Melvyn Leshinsky, Chairperson
Aronson LLC (Retired)

Melvyn (Mel) Leshinsky is a retired senior partner of Aronson LLC, a certified public accounting firm, located in Rockville, MD, which he joined in 1971 and retired from in 2010.

During his tenure, Aronson LLC enjoyed unprecedented growth and received many professional and community acknowledgments. Aronson’s client base is made up of construction, real estate, government contracting, nonprofit, technology and private industry companies located in the Greater Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia.

Mel received his Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration from Long Island University in 1964, his Master of Business Administration, specializing in Taxation, from Pace College in 1966 and his Juris Doctorate from Howard University School of Law in 1969.

Mel is a member of the Board of the Institute for Community Initiatives. He is also a co-founder of the Chesapeake Center for Youth Development in Baltimore.

Patricia O'Neill, Vice Chairperson
Montgomery County Board of Education

Patricia (Pat) O'Neill was first elected to the Board of Education (BOE) in 1998, and is currently serving her fifth four-year term. She has served as BOE president and vice president five times. Currently, Pat chairs of the BOE Policy Management Committee and is also vice chairperson of the Foundation. 

In 2015, Pat was named one of the 100 Most Powerful Women by the Washingtonian magazine. She is the past president of the Maryland Association of Boards of Education (MABE) and past co-chair of the Washington Area Boards of Education. In 2006, Pat was named by then-Governor Robert Ehrlich to represent MABE on the Task Force on School Safety. She has served on numerous advisory committees for education-related issues, including the Maryland Blue Ribbon Panel on Teen Pregnancy and the Maryland Comparable HSA Task Force. She also participated in the 2009 Harvard Public Education Leadership Project.

Prior to joining the BOE, Pat was a longtime PTA activist in the Walt Whitman Cluster who served in various volunteer and leadership roles. She is a graduate of Walter Johnson High School and has a degree in social science from Southern Methodist University. She is married and has two daughters who are graduates of MCPS.

Paul Leleck CPA, Treasurer
Building Hope

Paul Leleck is the Chief Financial Officer for Building Hope. In that role, he manages the organization’s finances and underwrites financial assistance to public charter schools. He also works with client schools on their accounting and budgeting through Building Hope Services. Paul is a certified public accountant with over 35 years of accounting, finance, business and management experience. He has assisted development stage companies and has served as a partner in a Big 4 accounting firm.

Paul currently serves on the boards of the Latin American Montessori Bilingual Public Charter School and Paul Public Charter School. In 2016, Paul established the JoAnn Leleck Endowed Fund in memory of his wife who served as MCPS Chief Academic Officer. The fund supports the needs of the MCPS Elementary School renamed in JoAnn's honor.

Jack R. Smith Ph.D., Superintendent of Schools
Montgomery County Public Schools

Jack Smith began his tenure as superintendent of Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) on July 1, 2016. A dedicated lifelong educator, Jack has been a classroom teacher, principal, curriculum director, and a local superintendent of schools.

Jack was appointed interim state superintendent of schools and treasurer of the Maryland State Board of Education on September 14, 2015.

Jack joined the Maryland State Department of Education as the chief academic officer for the Office of Teaching and Learning in August 2013.

His steadfast goal has always been to provide all students, regardless of their learning needs, race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status, with options and choices upon graduation. Among Jack's many illustrious awards and honors, he was named Maryland Superintendent of the Year in 2013 and he received the 2010 Change Agent Award from the Maryland State Department of Education's Division of Career and College Readiness.

Jack is a member of Leadership Maryland's Class of 2011, and he has served on a variety of volunteer boards. A graduate of Eastern Washington University, with a bachelor's in English and Communications and a master's in School Administration, Jack received his Ph.D. in instructional leadership from Notre Dame of Maryland University.

Yolanda Johnson Pruitt, J.D., CEFL
Executive Director
MCPS Educational Foundation

Yolanda Pruitt was appointed the Executive Director of the Foundation in 2012. Yolanda has worked to increase the charity’s capacity to effectively support MCPS programs and special initiatives. She works with the Board of Directors to increase Foundation assets, increase annual contributions, expand the base of donors, and engage the community in the Foundation's outreach efforts. In 2020, Yolanda also became the first head of a Maryland educational foundation to become a Certified Education Foundation Leader.

