CharterFolk Contributor Mollie Mitchell – CharterFolk on the Move Volume 9 – July, 2026

Good morning, CharterFolk.

Today we’re back with Volume 9 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 9 – July, 2026

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Justin Fuentes is now the Superintendent of Amigos Por Vida-Friends for Life Charter School. Previously he served as the Chief Schools Officer at Raul Yzaguirre School for Success.

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Dr. Natalie Lewis is now the Executive Director of Highline Academy. She previously served as Vice President of Leadership Development for DSST Public Schools.

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Hannah Larkin has joined Excel Academy as Chief Operating Officer. She most recently served as Chief Operating Officer at BetterLesson.

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Nicole Duckett is now the Chief Operating Officer of Movement Schools. Most recently, she served as the Chief Operating Officer for The Center for Black Educator Development.

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Ra’Chel Ford is now the Chief Executive Officer of Freedom Preparatory Academy Charter Schools. She previously served as the Interim Chief Executive Officer for KIPP Atlanta.

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Jade Rivera has been appointed Executive Director of Public Charter Schools of New Mexico. She most recently served as the Founder and Executive Director of Albuquerque Collegiate Charter School.

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Christy Sadri is now the Founding Chief Executive Officer of a CMO in partnership with The Opportunity Trust. Most recently, she served as the Director of Charter School Authorizing for Texas Education Agency.

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Evan Burns has been promoted to Vice President of Talent Development at Democracy Prep Public Schools. He previously served as Assistant Director of Leadership Development.

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Joey Powell has been promoted to Executive Growth at Success Academy Charter Schools. He previously served as Executive Customer Service.

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Layne Fisher has been promoted to Deputy Superintendent of Operations and Chief Operating Officer at IDEA Public Schools. He previously served as Chief Operating Officer.

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Ryan Bennett is now the Chief Talent Officer at IDEA Public Schools. He most recently served as Chief People Officer at Alliance College-Ready Public Schools.

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Zainab Ali has been promoted to Partner at Charter School Growth Fund.

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Jamaal Henry has started a new position as Chief Student Impact Officer at KIPP Kansas City. He previously served as Vice President of Schools for IDEA Public Schools, Southern Louisiana.

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Juantonio Pinckney has joined KIPP North Carolina as Chief Operating Officer. Most recently, he worked for Pearson in Educational Policy and Partnerships.

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Amanda Oudi is now the Chief of Staff at Intrepid College Prep. She previously served as Director of Strategic Projects at KIPP Atlanta.

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Delia Hong has joined Brooklyn Laboratory Charter School as Chief of Staff. She previously served as Senior Director of School Planning and Management at Success Academy Charter Schools.

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Paolo Acquista has joined Great Oaks Legacy Charter School as Chief Operating Officer. He most recently served as Regional Operations Manager at Success Academy Charter Schools.

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Meghan Wagner is now the Executive Director of Springfield Prep Charter School where she previously served as Chief Operating Officer.

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Lucas Pimentel is now the Chief Executive Officer at Alliance for Connecticut Charter Schools. Lucas is also the Chief Executive Officer of Leaders For Educational Advocacy and Diversity.

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Mark Modrcin has started a new position as Executive Director of the Missouri Charter Public School Commission. He previously served as Director of Growth and Governance at Vertex Education.

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Donna Rossi Smithers is now the Interim Chief People Officer at KIPP NYC. Most recently, she served as a consultant for Carey & Co.

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Natalie Rubio has joined Rocky Mountain Prep as Chief Executive Officer. Most recently, she served as the Senior Vice President of Strategy, Learning, and Impact for Mission Achievement and Success Schools.

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Emmett Denson has joined KIPP Philadelphia as Head of Schools. Most recently, he served as Head of Schools for KIPP Nashville.

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Saumil Shah has been promoted to President and Chief Operating Officer at KIPP DC. He previously served as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Information Officer.

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Lakeesha Ramdhanie is now the Chief Executive Officer at Ingenuity Prep. She previously served as Chief of Staff at KIPP Atlanta.

