Good morning, CharterFolk.
Today we’re back with Volume 7 of “CharterFolk on the Move,” an update by Mollie Mitchell, the President and Founder of The K12 Search Group, about CharterFolk taking on new positions of leadership within the movement.
We provide a bio for Mollie below.
Mollie Mitchell is the President and Founder of The K12 Search Group, a national executive search firm focusing on charter schools and nonprofit organizations committed to improving educational outcomes for underserved communities. The K12 Search Group’s mission is to help these organizations have a greater impact by recruiting outstanding talent for C-level positions.
Since creating The K12 Search Group in 2007, Mollie has worked with over 100 high-performing charter school operators and education nonprofits nationwide to recruit executive talent.
Before founding The K12 Search Group, Mollie served over five years as Senior Director of Recruitment at The Broad Center, a nonprofit organization created by businessman and philanthropist Eli Broad to recruit leaders from multiple sectors into senior-level positions in urban school systems and charter management organizations.
Mollie started her career in executive search at Heidrick & Struggles International, a leading global executive search firm, where she executed high-level searches across several industries.
Mollie holds a BA from Brigham Young University and an MA from Marymount University. She is a dedicated advocate for education reform and has served on three charter school boards. She lives most of the year in Austin, TX but enjoys spending the summer months in Colorado and Santa Fe, NM.
CharterFolk on the Move Volume 7 – September, 2025
Baionne Coleman has joined Freedom Preparatory Academy as Chief Academic Officer. She previously served as Chief Executive Officer and Superintendent of Rainier Valley Leadership Academy and was a Founding Partner of the Global Majority Consortium.
Dr. Giselle Easton has been named Deputy Superintendent of the Bob Hope School. She brings over 17 years of experience in education and previously served as an administrator within the organization.
Ralph Johnson was named Chief Program Officer at Democracy Prep Public Schools. He previously held roles at the organization including Vice President of College Access and Success and Senior Director of College Success.
Jonathan Raymond joined Highland Community Charter and Technical Schools as Executive Director and CEO. He was most recently Principal at JPR Consulting and is the author of Wildflowers: A School Superintendent’s Challenge to America.
Dr. Rikki Hunt Taylor, EdD has joined Meridian Public Charter School. She brings over 27 years of experience in education and was most recently Chief Academic Officer at E.L. Haynes Public Charter School.
Ashley Baldwin has stepped into the role of Chief Academic Officer at Mastery Schools. She has previously held several roles within the organization, including Regional School Officer and Elementary Principal.
Michael Lipphardt was named Chief Strategy Officer at Victory College Prep. He previously served as Chief Operating Officer at Global Preparatory Academy.
Adrianna Clemons was named Managing Director of Enrollment at KIPP Nashville Public Schools. She has previously held several roles at the organization, including Chief Operating Officer and Head of School Operations.
Christopher Hall has been named Senior Managing Director of Schools at Ascend Schools. He joined Ascend from Success Academy Charter Schools, where he served as School Manager and gained over eight years of experience.
Roxanne Rangel Barnett, M.Ed., has stepped into the role of Deputy Chief of Professional Learning at KIPP Texas Public Schools. She was previously Managing Director of Primary Schools at the same organization.
Cynthia Garcia is now Chief Operating Officer at Houston Classical Charter School. She was most recently Director of School Operations at YES Prep Public Schools.
David Spencer will serve as Executive Director at KIPP Indy Public Schools. He joins the role after previously holding the position of Chief Operating Officer at KIPP Indy.
Heidi Gasca has been named Superintendent at Excel Charter School. She previously served as Executive Director at the same organization.
Johnecia Howard has moved to the position of Executive Director of Tennessee at Freedom Preparatory Academy Charter Schools. She previously held the role of Chief Operating Officer at the same organization.
Tarik Ward was named Chief Operating Officer at Harlem Children’s Zone. He joined from The ELMA Philanthropies, where he held multiple roles over 10 years, including Director of Programs and Director of Global Operations.
Tiffanie Walsh has joined KIPP Indy Public Schools as Chief Operating Officer. She was most recently Managing Director of School Operations at KIPP Nashville Public Schools.
Chris Claflin has been named Area Superintendent for Greater Houston and Permian Basin at IDEA Public Schools. He previously served as an Associate with Zeal Education Group and Executive Director of Instruction for Houston ISD.
Tenisia Hicks was named Executive Director at Leadership Preparatory School. She has been with the organization for nine years, serving in various roles including Director of Finance and Operations.
Katherine Determann is now Chief Financial Officer at the Academies of Math and Science. She most recently served as Chief Executive Officer and previously as Chief Financial Officer for the Leman Academy of Excellence.
Griselda Delgado was named Executive Director at EJE Academies Charter Schools. She joined the organization from South Monterey County Joint Union High School District, where she served as Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services.
Lesley Esters Redwine has started a new position as Chief People Officer and General Counsel at Brooklyn Laboratory Charter School. She was previously Chief Executive Officer of LER Consultants and Advisors.
Yana Smith has been named Interim Chief Executive Officer at Rocky Mountain Prep. She has been with the organization for over two years, most recently serving as President of People and Business Administration.
Dr. Remy L. Washington will step into the role of CEO at Uplift Education. Over the past 12 years, she has held multiple leadership positions within the organization, including Managing Director, Chief Academic Officer, and President.
Neisha R. Springer has started a new position as Associate Chief of Talent at Achievement First. She spent seven years at VML, where she held several roles including Global Training and Development Consultant and Director of Global Learning and Experience.
Tom McDermott has joined Achievement First as Executive Director for Rhode Island. He brings over three years of experience from the Achievement Network, where he most recently served as Managing Director of Northeast Partnerships.
Kristin Damo has joined Achievement First as Regional Executive Director for New York. She previously served as Regional Superintendent and was a middle school principal at Success Academy Charter Schools.
Amy D’Angelo has joined Achievement First as Executive Director of Connecticut. She most recently served as Transitional Superintendent within the organization.
Valissia Allen has assumed the role of Chief of Strategy and Innovation at Leadership Preparatory Charter School. She has been with the organization for over 11 years, including as its founder.
Nakimia Hicks-Foster has joined Trinity Basin Preparatory Schools as Chief Academic Officer. She served KIPP Texas Public Schools for over four years, most recently as Deputy Chief of Academic Programs.
Candice E. LaMarche has joined the California Montessori Project as Chief Operations Officer after six years as an independent consultant with Candice LaMarche Consulting.
Leslie-Bernard Joseph has been named Chief Executive Officer at KIPP NYC Public Schools. He previously spent seven years with Coney Island Prep, serving as Board Member, Senior Advisor, and Chief Executive Officer.
Tearsa Coates has joined DC Prep as Chief External Affairs Officer. She previously served as Director for the Office of Integrated Marketing at the General Services Administration, an independent agency of the United States government.
Jovanny Orellana has assumed the role of Chief Advancement Officer at Southwest Public Schools. She spent 16 years with KIPP Texas Public Schools, where she held multiple roles, including Deputy Chief of Advancement and Deputy Chief of Development.