Good day, CharterFolk.
Today we are delighted to share with you our fourth edition of “CharterFolk on the Move,” an update provided by Mollie Mitchell about CharterFolk taking on new positions of leadership within the movement.
We provide a bio for Molly below
Mollie Mitchell is the President and Founder of The K12 Search Group, a national search firm that provides executive search services to charter schools, CMOs, state charter associations, and nonprofits and foundations that exist to achieve equity in public education.
Since creating The K12 Search Group in 2007, Mollie has worked with many high-performing charter school operators and education reform nonprofits around the country to help them recruit executive talent into their organizations. Prior to founding The K12 Search Group, Mollie led recruitment at the Broad Center. She has been recruiting in the sector since 2001—longer than any of her direct competitors.
Mollie is a dedicated advocate for improving educational outcomes in underserved communities and has served on the boards of charter schools in Los Angeles and Austin. She was also a board trustee of Great Minds, the creator of high quality curricula, Eureka Math and Wit & Wisdom. She currently sits on the board of the Turquoise Trail Charter School Foundation, a nonprofit that supports the first charter school in the state of New Mexico.
CharterFolk on the Move Volume 4 – August 2024
Nick Patterson is now Chief Executive Officer at eSTEM Public Schools in Little Rock, AR. He was previously Senior Director of Operations and Marketing at the Arkansas Academy for Educational Equity. Dr. Janice Page was recently named Assistant Superintendent for Instruction at eStem Public Schools. Biante Gainous is now the Regional Superintendent, Las Vegas at Democracy Prep Public Schools. Shanda Gentry was recently named Chief Academic Officer at FirstLine Schools in New Orleans. She was previously Director of Curriculum & Instruction at Crescent City Schools. Liliana Bustos Garcia is now the Chief Instructional Officer at Bright Star Schools in Los Angeles. She was previously the interim Chief Academic Officer at Extera Public Schools. Jamaal Henry Sr. is now Vice President of Schools for IDEA Public Schools in Louisiana. Matt Robinson was named Executive Director, Cincinnati at IDEA Public Schools. He previously served as the interim in the same role. Dolores Gonzalez is now Deputy Superintendent at IDEA Public Schools. She was previously Chief Program Officer at the same organization. Dr. Colleen Stearns is now the Chief Academic Officer at IDEA Public Schools. She was previously SVP of Curriculum & Instruction at the same organization. Allison Willis is starting a new role as Senior Vice President, Teaching & Learning at KIPP Foundation. She joined KIPP Foundation after a 12-year career at KIPP NYC. Justin Anderson is now the Chief Financial Officer at KIPP Metro Atlanta Schools. He previously worked at the Georgia Lottery Corporation as Manager, Financial Analysis & Planning. Anthony J. Oliver is the new Chief Schools Officer of New Schools for Alabama. He previously served as the Founder and Executive Director of Empower Community School. Shun Dorsey is now the Development Officer of Navigator Schools in Atlanta. He was most recently Director of Community Projects & Partnerships at United Way of Greater Atlanta. Carra Powell was recently promoted to Senior Vice President of Advocacy at the Tennessee Charter School Center. Dr. Noemi Donoso was named Chief Executive Officer at New Schools for Baton Rouge. She was previously Chief Strategy Officer at Linked Learning Alliance. Zonya Hicks is now Managing Director of People Operations at Ascend Schools. She was previously Managing Director of Schools at the same organization. Amy D’Angelo recently returned to Achievement First as a Transitional Superintendent. Derrick Bass is now Managing Director of Schools at KIPP Capital Region Public Schools. He joined KIPP from Houston ISD, where he was an Executive Director. Brandy Woodard is now the Chief People Officer at KIPP Northern California Public Schools. She was previously Managing Director of Schools at the same organization. Kyle Rosenkrans recently joined the KIPP Foundation as Vice President of Strategic Initiatives. Edverette Brewster is now Executive Director at Neighborhood House Charter School in Boston. She was previously a Leadership Coach at Lynch Leadership Academy. Bonnie Holiday was appointed President & CEO by the Georgia Charter Schools Association board. She was previously Chief Strategy Officer at the same organization. Hannah Kehn is now Executive Director for NYC Charter School of the Arts. She was previously a principal at New Visions for Public Schools. Claudia Lee was recently appointed Executive Director for Francophone Charter School of Oakland. She was most recently Site Director of Downtown Charter Academy in Oakland. Chermanda Frazier is now Managing Director of Primary Schools at Uplift Education. She was most recently a Campus Leader Coach at the same organization. Jesse Melgares was recently appointed Chief Executive Officer of The Accelerated Schools. He joined the organization from Alliance College-Ready Public Schools, where he was the Vice President, Teaching & Learning. Kurtis Indorf is now Chief Executive Officer of The Classical Academies in San Diego. He was previously Interim Superintendent of Great Hearts Texas. Mitch Elatkin joined ReGeneration Schools as Senior Director of Specialized Services. He was previously Managing Director of Special Populations at KIPP Texas. Joanna Belcher transitioned from Chief External Impact Officer at KIPP SoCal Public Schools to Regional Superintendent at KIPP Foundation. Dr. Tiffaney Whitt is now Executive Director and Principal at Hope Leadership Academy Charter School in Kansas City. She was previously an Assistant Principal in Kansas City Kansas Public Schools. Jennifer Padlan joined Breakthrough Public Schools as Chief People Officer in February. Dr. Evelyn Nuñez is now Chief Executive Officer at Esperanza Academy Charter School in Philadelphia. She was previously an Associate Superintendent at the School District of Philadelphia. Martha Woerner is Chief of Staff at Breakthrough Public Schools. She joined Breakthrough from Teach For America Ohio, where she also worked as Chief of Staff. Gabrielle Gilliam joined Ascend Schools as Chief Development Officer. She most recently held the same role at Oliver Scholars. James Troupis, who spent 15 years at Noble Network of Charter Schools, recently joined Opportunity Education as Chief of Schools. The GALS Denver board of directors recently named Timeri Tolnay as Executive Director. Martin Palamore joined East Harlem Tutorial Program as Chief Schools Officer in March. He was most recently Managing Director of Schools at KIPP Capital Region Public Schools. Eric Kot joined Pacific Charter School Development as Executive Director, Texas. He spent the previous 18 years at KIPP Texas Public Schools. Beth Purvis has returned to her role as Chief Executive Officer at Chicago International Charter School. Bobby Coburn is now Managing Director of Operations at Carmen Schools of Science and Technology. He was previously Director of Culture & Leadership Development at the same organization. Olivia Eagleson Martinez joined Carmen Schools as Managing Director of Culture & Leadership Development. She was previously Head of Schools at Bright Star Schools. Nikki Miller is now Chief Schools Officer at Carmen. She was previously Managing Director, Leadership Development at KIPP Nashville Public Schools. Dr. Ciera McNeal is now Chief Talent Officer at Carmen Schools of Science & Technology. Tiffanie Walsh is now Managing Director of School Operations at KIPP Nashville. She was previously Regional Director of School Operations at the same organization. Rodney Lynk Jr. is now Chief Executive Officer at Howard Fuller Collegiate Academy. He was previously Chief Executive Officer at Milwaukee Excellence Charter School. Dr. Laquita Tate is now Chief Academic Officer at KIPP Memphis Public Schools. She was previously Managing Director at the same organization.