About the KIPP Foundation 

Established in 2000, the non-profit KIPP Foundation sets strategy, defines and shares best practices, and ensures alignment and accountability for KIPP regions across the United States. Meet our leadership team.

John Alford
Chief Network Growth Officer
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John Alford

Chief Network Growth Officer

As the Chief Network Growth Officer, John manages the team of Relationship Managers and Strategy Leads at the KIPP Foundation. Additionally, John directly supports a portfolio of regions including New Orleans, Memphis, and Delta. Prior to returning to KIPP, John worked at the New York City Department of Education where he served as Senior Director in the New Schools office, training founding and turnaround principals as a key strategy in the District’s turnaround effort.

Prior to that, John was the Founder, CEO and middle school principal at Langston Hughes Academy Charter School in New Orleans. John helped establish New Schools for New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and taught fifth grade math at KIPP Ujima Village Academy. John spent four years with the KIPP Foundation during its founding years, first as a Trailblazer and later as the National Director of the Trailblazing team. John has a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from NC A&T State and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

FAVORITE QUOTE:

"Nobody’s built like you. You design yourself." – Shawn Carter

WHO INSPIRES YOU?

My Dad. He demanded excellence and lived what he preached.

Michael Ambriz
Chief Operating Officer
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Michael Ambriz

Chief Operating Officer

Michael Ambriz is a service-oriented, equity-driven, transformational leader who enables people to do and be their best through strategy, systems, and collaboration. In 2024 he joined the KIPP Foundation as its Chief Operating Officer to support the organization’s ambition to become the best K-12 public school system in the country.

Prior to joining KIPP, Michael co-founded Acuity Consultants to help organizations solve their most pressing problems and find clarity in their path forward. In addition, he is the founder and program director for the Futurity Fellowship, a leadership development program for aspiring COOs in the education sector. Bringing 20+ years of leadership experience in education organizations to bear, he is the former Chief of Operations at Uncommon Schools, a charter management organization that grew under his 13+ years of leadership from 11 to 55 schools serving over 20,000 students in six cities. During his time at Uncommon, Michael stewarded the growth of the flagship network North Star Academy in Newark, New Jersey from four schools to 14; spearheaded the opening of schools in Camden, New Jersey–Uncommon’s first-ever expansion project; and oversaw the organization’s response to COVID in 2020.

Before his time at Uncommon, Michael spent five years at Teach for America through significant years of growth, culminating as the Managing Director of National Institute Operations where he helped architect the organizational support and accountability systems for its summer training institutes. Michael is a Pahara-Aspen Fellow & moderator, a FOX Fellowship coach & advisory board member, and has a certificate of business excellence from Columbia Business School. He is a certified practitioner in the Meyers & Briggs Instrument (MBTI), as well as the Six Types of Working Genius from The Table Group. He holds a B.S. from the University of California, Los Angeles, and currently lives in Harlem, NYC where he hopes to one day invent a machine to transport LA weather to the east coast.

Favorite quote:

“A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves.” – Lao Tzu

Person who most inspires you:

Ella Baker, a civil rights activist who worked tirelessly behind the scenes, and lifted up the voices of youth In the movement.

Courtney Bell
Chief People Officer
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Courtney Bell

Chief People Officer

Courtney has over 20 years’ experience in human resources, compensation/benefits, talent acquisition/management, talent strategy and values-based leadership coaching. As Chief People Officer, Courtney will lead talent strategy, mitigate risk to the organization and implement talent policies/programs that foster an inclusive work environment where everyone can thrive and grow. Courtney began her career in healthcare as a Human Resources Manager and later as a Human Resources Director. Prior to joining the Foundation, Courtney held several roles at American Express and Ameriprise Financial. She has worked in education for the past 10 years as a Chief People Officer, Managing Director of Talent and Director of Human Resources with KIPP Metro Atlanta Schools.

Courtney earned a B.S. degree in Urban Policy Studies with a specialization in Human Resources from Georgia State University and an MBA from Shorter University in Rome, GA. She completed the Human Resources Management Program at Kennesaw State University and received a certificate in Human Resources. She currently holds a SHRM-CP certificate from the Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM) and a PHR certificate from the Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI). She also received her mediation certificate from the Justice Center of Atlanta.