Her position with the Foundation follows a career with the University System of Maryland, where she served three campuses – University of Maryland, University of Maryland Baltimore, and Bowie State University. For these campuses, Yolanda held senior-level positions and raised funds for research, lectureships, endowments, science laboratories, new construction, athletic facilities, and academic programs.

Yolanda is a graduate of the Philip Merrill College of Journalism, University of Maryland, College Park (Bachelor of Science; 1978); and the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law (Juris Doctor; 2004). She also earned a Certificate in Education Foundation Leadership from the National University and National School Foundation Association (2020).

Yolanda is married and the mother of two MCPS graduates.

Pennie Abramson, Gary and Pennie Abramson Charitable Foundation

Pennie Abramson is a leader in the philanthropic world, both nationally and internationally. She has contributed to causes ranging from the arts to the sciences, supporting a wide variety of initiatives including creating education seminars and funding educational buildings.

Pennie is the current chair of the Foundation Small Grants Committee and co-chair of the Foundation Scholarships Committee. In this role, she raises and disperses Foundation funds for projects that are not supported by the county schools, including providing accessible equipment to children with disabilities and college scholarships for local students.

Pennie is an active member in The Fisher Island Philanthropic Foundation, a fund which supports children’s charities based in Miami, FL. She also sits on the Board of Trustees for Friends of Cancer Research, Project MediShare, Operation Embrace and Aleph Bet Montessori School. She is a past Women’s division Chairman for State of Israel Bonds and spent many years serving for the American Cancer Society and the Leukemia Society of America.

Pennie is a graduate of MCPS school Norwood High School. She has been married to her husband Gary Abramson for 46 years. They have three children and four grandchildren.

Joshua Bokee, Comcast Corporation

Joshua (Josh) Bokee is in government affairs and a policy and legislative analyst for Comcast Corporation. Josh has a wide and varied interest in nonprofit and service clubs, including United Way of Frederick County; Mental Health Association of Frederick County; Frederick City Planning Commission; Rotary Club of Carroll Creek; Frederick Chamber of Commerce; and the Neighborhood Advisory Council.

He lived in Frederick for nine years, is married, and has one child.

Josh received his Bachelor of Science degree in business management, concentration in economics, from Pennsylvania State University and his master’s in community planning from the University of Maryland, College Park.

Steve B. Cohen, ProShares Advisors, LLC

Steve Cohen is the chair of the Foundation Finance Committee.

Steve Cohen joined ProShares in 2002. In his current role as Managing Director and Head of Strategy, he is responsible for product development, product management, investment strategies, and branding. Steve previously led the marketing team and played a large role in helping shape the firm’s corporate strategy and product development efforts.

Prior to joining ProShares, Steve served as Vice President of Marketing at Folio Investing, and before that at the mutual fund company, Calvert. He also worked with several large agencies in the advertising business for 15 years, including Saatchi & Saatchi and Bozell Worldwide where he ran the Merrill Lynch account. He earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing and management information systems from the McIntire School of Commerce, University of Virginia. Steve is married and has three children, all of whom have gone through the MCPS education system.

Debbie Driesman, Frank Islam and Debbie Driesman Foundation

Debbie Driesman is the chair of the Foundation Strategic Planning Committee. In 2019, She and her husband, Frank Islam, also established the Gilles Driesman Scholarship Fund in honor of Debbie's father.

Debbie has lived in the Washington DC area for the past 3 decades, having grown up in Ontario, Canada. She worked as a computer engineer in NASA's communication division at Goddard Space Flight Center until she retired in 1999 to oversee the construction of a home.

She and her husband Frank Islam have since built another new home in Potomac, MD. Debbie has been involved in the Potomac Area Newcomers Group since 2002. 

Debbie is the Vice President of the Frank Islam and Debbie Driesman Foundation and also serves on the Board of Directors of the National Symphony Orchestra, the Honorary Board of the S and R Foundation, and the Board of Trustees of the Shakespeare Theater Company. She and Frank are members of the Kennedy Center International Committee on the Arts.

Jennifer L. Nordheimer is co-chair of the Foundation Scholarships Committee.

She is a lawyer in the public affairs and public policy field with a focus on health, telecommunications and disability policy. Jennifer graduated from Tufts University with a degree in Art History and received her J.D. from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law.

