Mark J. Comesañas is the executive director of My Brother’s Keeper - Newark (MBKN) and a founding Board Member of LEAD Charter School. He formally served as Head of Schools for LEAD Charter School, an education initiative of the Newark Opportunity Youth Network (NOYN). Prior to this, Mark served as an educational leader within Newark Public Schools for 13 years, with 4 years as the founding principal of UPLIFT Academy. He also sits on the board of Gateway U and his local church - La Vid Verdadera (translated: The True Vine). Comesañas earned a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Montclair State University and a Bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University. In his spare time, Mark enjoys coaching basketball and spending time with his wife Leslie and three intelligent and beautiful children - Kaitlyn, Jordan and Jacob.