Courtney believes that stewarding the hopes and dreams of others is her calling. Her faith is her life compass. Her dog Coco loves to play and snore. She enjoys spending time with her family/friends, reading, and traveling the world.

Favorite quote from anywhere, including KIPPisms:

"Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud." – Maya Angelou

Person who most inspires you:

My mother, Vivian Marie Bell

Aisha Christian
Chief Legal Officer
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Aisha Christian

Chief Legal Officer

Aisha Christian has served as a trusted business and legal advisor for more than 20 years in several industries such as media/entertainment, technology, professional services, nonprofit, and e-commerce/retail with experience in corporate transactions, data privacy, employment, and labor relations to name a few.  

Currently, Aisha is the Chief Legal Officer of the KIPP Foundation. She joined KIPP with a passion for high-quality public school education and a strong belief that education can be the great equalizer and key to success. In this role, Aisha oversees all legal matters for the Foundation.  Prior to the Foundation, Aisha was Global General Counsel for True Search, a global executive search and talent management firm; and she was General Counsel of KIPP NYC and Rent the Runway, a fashion technology company.    

Earlier in her career, Aisha was Associate General Counsel at Russell Reynolds Associates, a global executive search and assessment firm, and Senior Counsel at CNBC, in which she launched the program “Mad Money” with Jim Cramer and was its lead counsel. Originally from Manhattan, NY, Aisha started her legal career as a securities associate at Davis Polk & Wardwell, following her tenure as a law clerk for the Honorable Barrington D. Parker, Jr., United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (then, Southern District of New York). 

Aisha is a board member of the Southampton African American Museum. Aisha received her B.A. from Wellesley College and her J.D. from Harvard Law School, both cum laude. In her free time, Aisha enjoys skiing with her teenage son.  

 

 

 

Favorite quote:

THE GOLDEN RULE

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Jedi Knight

Ben Cope
Chief Development Officer
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Ben Cope

Chief Development Officer

As the Chief Development Officer, Ben leads all fundraising initiatives for the Foundation.

Ben is a seasoned nonprofit executive with nearly two decades of experience in education reform and philanthropy. Prior to joining the Foundation, he served as Chief External Affairs Officer for KIPP New Jersey and Miami, where he had a significant impact on the overall growth and expansion of these regions. Ben’s passion for education reform began early in his career through his involvement with Teach For America and KIPP DC, for which he was a volunteer while working as a member of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee for Senator Ted Kennedy.

In his time at KIPP New Jersey and Miami, Ben and his team raised more than $150 million for KIPP expansion efforts to serve over 10,000 students in Newark, Camden, and Miami. Ben led an $80 million five-year campaign effort to more than double KIPP’s impact in New Jersey, far surpassing the campaign’s original $65 million goal. Throughout his tenure, Ben oversaw every aspect of KIPP New Jersey and Miami’s development operations; significantly grew the development team and boards; and increased overall fundraising productivity and results. A thought leader among the KIPP network, Ben has also served as a consultant to colleagues at KIPP Massachusetts, providing strategic fundraising consulting, political guidance, and campaign feasibility counseling.

Ben earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Colorado College and a master’s in business administration, with a concentration on nonprofit entrepreneurship, from the University of Maryland.

Favorite College Course:

Latin American Political Science

What do you want to be when you grow up:

Ski Patrol / Bachata Lead Singer

Leanne Hernandez
Chief Financial Officer
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Leanne Hernandez

Chief Financial Officer

As the Chief Financial Officer, Leanne leads all finance functions for the Foundation and provides financial support to KIPP regions.

Leanne comes to KIPP after ten years of service with the second largest charter network in the country, IDEA Public Schools, where she was most recently their Chief Financial Officer. In that role, Leanne developed nation-leading expertise in the opportunities and challenges associated with aligning financial resources among national offices, regional offices, and schools. During her time at IDEA, Leanne helped IDEA grow by issuing $1 billion in financing to support new campuses and managing $2 billion in assets across the network.

Leanne began her career at the U.S. Census Bureau outside of Washington, D.C. and also worked at the Legislative Budget Board in Austin, TX. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Dallas and has a master’s degree in applied economics from John’s Hopkins University. Leanne enjoys spending time outdoors, traveling, and trying new restaurants. She lives in Austin with her husband and extended family.

