Welcome to the Kayne Siart Campus

Welcome to the Kayne Siart Campus - Home of the Lions!

My name is Maria Duarte, and I’m proud to serve as the principal of a school that is deeply committed to nurturing the hearts and minds of all students. Since opening our doors in 2010, the Kayne Siart Campus has become a cornerstone of educational excellence for families in Koreatown, MacArthur Park, and the surrounding Los Angeles neighborhoods.

Our mission is rooted in the belief that every child deserves to feel a deep sense of belonging and to be intellectually engaged every single day. We champion inclusion, integrity, kindness, perseverance, responsibility, and respect—values that guide our work and shape the experiences of our students. Our goal is to cultivate confident, curious learners who are prepared for a college-preparatory high school and empowered to make meaningful contributions to their communities.

We are proud to offer programs that reflect our commitment to equity and academic success, including specialized support for English learners and students with special needs. Our recognition through awards like the GOAL Award, the CABE Seal of Excellence, WASC accreditation, and the White House Bright Spot Award speaks to our unwavering dedication to student achievement.

Families are essential partners in this work. We invite you to engage with our school community through regular communication, family events, leadership opportunities, and classroom celebrations. Whether it’s joining a workshop, attending a performance, or simply connecting with your child’s teacher, there are many ways to feel seen, heard, and valued here at Kayne Siart.

Together, we will ensure that every student thrives—academically, socially, and emotionally.

Warmly,
Maria Duarte
Principal

About Kayne Siart

The Kayne Siart Campus is part of the Camino Nuevo Charter Academy network, a community of high-performing charter public schools that prepares and empowers students for success in college and in life.

Our K-8 public charter school serves the children and families of the Koreatown area of Los Angeles. Our comprehensive approach integrates academic rigor, community, family, and wellness supports to empower students to thrive in a culturally connected and changing world. Learn more about our approach.

Our mission is to educate students in a college preparatory program to be literate, critical thinkers, and independent problem solvers who are agents of social justice with sensitivity toward the world around them.

Student-Centered Approach

Our school uses an education model that ensures teachers are meeting the educational needs of all children. Our inclusive practices ensure that students with disabilities receive the same quality instruction as their peers in general education classrooms, with additional supports.

Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles

Our students have access to music instruction during school and after school (up to 18 hours each week) through the YOLA (Youth Orchestra Los Angeles) program. The program began as an adaptation of Venezuela’s revolutionary El Sistema music education program, but it is now an innovative model in its own right, guiding students and teachers from nearly 100 music programs around the country. Our school has the only in-school and after-school YOLA program in Los Angeles.

Wellness and Mental Health Services

Our wellness and mental health programs offers parent support groups, parenting workshops, student support groups, art classes, English classes, Spanish literacy classes, cooking classes, substance abuse prevention programs, individual and group counseling, crisis intervention and teacher training.

After School Program

Our school offers an after-school program with both academic assistance and enrichment activities such as computer training, homework assistance, athletics, and college-preparatory counseling. Tutoring and project-based activities are also offered every school day until 6 pm.

You can access our most current charter renewal petition and other documents by clicking here.

