Michelle Bruce
Like many Bay Area residents, Michelle Bruce loves a good hike. The pristine scenery, the natural beauty, and best of all, the disconnectedness. But taking the time to disconnect from the outside world is not something you’d expect from a Vice President of Technology. “I know it sounds surprising,” she says with a laugh, “But I really value those experiences.”
Michelle places great importance on finding balance, both for herself and her team of ten. “A strong team works hard to meet aggressive goals but never at the expense of enjoying life, of enjoying work. I want to be a leader, not a boss—someone who works right alongside the team to face obstacles together.”
While Michelle came to KIPP with technology consulting and software engineering experience, she also brought with her the passion and life lessons that come with five years of teaching high school math. What drove her to teach is what keeps her at KIPP: the mission. “The people at KIPP are very, very committed to what we’ve set up to do. It’s rare to find a work environment where personal agendas don’t come into play constantly. My coworkers are focused on results and on our students. It’s very motivating when I feel like my work is centered around that, too.”