Shavar Jeffries
Chief Executive Officer
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Shavar Jeffries

Chief Executive Officer

Shavar Jeffries has been an advocate for social justice and educational equity for more than two decades. He joined the KIPP Foundation as CEO in January 2023, a culmination of his many years as a champion for KIPP schools.In his role, Shavar is prioritizing early literacy as the cornerstone of academic achievement, revamping math instruction, strengthening high school culture, bolstering leadership development and operations, and expanding KIPP’s signature Match program to encourage more students to consider high-quality postsecondary options. Shavar was founding board chair of KIPP Newark in 2001; joined the KIPP Foundation Board in 2019; and is a proud KIPP parent, as his two children graduated from KIPP Spark Academy and KIPP Team Academy in Newark. His commitment to improving education stems directly from personal experience. As a first-generation college graduate, he knows the life-changing power of a high-quality education. 

Prior to joining the Foundation, Shavar was President of Democrats for Education Reform (DFER) and its affiliate organization, Education Reform Now, where he led the organization in passing well over 100 policies at the federal and state level that expanded educational opportunities for low-income students of color. Throughout his career, Shavar has practiced law, worked as an assistant attorney general in New Jersey, and served as the elected president of the Newark school board. Among many career highlights, Shavar, as school-board president, led Newark Public Schools in implementing systemic changes that produced historic gains in student outcomes; as state assistant attorney general, executed a strategy shifting juveniles from detention centers to community-based programs that produced nation-leading reductions in recidivism; and, as a civil-rights lawyer, litigated numerous class-action cases that released hundreds of millions in education funding, rescinded racially discriminatory tracking of students of color to remedial classes, and provided special-education services to tens of thousands of children. 

Shavar graduated from Duke University and Columbia Law School, where he concentrated on civil rights law and policy. He has been recognized broadly for his work—by the NAACP, the National Bar Association, and the Congressional Black Caucus, among others. 

Favorite Quote:

“What is to give light must endure burning.”  Viktor Frankl

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Someone my grandparents would be proud of.

Anne LaTarte
Chief of Staff to Chief Schools Officer
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Anne LaTarte

Chief of Staff to Chief Schools Officer

With 20 years of experience in the education field, Anne began her journey as a K-2 Special Education Teacher and Teach for America Corps Member in New York City. Throughout her career, Anne has skillfully managed national education strategy and operating systems, coached senior leaders, and led organization-wide design initiatives. As Chief Strategy Officer, Anne manages the KIPP Foundation’s Strategy team, which is charged with setting a vision for shared priorities across the KIPP network, putting systems in place to deliver on those priorities, and learning and iterating along the way to ensure our organization is effectively addressing the needs of KIPP students and families.

Anne joined the Foundation in 2016 as Chief of Staff to the president, and through her time has led annual planning and strategy and supported staff culture and equity initiatives. Prior to joining KIPP, Anne served as Executive Director of Assessment for The New York City Department of Education during the district’s transition to Common Core Standards, led the opening of an elementary school with Lighthouse Academies in her home state of Michigan, and managed strategy and innovation for Teach for America. With experience that ranges from teaching in the classroom to overseeing district and network-wide strategy, Anne’s specialty is recognizing how strong infrastructure, policy, strategy, and planning drills down to direct impact and positive outcomes for students and teachers.

Anne received her bachelor’s in human development and social relations with a minor in theatre arts from Kalamazoo College. She also holds a master’s in childhood education from Pace University. Anne lives in Michigan with her husband, two kids, and dog. She loves college basketball, an occasional karaoke night, and early morning runs.

What was your favorite course in college?

Direction 301; a course where I got to direct a musical!

What do you want to be when you grow up?

I want to run an improv summer camp for kids

KIPP Co-Founder Dave Levin
Dave Levin
Co-Founder                                            
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KIPP Co-Founder Dave Levin

Dave Levin

Co-Founder                                            

"Whenever people question or have doubts about the future, they just need to come into a KIPP school and see the tremendous effort and optimism of our students and teachers. They will see the best of America at work."

After graduating from Yale University in 1992, Dave Levin joined Teach For America where he taught fifth grade in Houston, Texas. In 1994, Dave won Teacher of the Year honors from his school in Houston, the Jefferson Award for outstanding community service in the city of Houston, and an outstanding teaching award from Teach For America.

