Strategic Partnerships and Mergers for Organizational Sustainability
Participants will hear from four charter leaders that entered into strategic partnerships or mergers with other charter organizations to address a variety of existential challenges including: declining enrollment, leader succession plans, financial viability, and teacher shortage. The partnerships do not necessarily have to be a merger in order to be successful. We will discuss the options schools can explore, particularly if they are struggling with sustainability.
Presented by
CEO
STEM Prep Schools
Dr. Pack is the founder CEO of STEM Prep Schools. Emilio was recognized by Education Week as a "Leaders to Learn From" for his leadership. He was awarded the Hart Vision Award as the California Charter School Leader of the Year in 2017. In 2015, the Los Angeles Business Journal awarded STEM Prep the Latino Nonprofit of the Year and profiled by L.A. Weekly Magazine as one of its "People of the Year." Emilio is the proud son of a single mother who came to the United States from Cuba to seek better opportunities for her son.
LA Promise Fund
Board Member
Shara Hegde is CEO of Alpha Public Schools, a K-12 charter network in East San José, CA. Alpha prepares first-generation students for college and careers. Hegde leads the organization's strategic direction and advocates for educational equity. She previously served as Alpha's Chief Schools Officer and founded Cornerstone Academy, a high-performing K-8 school now part of the Alpha network. Cornerstone was recognized as a California Distinguished School and a School to Watch. Hegde holds degrees from Brown, Stanford, and the Reach Institute. She was named California Charter School Leader of the Year in 2023.Ms. Hegde serves as Chief Executive Officer for Alpha Public Schools, a TK-12 network of charter schools in San Jose, CA, focused on preparing students for college and career. In this role, she provides leadership, vision, and strategic direction for the organization. Before assuming the role of CEO, she served as Alpha’s Chief Schools Officer, directing the academic program vision and providing coaching and management to several key senior leaders.
President
LA's Promise Middle School