Navigating Policy Shifts: California Charter Leaders on What’s Next
Federal and state education policies are evolving, creating both challenges and opportunities for California charter schools. In this dynamic panel, three California charter CEOs will share how they have led their schools through past policy transitions—addressing funding changes, new accountability measures, and shifting regulatory landscapes. Attendees will gain practical strategies for change management, decision-making, and engaging communities in times of uncertainty. Whether leading a single site or a large network, participants will leave with concrete tools to maintain stability, resilience, and mission-driven leadership amid policy shifts.
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Presented by
CEO
Camino Nuevo Charter Academy
Adriana Abich is the Chief Executive Officer of Camino Nuevo Charter Academy, a community of schools committed to educational equity and excellence in Los Angeles. With a deep belief in the transformative power of education, Adriana leads the organization’s vision to ensure all students graduate prepared to thrive in college, career, and life. Under Adriana’s leadership, Camino Nuevo’s schools have made notable academic gains, including the recognition of its high school as a 2024 California Distinguished School.
Co-Founder & Co-CEO
Seminar
Jen has co-led the launch of more than a dozen high-performing K–12 schools. She founded Impact Public Schools, the largest charter network in Washington state, and co-founded the Washington charter sector. Jen also served as Chief Regional Officer at Summit Public Schools, leading its first out-of-state expansion and launching Washington’s first charter schools. Previously, she was Vice President of Teaching and Learning at Envision Schools and Founding Principal of Impact Academy. Jen holds degrees from Willamette University and Seattle University and is a Stanford Principal Fellow, Pahara Fellow, and YPO Seattle member.
Superintendent
Griffin Technology Academies
Nick Driver serves as Superintendent of Griffin Technology Academies, a four-school group of college preparatory public middle and high schools in Vallejo.
For the past 20 years, he has supported, created or turned around hundreds of public schools, advising school leaders, serving on school design teams and providing technical, political and operational advice for charter and district public schools.
He also serves on the board of Mission Preparatory School in San Francisco, and as board member of Education for Change Public Schools in Oakland.
CEO
Lighthouse Community Public Schools
Rich began his career as a teacher in NYC, where he developed a passion for teaching and learning. Rich then served as a principal in Denver, Colorado, where his school showed some of the strongest growth and performance in the state for African American and Latinx students. He then served as Chief Academic Officer for a charter school network in the Dallas region and helped grow a system serving 20,000 students. Five years ago, Rich moved to the Bay Area to join Lighthouse Community Public Schools to lead transformative work in the East Oakland community.
CEO
Yu Ming School
Stacey Wang is the chief executive officer at Yu Ming Charter School. She has an undergraduate degree from University California Berkeley, Haas School of Business and a Master of Business Administration from Columbia Business School with a focus on social entrepreneurship and nonprofit management.
Most recently, Stacey completed the Broad Residency and received her master’s degree in education leadership. She has served as a consultant for numerous education organizations such as Education Pioneers and the New York City Department of Education.