Dave co-founded KIPP, the Knowledge is Power Program, in 1994. KIPP began as a college-preparatory program with 47 fifth graders and is now a national network of PreK-12 public charter schools serving more than 175,000 students and alumni.

Dave has been awarded the Presidential Citizen’s Medal, our nation’s second highest presidential award for a private citizen; Thomas Fordham Foundation Prize for Valor; the National Jefferson Award for Distinguished Public Service by a Private Citizen; the Charles Bronfman Prize; the Ashoka Fellowship; the McGraw Hill Prize; and the National Community Service Award from Spelman College.

Dave holds an honorary doctorate of Humane Letters from both Yale University and Duke University. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Yale University. Outside of KIPP, Dave helped co-found five organizations: Relay Graduate School of Education, Zearn, the Character Lab, nXu, and Array Education, an innovation studio. Dave currently splits his time between KIPP and Array Education, where he serves as a partner. Dave lives in New York City with his wife, two sons, and three dogs.

Favorite College Course:

Daily Themes: a writing course

What do you want to be when you grow up?

A yellow lab

Jim Manly
Chief Schools Officer
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Jim Manly

Chief Schools Officer

Jim has been a leader and visionary in the education field for more than 30 years. His career has been marked by an unwavering dedication to academic excellence and a deep commitment to fostering joy in the learning process. As Chief Schools Officer, Jim works collaboratively with our regions and schools to produce exemplary student outcomes, align schools around common instructional practices, and enact our values rooted in an unyielding conviction in the brilliance of our students.

Jim began his career as a 7th-grade English teacher in Central Harlem. Over the next two decades, he ascended to leadership positions within schools, culminating in his role as Founding Principal of Success Academy Harlem 2 Elementary, which became the top performing school, public or private, in Harlem District 5. He also held leadership positions as Principal of Manhattan Charter School, Assistant Director of Teaneck Community Charter School, and Executive Director of Teach for America in Washington, DC.

Prior to joining the Foundation, Jim served as superintendent at KIPP NYC Public Schools. Over eight years, he led KIPP NYC to consistently achieve high academic results, even as the region expanded from 13 to 18 schools. To name a few achievements—during the 2015-16 school year, Jim’s first year at KIPP NYC, 45% of students scored proficient or advanced in ELA and 55% in Math. Those numbers rose to 56% in ELA and 74% in math during the 2018-19 school year. And, despite the academic interruptions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, Jim’s leadership still yielded strong student results in his final year at KIPP NYC—55% scored proficient or advanced in ELA and 69% in math. In addition, KIPP NYC achieved an Estimated College Completion rate of 53% in 2019, compared to the less than 10% typically seen in public schools serving economically disadvantaged students of color.

Jim earned his bachelor’s degree in English from Union College and his master’s degree in public policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard. Jim has two kids who are now in college and is enjoying his time with his wife and seeing this country through the lens of our amazing KIPP regions. Jim is also a proud Western New York native and loves his Buffalo Bills and sees them as a perfect metaphor for the hard work and belief necessary to one day achieve our goals.

Person who most inspires you:

My father who passed away at the age of 95 and was the first to graduate from college in his family which he did through the GI bill as a veteran of WWII.

Kinnari Patel-Smyth
President
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Kinnari Patel-Smyth

President

Kinnari Patel-Smyth joined the KIPP Foundation as President, Network in 2021, tasked with building on the strengths of the network to ensure that we reach our shared mission. Previously, Kinnari was the executive director with KIPP Metro Atlanta Schools. During her time in Atlanta, the region grew from 5 to 11 schools and serves over 5,000 students. Kinnari joined the KIPP Metro Atlanta Schools team in 2012 as the chief academic officer and served in that role for two years before becoming executive director.

Prior to joining KIPP, Kinnari served as a team member with the Explore Schools Network in Brooklyn. While at Explore Schools, she participated in the national New Leaders principal preparation program, served as the principal of Explore Charter School for five years, and was the managing director of schools responsible for supporting schools and leading the principal residency program.

Kinnari began her career as an elementary school teacher in Atlanta and Fort Worth, driven by the belief that education has the power to be the true equalizer in our country—a belief that continues to fuel her work. She earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Salisbury University in Maryland and her master’s degree in school administration from Pace University in New York. Kinnari loves to travel and enjoys cooking with her family! Kinnari lives in Atlanta with her husband, daughter, and two bunnies.

