Welcome

Mission of the The Foundation of West Oak Lane Charter School

The Foundation of West Oak Lane Charter School was established for the benefit of, and to carry out the charitable, educational, and scientific purposes of West Oak Lane Charter School. The Foundation’s fundraising efforts will support the school's after-school and summer enrichment programs, provide scholarship support to broaden the educational opportunities of current students and alumni, and create grants for related academic purposes.

Foundation Board Members

Wes Sommerville	Cleosie Kirkland	Dr. Leroy Nunery	Michele Jones
President	Treasurer	Secretary	Assistant Secretary

Wes Somerville, President

Board President, previously served as the Executive Director of the Lenfest Foundation and as a Board Member at West Oak Lane Charter School. Throughout his career, he has focused on improving educational opportunities for students, bringing more than 20 years of leadership experience in both the business and nonprofit sectors. His background includes strategic thinking, sound judgment, fiscal management, planning, building collaborative relationships, and a strong commitment to community service. Wes has a B.A. from Cornell University and a Certificate in Corporate Citizenship from Boston College Carroll School of Management.

Cleo Kirkland, Treasurer

Board Treasurer, has over 35 years of executive management experience in various business industries, including insurance. He served as President, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Financial Officer at AV International, Inc., one of America’s largest minority-owned insurance brokerage firms. Before forming PK Financial Group, Cleo held senior-level management positions at Caesars Entertainment Corporation, ExxonMobil, Rohm and Haas Corporation, General Electric Corporation, and the Atlantic City Convention Authority. Cleo has a B.S. degree from Drexel University and an M.B.A. in Finance from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Leroy Nunery II, Secretary

Board Secretary, brings valuable expertise in K-12 and higher education services, support, and practices. His work emphasizes educational technology, procurement, and auxiliary services. He is a Senior Advisor at Econsult Solutions and the Founder and Principal of PlūsUltré LLC, a boutique advisory and consulting firm established in 2007. The firm’s mantra of “Inspiration, Imagination, and Innovation” reflects its mission to enhance the strategic and operational capacities of educational institutions, non-profit organizations, and entrepreneurial ventures. Dr. Nunery has a B.A. from Lafayette College, an M.B.A in Finance from Washington University in St. Louis, and an Ed.D. in Higher Education from the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education.

Michele Jones, Assistant Secretary

Board Assistant Secretary, was appointed to the Senior Team at West Oak Lane Charter School (WOLCS) in July 2014 as Senior Director of Development and External Affairs. Charged with overseeing the school’s advancement operations, she leads initiatives across the school community and plans and directs all school-based fundraising campaigns. She works closely with the school’s Board of Trustees to identify campaign priorities and define fundraising strategies that support the school’s mission. Michele has an M.H.A from the University of Saint Francis, an M.S.W. from Lincoln University, a Certificate in Organizational Leadership from Temple University, an Executive Leadership Certificate from Cornell University, and a Certificate in Executive Presence and Influence from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Welcome

Mission of the The Foundation of West Oak Lane Charter School

Foundation Board Members

Highlights from the WOLCS 2025 Fall Gala