Patricia Harden, President

Bio coming soon.

Alvarez LeCesne, Executive Director

Mr. LeCesne brings a wealth of experience to ESP’s program. A former senior trial attorney for the United States Department of Justice, he has been a resident of Northern Virginia since 1977 and has been actively involved in the community. Most recently, he served as president of the Optimist Club of Reston and the chair of the Reston Community Coalition. Mr. LeCesne has served on many volunteer boards and in 1999 received the “Best of Reston” award for his outstanding service.

NEWS: In October 2005, Mr. LeCesne and his wife Brenda received the "Making A Difference" Award. This award is sponsored by the Fairfax County branch of the NAACP.

Ryane LeCesne, Director of the Scholars Academy

Ryane LeCesne has a proven track record of success and dedication to ESP.  Ms. LeCesne served as the Assistant Executive Director of ESP for nearly two years as the program was founded. Her return to ESP assures continuity and commitment to the program and its participants.

Prior to ESP, Ms. LeCesne taught at an improvised charter school in Washington, DC and then at Flint Hill School in Oakton, VA. She understands the operations and philosophies of both independent and public schools and the challenges each face. While participating in the Study Abroad Program at the University of Natal, Durban, South Africa, she taught conflict resolution skills to elementary students in one of the local townships.

Ms. LeCesne exudes a sensitivity and understanding of diversity and a desire to insure that each child participating in the ESP Academy will be armed with the tools necessary to succeed in the 14-month program and the selected independent school.

Ryane is a graduate of Foxcroft School in Middleburg, VA. She continued her education at Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia where she graduated in 2001.