Kayne Siart in Action

Leadership

Maria Duarte Principal	Maria Duarte was born in Zacatecas, Mexico and emigrated to the United States at age five with her parents. She grew up attending public schools in Los Angeles and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology from UCLA. In addition, Maria holds a master’s in special education from Loyola Marymount University. She first started her journey at the former Camino Nuevo Harvard site in 2012 as a special education teacher’s assistant. After earning her teaching credential she became a special education teacher leading the implementation of a successful co-teaching full inclusion program. Her extensive background in special education allows her to implement a vision of equity and inclusion at Kayne Siart. She believes in strengthening our community and fostering a joyful school environment. As principal, Maria is responsible for the development, implementation, and evaluation of a high quality, comprehensive educational program. She strives to create a safe and welcoming environment, where all students are able to reach their highest potentials. Outside of work she loves spending time with her dog and visiting art galleries and museums.
Valerie Márquez Edwards Assistant Principal of Instruction	Valerie Márquez Edwards is an Assistant Principal of Instruction at Camino Nuevo’s Kayne-Siart Campus. Before joining Camino Nuevo, she lived and worked in Mexico. Her Mexican heritage and major in Spanish Language and Literature as an undergrad inspired her move to Mexico as a U.S. State Dept. Fulbright Fellow in 2021. From 2021-2022 she lived in Toluca, Mexico State, where she worked at an escuela normal, or teacher training college, teaching English and pedagogy to college students who were studying to be teachers. After this, she worked at an independent school in Mexico City where she taught 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade English. Before moving to Mexico, Valerie began her work as an educator as a Teach for America Corps Member in New York City teaching middle school English Language Arts in public charter schools. She has almost a decade’s worth of experience in education across North America, during which time she has served as a Middle School, High School, and University-level English Teacher, English Language Learner Coordinator, Advocacy Advisor, sports coach, and mentor teacher. Valerie earned her B.A. in English & Spanish Language + Literature summa cum laude from Fordham University and her M.A.T. with highest honor from Relay Graduate School of Education. Outside of work, she loves running, playing tennis, and spending time outdoors. She was born and raised in Santa Ana, California and she is delighted to be joining and serving the CNCA Kayne-Siart community.
Jennifer Alfaro Assistant Principal of Instruction	Jennifer was born and raised in Los Angeles to parents who left El Salvador in the early 80s looking for a better life. She grew up not too far from Kayne Siart in South LA and from an early age, her parents talked to her brother and her about the importance of education and going to college. Jennifer graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2012 with a Bachelor's of Arts in Spanish. Her goal was to become a teacher and soon after graduation, she looked for a teaching program in Los Angeles. She graduated from Loyola Marymount University in 2016 with a Masters of Arts in Bilingual Elementary Education. In college, Jennifer worked as a tutor in a middle school and at the Boys and Girls Club primarily with middle school English Learners. Once she moved back to Los Angeles, she served as a City Year Corps Member from 2012-2013 supporting 7th graders in Literacy and Math. From 2013-2016 she began working for Camino as a Special Education TA supporting 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 6th-grade students. In 2016 she was hired full-time as a teacher at Kayne Siart. She taught 2nd grade for 5 years and 3rd grade for 2 years before transitioning into Assistant Principal of Instruction. In this role, Jennifer will be working directly with the Special Education Program at our school to ensure that students, teachers, and families feel supported. She will oversee and provide professional development for our Math curriculum and iReady program. She will also provide coaching for our teachers and staff to ensure professional growth.

Diana Pacas School Operations Manager	Diana was born and raised in South Los Angeles. Both of her parents came to the US from El Salvador in the 80s. Diana began working at Kayne Siart in 2016 as a campus aide. Since then, she has taken on various roles including Culture Coordinator and Health Clerk. These roles have contributed to her holistic understanding of school operations. As the School Operations Manager, Diana oversees key areas such as the school budget, facilities, meal program, and the main office. Although Diana's role is primarily behind the scenes, she is committed to molding and maintaining a safe and joyous school environment.
Lilian Ramirez Student and Family Services Coordinator	Lilian is a Los Angeles native from a single-parent household. She is currently pursuing a higher education and is passionate about working with families. During her 7 years at Camino Nuevo, she has worked as a campus aide, registrar and now is in the role of family services coordinator. As a family services coordinator, she is responsible for hosting workshops, connecting families to resources that meet their specific needs, and is committed to moving families from involvement to engagement. She is also committed to building long-lasting relationships with schools that benefit both families and students.
Harah Milki Uvera Special Education Compliance Coordinator	Harah was born and raised in the Los Angeles area. She attended Occidental College where she earned a Bachelor’s of Arts in Biology, and later the University of Phoenix where she earned her Master’s in Secondary Education. Although she started her career in the sciences, Harah has always been involved in education, starting as a writing advisor when she was in 10th grade. Education has always been a passion of hers, as she believes that it is one key way a person can take direction in their life and carve out their own path of learning, independence, and contributing to their community. Harah is going into her 15th year being a part of the Camino Nuevo family. She began as a special education teacher’s assistant at Dalzell Lance in 2008, then became a full-time math teacher teaching algebra 1, algebra 2, geometry, 7th grade math, and more, at CNCA’s Dalzell Lance High School, CNCA’s Miramar High School, and Green Dot’s James B. Taylor Middle School. She joined the Kayne-Siart community in 2020 and is excited to continue in her role as the special education compliance coordinator. She will be supporting staff and families in ensuring that students are receiving their special education services while promoting a culture of inclusion amongst students with diverse strengths and needs.