R.S. AFRICA SPECIAL NFP

Welcome to RSAFRICASPECIAL.org

The Board of Directors

Aida Abraha, Ph.D.

Director/Founder/Board Member

Dr. Abraha received a BS degree in chemistry from Chicago State University (CSU) and a Ph.D. in bioinorganic chemistry from Loyola University of Chicago in 1985 and 1992, respectively. She joined the department of chemistry, physics, and engineering studies department at Chicago State university as an assistant professor, in 2002. She served CSU for twenty years as a professor, a research scientist in Alzheimer's disease, and an interim associate dean. Dr. Abraha retired in 2021 and received a professor of emeritus status. During this time, she published multiple scientific papers, received several grants, and authored a book chapter. She is a board member of the Eritrean Development Foundation. Dr. Abraha did volunteer work including Youth as Possibility Chicago INC., Community of Men, Knights of Columbus: Ladies Auxiliary Madonna Della Strada Council, Chicago Archdiocese Women's Committee, and others. Dr. Abraha's commitment to community service and charity work began in 1975 when she volunteered with the Missionaries of Charity, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. She has a special burning desire to help special needs children that stems from her personal experience.

Cheryl D. Watkins, Ph.D.

President

Cheryl D. Watkins is the Deputy Chief in the Chicago Public Schools where she supports 41 schools largely in the Englewood community. She provides leadership and instructional support to principals and assistant principals through professional development and on-site school guidance.  Her tenure with the Chicago Public Schools includes being an assistant principal, an administrator and teacher facilitator at CPS’ central office, and a special education teacher at Agassiz and Ashe Elementary Schools.  Cheryl wrote a proposal under Renaissance 2010 in 2005 to start a school and became the founding principal of Pershing West Middle School.  She earned a bachelor’s degree from Chicago State University, majoring in special education, a Masters in Education from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a doctorate in education from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Her educational interests include teacher and paraeducator preparation, cultural language and its effect on literacy, supporting the teaching and learning of individuals with disabilities, understanding middle school and advancing the teaching profession.  Cheryl has served as a board member to several organizations that impact teaching and learning within the state of Illinois, including Advance Illinois, Catalyst Magazine and the Golden Apple Foundation.  

Dr. Watkins is the recipient of numerous awards including the “Dare to be Great” Award (by the Illinois Women in Educational Leadership), the Milken Award for mid-career teachers and leaders across the country and the Golden Apple Award for excellence in teaching.  Collectively, her teaching background and leadership skills add tremendous value to R.S. Africa Special.

Regards, 

Cheryl D. Watkins, PhD

Kathyrn Fouks, M.Ed.

Vice President

Kathyrn received her undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin and her Master’s in Education from Northern Illinois University. Kathyrn applied her background in learning disabilities, behavior disorders, advanced assessment, administration and language disorders to become the founder and principal of Acacia Academy, a special education school in LaGrange, IL. In addition to operating the Academy, Kathyrn is a member of the Learning Disabilities Association, the Orton Dyslexia Society, the International Reading Association, the Council for Exceptional Children and Adults and the Association for Supervision and Curricular Development. Kathyrn has received numerous certificates of accomplishments for her expertise and commitment to special education, including being featured on 60 minutes.

Melissa Burns, M.Ed.

Secretary

Melissa received her special education degree from Concordia University at Chicago River Forest. She began her teaching career at Acacia Academy teaching high school. Currently Melissa is an administrator at Acacia Academy and is finishing her Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership with a Type-75. Melissa enjoys doing a wide range of volunteer work from helping organizations raise money for disabilities to leading a group of teachers traveling to Kenya where they taught in the Mathare Valley slum. Melissa has a passion and strong desire to work with people of all ages and abilities in order to help them become active members of society. Melissa’s professional and academic experience will be invaluable to R.S. Africa’s charitable purpose and mission.

Alonzo C. DeCarlo Ph.D

Treasurer

Alonzo’s professional background demonstrates his commitment to education. Alonzo received a Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work from Wayne State University, a Masters in Experimental Psychology from the University of Toledo and a Ph.D. in Applied Developmental Psychology from the University of Toledo. In applying his academic background, Alonzo taught in Social Work and Psychology Departments at various universities and is currently an associate psychology professor at Chicago State University. Furthermore, since 2008, Alonzo has worked as an international visiting scholar at Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia, where he teaches and mentors doctoral candidates. In addition to his teaching career, Alonzo has worked as a mental health juvenile justice expert, a child and adolescent psychotherapist and mental health evaluator. Alonzo gives back to the community by participating in service activities and in community and charitable organizations, which now includes R.S. Africa Special.

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