Education Reformers on the Move: June 2019

"Education Reformers on the Move" is a quarterly email that tracks senior hires in reform-oriented school systems, CMOs, foundations, funding organizations and other nonprofits that support the movement.  

If you or someone you know has recently made a move that you think is appropriate for sector recognition, please feel free to email me the information.

Congratulations to the individuals listed below on their recent transitions!    

Deanna Vasilakis, most recently the Director of Recruitment for Uncommon Schools, was named Chief of Talent Acquisition at UP Education (Boston, MA). Arthur Mills, former Executive Director, Talent Management and Organizational Strategy at Fulton County Schools, joined New Teacher Center as Chief Operating Officer. In addition, Atyani Howard was named Chief Program Officer for New Teacher Center. Previously, Atyani was Vice President, Academics, Client Team for The New Teacher Project. Former Executive Director of KIPP Tulsa Public Charter Schools, Andrew McRae, recently transitioned to Breakthrough Schools (Cleveland, OH) as Model Education Leader. Sophia Roy, Assistant Principal at KIPP New Orleans, will also join Breakthrough Schools as Founding School Leader. Allen Smith, Senior Deputy Superintendent, Equity and Engagement for Denver Public Schools, was recently named Regional Superintendent of KIPP Texas: San Antonio. Austin Colberg, former Assistant Principal with Partnerships to Uplift Communities (PUC Schools), will join Alliance College-Ready Public Schools (Los Angeles, CA) as Assistant Principal.

(The above paragraph represents searches conducted or placements made by The K12 Search Group).

Brady Shannon, formerly the Director of External Affairs, New Orleans at the Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools, joined IDEA Public Schools as the Director of Advancement - Southern Louisiana. Larnell Vickers is now Director of Talent Acquisition at The Future Project. Most recently, Larnell was Assistant Director of Recruitment for Democracy Prep Public Schools. After serving as Superintendent and Interim Chief Executive Officer for Democracy Prep Public Schools, Natasha Trivers was recently named permanent Chief Executive Officer. Larry Guillory, former Managing Partner at Talent Conexus, is now Chief People Officer for KIPP Texas Public Schools. Mary Carlton also joined KIPP Texas Public Schools as Director of Leadership Recruitment and Development after serving as Director of Recruitment for KIPP New Orleans. Nancy Flores, most recently a principal at Dickinson Independent School District, will join KIPP Texas Public Schools as the Deputy Chief of Academics for KIPP Texas: San Antonio. Jana Reed was named Chief Operating Officer at iMentor; Jana previously served as Chief of Schools for Citizens of the World Charter Schools. Nashville Mayor David Briley announced Indira Dammu as his top education advisor. Dammu is the founding member of the Tennessee Educators of Color Alliance. Paul Hays, former Chief Academic Officer for City on a Hill Charter Public Schools, is now Managing Director of Programs, Massachusetts at Bottom Line. Recy Dunn transitioned to Executive Superintendent at the New York City Department of Education. Previously, Recy was Chief Operations and Growth Officer at YES Prep Public Schools. Laura Maestas was named Chief Executive Officer of DC Prep after serving as their Chief Talent Officer for several years. Eldridge Gilbert is now Chief Schools Officer of Coney Island Prep; prior to that, Eldridge was Managing Director of Schools for KIPP Bay Area Schools. Paul Kihn former Senior Advisor to the Education Practice at McKinsey & Company, was appointed Deputy Mayor for Education for Washington, DC. Former Director of Talent Initiatives at Opportunity 180, Dr. Mariama Grimes, transitioned to Senior Advisor to the President and Acting Director, Family Learning Program at The Public Education Foundation in Las Vegas, NV. Myrna Castrejon is now the President & CEO at the California Charter Schools Association. Previously Myrna was Executive Director of Great Public Schools Now. Emmile Brack, CEO & Founder of Ignacio Brack Consulting, transitioned to Managing Director, Finance and Operations at the National Equity Project. Kerri Briggs, former Education Policy Officer at ExxonMobile, is now Principal at Cicero Group. Former Chief Financial and Operations Officer of Impact Public Schools, Noah Wepman, was named Chief Financial and Growth Officer at New Leaders Org. Ana Ponce, former CEO of Camino Nuevo Charter Academy, is now Executive Director at Great Public Schools Now. Tammy Stanton was appointed Interim CEO of Camino Nuevo Charter Academy after serving as Chief Financial Officer. Longtime Founder & CEO of Education Pioneers, Scott Morgan, is now Senior Recruiter at Wonderschool. Former CEO of Education Outside, James Cleveland, was named Managing Director of Entangled Ventures. Valerie Faillace, formerly a Consultant for KIPP Texas Public Schools, is now Chief of Strategic Planning for Attuned Education Partners. Dan Cruce transitioned to the United Way of Delaware, serving as their Chief Operating Officer; previously, Dan was Vice President, Education at Hope Street Group. Scott Thompson, most recently the Deputy Chief for Innovation and School Design for DC Public Schools, is now Vice President for Teacher Preparation and Development at TNTP. Rico Blancaflor, former Vice President of Strategic Projects at the Posse Foundation, is now Vice President of Collaboration and Public Policy at Philanthropy NY. Kelvey Oeser, former Partner, Client Team with TNTP, is now Chief of Networks for Leading Educators. Jeremy Jones, most recently Effective Schools Framework Facilitator at the Texas Education Agency, is now a Managing Partner at The Learning Accelerator. Rich Harrison, Chief Academic Officer for Uplift Education, will transition this summer to Superintendent of Wonderful College Prep Academy. Aurora Lora, former Superintendent of Oklahoma City Public Schools, is now Chief of Schools for Uplift Education. Former Head of Schools for YES Prep Public Schools, Leah Peters, is now Vice President of Academics for DSST Public Schools. Constance Jones was named Chief Executive Officer of Noble Network of Charter Schools after serving as President and Chief External Affairs Officer. Martin Winchester, Deputy Commissioner of Educator Support at the Texas Education Agency, is now Chief Human Assets Officer at IDEA Public Schools. Amira Mogaji, former principal at Northglade Montessori Magnet School, recently joined City Garden Montessori School as Chief Academic Officer. Jacquelyn Davis was recently named CEO and President of the Bainum Family Foundation. Previously, Jacquelyn was Co-Founder and Partner at Education Forward DC. Kurtis Indorf, former Deputy Chief of Academics and Head of Schools at KIPP Texas: San Antonio, is now Executive Director of Instruction at Great Hearts Academies (Texas). Founder & CEO of EdPlex, Brenna Copeland, recently transitioned to the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation as Program Officer, Quality School Options. Maia Blankenship was named Partner at Wildflower Schools; previously, Maia was Vice President, Strategic Growth and Partnerships for Achievement Network. Strategy Advisor, Greg Sommers, is now Executive in Residence for The Center for Educational Leadership. Kristen Brown, former Chief Talent Officer for the New Jersey Department of Education, is now Vice President of Strategy for Teach For America. Dottie Smith was named President of The Commit Partnership; most recently, Dottie served as their Managing Director of the Best in Class Coalition. Diane Robinson is now Global Partnerships Lead for Teach For All after serving as their Global Special Projects Lead for several years.