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Djeneba Cherif has been promoted to Chief Executive Officer at University Prep. She most recently served as the organization’s Chief Academic Officer.

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Thomas Anderson has been promoted to Chief Information Officer at IDEA Public Schools after serving as Vice President of Information Technology.

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Nic Frank will transition from Chief HR Officer to Head of Schools at LEAD Public Schools.

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Dr. James Witty has joined LEAD Public Schools as Chief HR Officer. He most recently served as Executive Officer of HR for Metro Nashville Public Schools.

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Siddeequah Hetsberger has joined Great Oaks Legacy Charter School as Chief People and Talent Officer. She previously served as Assistant Vice President of HR at Breaking Ground (NYC Permanent Supportive Housing).

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Andrew Allen is now an Associate at Equitable Facilities Fund. He previously served as a Senior Financial Analyst at Lockheed Martin and as a Financial Analyst at Rocketship Public Schools.

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Matt Neal has joined Impact Public Schools as Chief People Officer. He most recently served as Managing Director, Thrive Academies at Thrive Scholars.

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Adriana Rodriguez has been promoted to Superintendent of Legacy Traditional Schools. She most recently served as Senior Director of Academic Leadership.

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Emily Snow has been promoted to Deputy Chief of Strategic Initiatives at Rocky Mountain Prep. She most recently served as Managing Director of Special Projects.

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Mary Heilmann has joined Neighborhood Charter Schools as Chief Academic and Schools Officer. She most recently served as Associate Chief of Special Services at Achievement First.

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Melika Butcher-Davis has joined Democracy Prep Public Schools as Deputy Superintendent. She most recently served as Senior Director of Leadership Development at Attuned Partners.

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Mary Beck has been promoted to President and Chief Executive Officer of Distinctive Schools.

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Alexis Rubin has been promoted to Chief Executive Officer at Launch Schools. She most recently served as the organization’s Chief Operating Officer.

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Gerald Boyd has joined Rocky Mountain Prep as Chief Achievement Officer. He most recently served as Chief Schools Officer at KIPP Capital Region.

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Lavinia Mackall has joined Achievement First as Chief of Academic Programs. She most recently served as Partner, Network and School Growth, at The Mind Trust.

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Kendall McManus-Thomas has been named Chief Executive Officer of Warren Easton Charter High School. He previously served as Principal of Ben Franklin High School New Orleans.

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Tamala Maddox has been appointed Head of Schools at i3 Academy Charter School Network.

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Charles Ware, Jr. has joined Folk Arts-Cultural Treasures Charter School as Executive Director. He most recently served as National Executive Leadership Coach at Skyrocket Education.

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Liza Potter has joined KIPP NYC as Chief Academic Officer. She previously served as Chief Academic Officer at Coney Island Prep.

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Dustin Wood has been promoted to Chief of Partnerships and Community Engagement at KIPP Columbus. He most recently served as a school leader.

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Mika Krause is now the Executive Director of Moving Everest Charter School. She most recently served as a Leadership Coach at TNTP.

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Shajaira Lopez has joined Lighthouse Community Public Schools as Chief Academic Officer. She most recently served as Director of Teaching and Learning for Puyallup School District.

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Patrick Ashley has joined KIPP DC as Chief Financial Officer. He most recently served as Deputy Chancellor for Finance and Operations at District of Columbia Public Schools.

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Aliesha Maybe has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer at DC Prep, where she previously served as Chief of School Operations.

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Jenika Green has been promoted to Chief Academic Officer at Movement Schools. She most recently served as Superintendent.

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Benjamin Schanback is now the Chief Financial Officer at Achievement First. Previously, he was the Senior Managing Director-Office of the COO for NYC Department of Education.

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Jeff Wooten is now the Chief People Officer at Achievement First. Previously, he was the Head of People for FUTURE.

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Ethan Gray is founding Ed City Labs. He was previously a Partner at City Fund.