Senior Team
Supporting the superintendent, the senior team is a highly experienced group of leaders with decades of service in education, administration, and community engagement.
Their collective expertise spans instructional leadership, human resources, finance, technology, communications, and more, ensuring a comprehensive approach to advancing student success and organizational excellence.
Team Bios
Paulette Chambers, MEd, Chief Advisor to the Superintendent
Paulette Chambers has been connected to MPS for over 40 years, starting as a student and evolving through roles as a volunteer, intern, teacher, school administrator, and chief of staff. Today, she continues her commitment to the students, families, and educators of the district by serving as Chief Advisor, a critical liaison between the superintendent and the school board. Throughout her career, Chambers has emphasized supporting students and their families; creating safe spaces and meaningful opportunities for parent engagement; and building fair, clear, and effective systems that empower educators and ensure every student has the opportunity to thrive.
Carol Eady, Deputy Chief Human Resources Officer
A proud MPS graduate, Carol Eady is SHRM certified with more than 25 years of experience in human resources. After earning a bachelor's degree in business management, she began her career in retirement and benefits administration, focusing on supporting employees’ long-term planning and well-being. Eady's HR expertise now spans benefits, management, compensation programs, payroll operations, leadership development, strategic planning, and process improvement. She helps make HR processes and resources accessible, transparent, and employee-focused and fosters positive work environments where employees feel valued, respected, and supported throughout their careers.
Michael Harris, Chief of Staff and Interim Deputy Superintendent, Operations
Michael Harris has dedicated more than 25 years to serving students, families, and educators. He began his career as a paraprofessional in the Elmbrook School District before becoming a teacher and school-based administrator for MPS, the School District of Menomonee Falls, and the Mequon-Thiensville School District. Harris later served as a district administrator in the Clarke County School District in Athens, Georgia, where he supported systemwide instructional and operational initiatives and conducted action research on sustaining induction teachers. Upon returning to Milwaukee in 2021, Harris joined MPS’s Office of Human Resources, and he now proudly serves as Chief of Staff. He is committed to advancing equitable opportunities and strengthening outcomes for all students.
Brian Litzsey, Chief Family, Community, and Partnership Officer
Brian Litzsey brings more than two decades of experience to his role, having served in various leadership positions with Milwaukee Recreation since 2002. Most recently, he served as Senior Recreation Director, where he oversaw budgeting, strategic planning, policy compliance, marketing, technology services, and daily operations, including the revitalization of numerous community playfields. Litzsey is deeply committed to ensuring that students, families, and the broader community receive world-class customer service and equitable opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive. His collaborative leadership style and focus on continuous improvement reflect his dedication to building strong, inclusive, and vibrant programs.
Dominick Maniscalco, Chief Human Resources Officer
Dominick Maniscalco oversees the district’s people strategy, with a focus on building culture and modernizing systems to better serve employees and students. His data-driven approach is grounded in transparency, accountability, and a long-term vision for organizational health and talent sustainability. Prior to joining MPS, Maniscalco recently served as Head of HR for the Chicago Housing Authority, where he directed a multi-year HR transformation and improved engagement, efficiency, and service delivery. He holds advanced degrees in organizational leadership and HR management, is SHRM certified, and is currently pursuing a Juris Doctorate at Purdue University in employment and business law. A first-generation Arabic-Italian American, he is committed to cultivating inclusive, high-trust workplaces and talent ecosystems that enable people and organizations to thrive.
Chad Meyer, Senior Director of Technology
Chad Meyer is an educational technology leader with a master's degree in educational leadership from Marquette University and over 25 years of experience in various positions within MPS. In his current role, he leads a team of nearly 100 professionals in delivering reliable, forward-looking technology solutions that support teaching and learning across the district. Meyer has successfully guided major modernization projects, including network and infrastructure upgrades, VoIP and security system replacements, and many classroom technology initiatives. Combining his background as an educator and administrator, he fosters collaboration, efficiency, and equity in digital access.
