programs throughout Los Angeles. As the Dance Specialist she directly supervised dance instruction in 180 elementary schools and coordinated dance activities at all grade levels. While in this position, Ms. Baylis produced numerous citywide dance festivals and presented professional development for the California Arts Project throughout the state. She is also listed as a contributor to the state of California dance standards.

Leah has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Spelman College with a major in child development and early childhood education, a Master of Arts from Teacher College, Columbia University with a major in special education, and a Master of Science degree from Pepperdine University with a major in educational administration. Prior to her career in education, Ms. Bass-Baylis enjoyed a successful career as a dancer/ singer/ actress and choreographer completing national and international tours of numerous musicals such as Arms Too Short To Box With God, Guys, & Dolls, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Little Shop of Horrors, Timbuktu, The Wiz, and Carmen Jones. She was also dance captain for the workshop and Broadway productions of The Tap Dance Kid where she had the pleasure of coaching tap impresarios, Harold Nicholas and Savion Glover, for their lead roles.

Sean Mc Manus

Executive Director

Dimitri Christy

Assistant Principal
A graduate of Worcester State Teacher’s College (now Worcester State College) in Massachusetts, Mr. Christy brings to CHAMPS several decades of experience as a high school and middle school administrator and teacher. He has taught math and has coached students in football, track, basketball and baseball in California as well as in New York.

When not involved in education, Mr. Christy has performed as an actor on stage, in television and in film. He has even served as an in-game character model for the video game, Max Payne 2. His favorite roles are on stage in musical theater where he plays Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof and Zorba in Zorba the Musical. 

Vince Campi

Media Arts Director
“My great passion is to improve the lives of young people, and my understanding of the technology rich, ever progressing, creative culture we live in, allows me to constantly create new and stimulating lessons, and inspire my students with the same excitement I have in being a lifelong learner.”

Vince Campi is finalizing his Master of Arts in Education, and holds Bachelors of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing. Is a Google Certified Teacher recognized for his innovative practices using technology in the classroom, an Adobe Certified Associate in Visual Communication, a member of the National Association of Photoshop Professionals, Computer Using Educators (CUE), and a current candidate in the UCLA Design Communication Arts certificate program in Graphic Design and Photography.

Vince is the school webmaster, and designed and built the CHAMPS website, has lead many professional development seminars, training teachers in new ways to use technology in the classroom, and twice produced and presented a comprehensive movie and presentation on Innovative Uses of Technology in the Classroom for the National Schools To Watch conference in Washington D.C.

He created and teaches all levels of the New Media Academy, this includes: The basic through advanced 21st Century media-focused computing skills needed for careers in a variety of contemporary growth fields. More specifically, the principles of graphic design, color theory, typography, photography, production of short videos, web site design, photo and image manipulation, and daily practice of life-long learning techniques.

At LAUSD’s Millikan Middle School, Vince spent many late after school hours collecting and rebuild nineteen old discarded computers, and at no cost to the school, created a mini computer lab in his English classroom, and then used them to teach remedial English students word processing and presentation skills along with all of the required standards-based curriculum.
He taught Honors, regular, ELL, and Intervention English/Language Arts; developed and taught Introductory through Advanced Academic and Creative computer classes, and is certified to teach Developing Readers and Writers (DRW) intervention program, the Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) training, and has Cross-Cultural Language and Academic Development (CLAD) training

As a result of his innovative lessons, he was invited to present at the District eLearning Forum, a symposium on integrating English and technology, and was one of 50 educators from across the country selected by USC, Institute for Multimedia Literacy at the Annenberg Center for Communication, to participate in a two-week intensive onsite professional development program in multimedia education and authorship, which was followed by participation in a three-year pilot program. As a result of the work he did in creating a multimedia literacy program to enhance the District’s Developing Readers and Writers, DRW, Intervention program curriculum, his students had a 200-400% increase in their API scores.

He was selected to be a Los Angeles Unified School District, District 2, Expert Validation Scorer, a group of Language Arts educators chosen by LAUSD, who read state required student essay exams and validated the scores that had been submitted by all District 2 schools.

He was integral in developing Millikan’s Technology department from only basic keyboarding, to offering Exploratory, Intermediate, and Advanced Computer classes, in which students learned MLA style academic word processing, multimedia presentation design, video production, Photoshop, Digital Photography, Flash Animation, Web Design, and 3D Architectural design using Google SketchUp. Students were then able to use these skills to produce multimedia presentations for his/her English, science, history, and math class projects, which gave students with a variety of learning modalities the opportunity to present information and knowledge in a way that took advantage of their individual strengths.

Performing Arts Co-Director
“What I teach students goes far beyond a dance step. I teach them skills they will use for the rest of their lives. Skills like discipline, the importance of good character, a sense of commitment, and how to work towards and achieve a single goal. I teach them life.”
Kyme Salid

Kyme Sallid is what you call a true "Triple Threat" (one who is equally talented as a dancer, singer and actress). She started her dance training in New York City at the young age of two. Her training eventually led her to three consecutive full scholarships with the Alvin Ailey School of Dance, and to become a graduate of the acclaimed High School of Performing Arts. After she attended college at SUNY Purchase, she embarked on a successful career where she performed nationally and internationally as a dancer, singer and actress.

Kyme Sallid made her Broadway debut as Ivy Vine in Honky Tonk Nights, and later returned with two long running Broadway shows. She performed the classic I’m Confessin’ in the Tony Award- winning musical Black and Blue, and was last seen on Broadway as Dolly Green in David Merrick’sshow, Oh Kay!  Kyme Sallid has also toured extensively at home and abroad with Broadway hits such as Sophisticated Ladies, Bubbling Brown Sugar and Ain’t Misbehavin’. She has charmed theater audiences all over Europe, and was a principal dancer for six months on an Italian television show called Premiatissima.