 

Who inspires you?

My mom. My mom is loyal, courageous, and always finds the good in any situation and/or person.

Favorite course in college

Astronomy! I loved our evening labs and I truly enjoyed learning about something new and magical!

Shakira Petit
Chief of Staff to the CEO
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Shakira Petit

Chief of Staff to the CEO

Shakira brings a wealth of experience in education to the KIPP Foundation, having served as a classroom teacher, principal, and deputy superintendent for 17 years.

Her expertise extends beyond traditional public schools, as she has worked with students in public charter schools, as well as a Special Act district catering to students with special needs. Shakira has taught over 11,000 students in six different countries, including nine years as a leader at the Harlem Children’s Zone. She has also conducted research expeditions with the NSF and NASA, educating students globally on science. Recently, Shakira served as the National President and Interim CEO for Democrats For Education Reform, a national political organization supporting elected Democrats and candidates seeking to improve education policies for American students.

Shakira holds a BA in psychology from Hofstra University, an MBA from New York University, and a Master of Leadership in Education from Mercy College. Shakira draws inspiration from her mom, who embodies traits like perseverance, humility, and servant leadership.

What was your favorite course in college?

Molecular biology. I found the study of worlds within worlds fascinating.

Favorite quote:

"Education then, beyond all other devices of human origin, is the great equalizer of the conditions of men, the balance-wheel of the social machinery." – Horace Mann

Johel Placencia
Chief Information Officer
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Johel Placencia

Chief Information Officer

Johel Placencia is an innovative IT executive dedicated to improving educational equity and technology in K-12 schools. Before joining the Foundation, he was the Chief Technology Officer for NYC Public Schools, where he led technology initiatives that benefited over a million students and 150,000 staff members. His expertise in digital transformation, infrastructure modernization, and cloud services has shaped the way technology enhances education in the nation’s largest school district.

A skilled collaborator, Johel works closely with educators and government officials to create practical tech solutions for classrooms, ensuring students and teachers have the tools they need for effective learning. With 25 years of experience, Johel has created educational and administrative systems that are robust, scalable, and aligned with strategic goals.

Johel has an Executive MBA, a bachelor’s degree in computer information systems, and various IT certifications. He is a passionate road cyclist, which highlights his commitment to continuous improvement and perseverance.

Favorite quote

"Respect for the rights of others is peace." - Benito Juarez

Favorite book

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Benny Vásquez
Chief Equity Officer
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Benny Vásquez

Chief Equity Officer

As the organization’s first Chief Equity Officer, Benny Vásquez is responsible for setting and implementing an overarching vision of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) that works to eliminate systemic organizational marginalization and promotes inclusion and anti-racist practices.

Benny’s journey includes working as the Co-Executive Director of Center for Racial Justice in Education where he trained educators in dismantling racism in their classrooms and communities. He was also the Director of Diversity at The Town School and the Director of Education at GLSEN – the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network.

In addition to being a published author, his work has included co-chairing the Diversity Committee for the New York Association of Independent Schools, training public school teachers on the Respect For All initiative, collaborating with the NEA in developing materials for No Name Calling Week, and developing social justice focused programming for mission based non-profits. He is also one of the co-founders of The CARLE Institute (Critical Analysis of Race and Learning in Education): An Institute for White Educators.

Benny Vásquez describes himself as a lifelong learner and a seeker of justice. A native of Brooklyn, he graduated from Wesleyan University with a B.A. in African American Studies and Sociology, He has masters in Curriculum and Teaching from Columbia University and an MPA from the Wagner School of Public Service at New York University.

Benny identifies as a parent and an Afro-Latinx Black Queer intersectional activist who has a strong passion for social justice, liberation and anti-racism work within communities and anywhere where children learn.

What was your favorite course in college?

Black Feminism and Masculinity: Dialogue, Struggle and Alliances

Favorite quote:

“¡Pa’lante Siempre Pa’lante! – The Young Lords

Meet our Board of Directors

Experts in their fields and passionate about educational equity, the KIPP Foundation’s Board of Directors provides trusted guidance and leadership for the growth, quality, and sustainability of the entire KIPP network.