In addition to her work with the Foundation, Jennifer serves on the Board of the WHC Sisterhood and on the PTAs of her children's schools. A product of the MCPS system, she feels very strongly about ensuring that all Montgomery County students have equitable access to its innovative programs and resources. Jennifer is married to a fellow MCPS graduate and is the parent of a current MCPS student and two MCPS graduates.

Linda Plummer, NAACP, Montgomery County Branch

Linda Plummer is president of the NAACP Montgomery County Branch, and previously held the offices of branch secretary, 1st vice president, and membership chair. She has also served as the NAACP Maryland State Youth and College Adviser. Linda is a graduate of Leadership Montgomery. She has received the County's Human Rights and MLK Humanitarian Awards and has been an NAACP Golden Heritage Member since 2009.

Thomas Pumphrey, Inter-denominational Church of God (retired)

Thomas (Tom) Pumphrey is the retired Senior Pastor of the Inter-denominational Church of God (ICOG) in Gaithersburg, MD where he served for 45 years in the capacities of Assistant Pastor and Senior Pastor. He is the visionary and head of the Eldership of ICOG and the principal Preacher/Teacher of the congregation on Sunday mornings. Tom also served as secretary to the Foundation from 2012 to 2018. Tom is a graduate of the MCPS school Sherwood High School.

Fazaneh Sabi, M.D., FACOG, Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group

Dr. Farzaneh (Fazi) Sabi was appointed Associate Medical Director of Hospital Operations, Perioperative Services, Utilization and Case Management, and Network/Contracting for the Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group (MAPMG) in February 2013. She leads the strategy and execution of when and how Kaiser Permanente members will receive care within the integrated care delivery system of Kaiser Permanente versus from contracted facilities and providers to ensure the highest qualiity outcomes. She also oversees the utilization management and case management departments.

A fellow of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (FABOG), Fazi completed her residency training at the Naval Medical Center San Diego, Balboa Hospital. She holds a bachelor’s degrees in biology and psychology from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and a Doctor of Medicine from The George Washington University Medical School. Fazi is also a graduate of the MCPS school Richard Montgomery High School, a mother of MCPS students, and a member of the Fifth Grade Challenge Hall of Fame.

Victoria Samuels, Educational Systems Federal Credit Union

Victoria (Vic) Samuels, Vice President of Community Relations for Educational Systems Federal Credit Union, joined the Foundation in 2016. Vic began her career at Educational Systems Federal Credit Union in 1985 and is passionate about the Credit Union’s core purpose of serving the education community. In her role as the Vice President of Community Relations, she partners with the seven county school systems and the three community colleges that the Credit Union serves to support education through sponsorships, volunteerism and charitable giving. With over $850 million in assets and 12 branches, the Credit Union serves over 85,000 members in seven school systems and three community colleges throughout Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, Montgomery, Prince George's, St. Mary's and Talbot counties.

Rob Smith, Fitzgerald Auto Malls

Rob Smith is the chair of the Foundation Fundraising Committee.

Rob is the Vice President of the Fitzgerald Auto Malls. In this role, he oversees development and implementation of process-based management systems deployed across multiple locations in three states to achieve desired results in net profit and customer satisfaction objectives. He has extensive previous experience in sales and service in a variety of roles including sales and service management. He has held his position since 1989.

Rob is also President of Americans Standing for the Simplifcation of the Estate Tax (ASSETT), which is a grass roots non-profit organization dedicated to changing the collection methodology for the estate tax. 

Rebecca Smondrowski, Montgomery County Board of Education

Rebecca Smondrowski was first elected to the Board of Education in 2012 and was just re-elected to her third term in 2020. She is the Chair of the BOE's Committee on Special Populations and a member of the Policy Management Committee.

Prior to joining the BOE, Rebecca served as the Legislative Aide for Senator Roger Manno. She has served on the Montgomery County Council of Parent-Teacher Associations (MCCPTA) Board of Directors, including positions as the Vice President for Legislation, Vice President for Programs, Chair of the Curriculum Committee, Quince Orchard Cluster Coordinator, and MCCPTA’s representative to the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) K-12 Mathematics Joint Task Force.

Rebecca was re-appointed as a Commissioner for the City of Gaithersburg Ethics Commission in January 2015. She also serves on the Board of Trustees for Future Link.

Rebecca is married with two children, an MCPS graduate and one currently attending the Montgomery County Public Schools.