When not traveling abroad, Kyme Sallid continued to expand her talents as an actress.  She landed a leading role in Spike Lee’s film School Daze, where she played opposite Laurence Fishbourne. Her portrayal of Rachel Meadows earned her an NAACP Image Award nomination. This propelled her into the acting arena that eventually led her to move to Los Angeles.

In Los Angeles, while she became a wife and mother, Kyme Sallid landed guest star and recurring roles on all of the top T.V. shows. The list includes: E-Ring, 24, JAG, The Guardian, NYPD Blue, Frasier, Malcolm in the Middle, The Parkers, Providence, Judging Amy, Family Law and many more. While she worked as an actress, she could not ignore her first love: dance. She also felt the need to “give back”. So for ten years Kyme Sallid poured her soul and knowledge into teaching inner-city kids the love and technique of dance. “What I teach students goes far beyond a dance step. I teach them skills they will use for the rest of their lives. Skills like discipline, the importance of good character, a sense of commitment, and how to work towards and achieve a single goal. I teach them life.” 

Kyme Sallid’s extraordinary talent as a teacher has taken her across America. She is requested and flown all over the United States to teach master classes to thousands of children and teachers, and is fortunate to pass on the fruits of her experience and success. Kyme Sallid’s great passion for her art, teaching, and life are evident in all she has accomplished. As Chair of CHAMPS Performing Arts Academy, she is happy to share that passion with CHAMPS’ amazing students. 

Otis Sallid

Dr. Norman Isaacs

Founder
“As educational leaders, we must create an environment where tools and strategies such as technology, arts, and multimedia work hand in hand with the academic core subjects to create opportunities for students to be successful and excel in both their intelligence and their talents.”
Dr.Isaacs

Dr. Isaacs received a Masters Degree in Economics from Temple University, and then went on to completed a Counseling, Curriculum Development, and School Administration credential at Cal State University, Los Angeles, and a Ph.D. from Claremont College. Initially, Dr. Isaacs taught math and coached track for a period of six years; 3 years in Philadelphia and then 3 years in California split between Manual Arts High School and Fremont High School, where Dr. Isaacs moved into a counseling position. Dr. Isaacs then spent an additional three years at Markham Middle School and then three and half years at Jordan High School, working as a counselor before moving into a Coordinator's position at the District B office for LAUSD. Dr. Isaacs then spent the next twenty years at Millikan Middle School, ten years as an Assistant Principal and ten years as the Principal of Millikan Middle School.

Under Dr. Isaacs' leadership, Millikan Middle School was recognized as a California Distinguished School several years in a row, received the Governor's Performance Award, became one of the top ten schools in the country to watch, and became a California school demonstration site in the areas of Mathematics, English and the Performing Arts.

Dr. Isaacs, himself, has been recognized by the California Legislative Assembly for “Unparalleled Leadership and Vision”, the County of Los Angeles as “Administrator of the Year”, the City of Los Angeles for “Excellence in Education,” and the California Department of Education for “Extraordinary Direction, Leadership and Innovation as Principal”.

Dr. Isaacs lives in Sherman Oaks with his wife Cristina and is the proud father of two college graduates.

Dr. Isaacs retired from the day to day operations of CHAMPS at the end of the 2008-2009 school year. He continues to work closely with the current administration as an advisor and consultant.

Teri Riggs

Founding Executive Director
Teri Riggs, nee Jacobs, had an amazing high school experience which has motivated her to work with Dr. Isaacs to offer a similar experience to as many young people as possible.  As a freshman in South Bend, Indiana, Teri auditioned for and became a member of “Beyond Our Control”, a television series sponsored by Junior Achievement and filmed at Notre Dame University.  She was also in “Sing Out”, a community choir that performed at local churches, nursing homes and business functions.  She volunteered answering phones and manning the desks at the “Rap Center”, a hotline of sorts.  In those days to rap was to talk candidly about your life.  To round out her experience that year, she played the flute in the Clay High School Marching Band.

Sophomore year, Teri continued with the television show and band but then extended to organizing a city-wide Walkathon for March of Dimes which included seven high schools and fifteen hundred walkers.  She also became the first female Explorer Boy Scout in South Bend, in a radio broadcasting post, broadening her interest in the entertainment field.

Junior year included a move to Jackson, Tennessee where she took her radio experience on the air at WDXI most country radio.  In school, she competed with the speech and debate team, performed with an a cappella choir and continued in the band.  Senior year, she also wrote a column for the local paper, was awarded 1st place in the “Voice of Democracy” speech contest and selected as a state representative to the Presidential Classroom for Young Americans – her first airplane trip ever - from Jackson to Washington, DC

Teri auditioned for and was accepted into the International group, Up With People, but had to turn down the opportunity when she had to choose between the tour or a college scholarship.  After graduation, she accepted the Theatre Arts scholarship to college and went on to graduate from Memphis State University with a degree in Radio, TV and Film Production.  She worked in radio and as a disc jockey in the new discothèques until meeting her husband and raising a family.  Her husband’s work has taken her around the country and the world where she has had many opportunities to start businesses and find new charities with which to become involved. 

While raising four children, she has always believed in teaching her children well and letting them find their passion to lead them on their own personal journeys.  She can truly say that all of her children are good people and responsible world citizens.  When she met Dr. Isaacs, she realized that they both had the same goal, to help children be successful.  She feels blessed that she has this opportunity to work with such an inspirational man and to make not only their dreams come true but the dreams of hundreds of young people.

Teri Riggs moved to Chicago, Illinios in December 2009 but continues to work closely with the current administration as a consultant. Her knowledge of the processes and procedures pertaining to Charter School start-up and maintenance continues to be invaluable.