Jennifer Mims-Howell, Chief Academic Officer
A Milwaukee native, Jennifer Mims-Howell has worked for MPS for more than 30 years. She began her career as a Head Start teacher before transitioning over to specialized services. She then served as a teacher for students with disabilities, a special education supervisor, and eventually the district’s Senior Director of Specialized Services. She held that position for seven years before becoming Chief Academic Officer in 2021. In this role, Mims-Howell advocates for inclusive classrooms that include students with disabilities, language needs, and social-emotional needs. She supports the integration of educational strategies, literacy for all, and hands-on learning throughout the district. Mims-Howell continues to pursue equitable opportunities for all students to be successful in their post-secondary options.
Keely Roberts, EdD, Chief of Schools
Dr. Keely Roberts has more than 25 years of experience serving students, educators, and communities. A Milwaukee native, she began her career as an MPS teacher, an experience that continues to shape her deep commitment to public education. She later served as Superintendent of Schools for a large urban district in Illinois, where she guided districtwide vision and strategy, oversaw hundreds of staff members, and supported the success of thousands of students. Dr. Roberts places a high value on connection and community, believing that sustainable improvement is rooted in collaboration and shared purpose. Her leadership is grounded in data-informed decision-making, a focus on positive school culture, and an unwavering commitment to student growth.
Aycha Sawa, CPA, Chief Financial Officer
Aycha Sawa joined the MPS team in 2024 as the head of the Office of Finance. Both a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), she brings many years of experience in government auditing, accounting, and management. After earning a business degree from University of Wisconsin–Madison, Sawa held corporate and state government positions before joining the City of Milwaukee in 2010 as an auditor. She later served as internal audit manager, accounting director, and deputy comptroller before becoming the city’s first woman to be elected Comptroller in 2020, where her team received a certificate of excellence in financial reporting from the State of Wisconsin. As a Milwaukee resident and an MPS parent, Sawa cares deeply about the community and is focused on transparent, accountable financial leadership.
Tony Tagliavia, Chief Communications Officer
Tony Tagliavia brings more than a dozen years of experience as an educational communications leader, including nearly six years with the district in the 2010s. With bachelor's and master's degrees in journalism from Northwestern University, he began his career as a news reporter before joining MPS in 2012. During his first stint with the district, he managed media relations and later helped coordinate student recruitment and retention efforts. Tagliavia then served as Chief Marketing Officer at Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC), where he helped grow new student applications, expand digital marketing, and strengthen social media reach. He returned to MPS in 2025 as Chief Communications Officer, now focusing on strengthening family and staff communications, building better media relationships, and developing comprehensive enrollment marketing.
Mike Turza, Interim Chief Operating Officer
Mike Turza worked for MPS for more than 25 years, serving in various roles that included Director of Transportation, Director of Parent and Student Services, and Director of Business Services. As Director of Productivity and Quality Management, he was able to utilize his black-belt training in Lean Six Sigma to improve district operations. After retiring in 2015, Turza returned to the district in 2025 as Interim Director of Facilities and Maintenance Services, assisting with the Lead Stabilization Project. As the current Chief Operating Officer, he understands that a safe and welcoming environment—including facilities, food, and transportation—is critical to ensuring all students can learn.
Mary Urbina-McCarthy, Deputy Chief of Staff
A Milwaukee native, Mary Urbina-McCarthy holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. She serves MPS as Deputy Chief of Staff, where she supports district-wide strategic initiatives that advance student learning and operational excellence. Before joining MPS, Urbina-McCarthy built broad expertise in government operations, campaign strategy and finance, and startup management. She held leadership roles in municipal government and political campaigns, serving under Mayor Tom Barrett, Mayor Rahm Emanuel, and Governor JB Pritzker. In the private sector, she gained deep experience building and scaling technology startups. Across every role, Urbina-McCarthy has focused on aligning people, systems, and strategy—turning vision into actionable plans and measurable results.