For Immediate Release
Thursday, April 15, 2010
America’s Promise Alliance Chief Strategy Officer Named to the Entrepreneurial Leaders for Public Education Fellowship Program
(WASHINGTON, DC)—America’s Promise Alliance (the Alliance) today announced that its Chief Strategy Officer Carmita Vaughan has been selected as part of the 2010 class of the prestigious Aspen Institute and NewSchools Venture Fund’s Entrepreneurial Leaders in Public Education program. Launched in 2007, the program is designed to recognize and support exceptional entrepreneurial leaders who are committed to transforming public education and making it more accessible and equipped to serve low-income children and youth.
Vaughan joins 23 other leaders as part of the 2010 class which includes: Mashea Ashton, (chief executive officer, Newark Charter School Fund), Jean-Claude Brizard (superintendent of schools, Rochester City School District), Kira Orange Jones, (Executive Director, Teach for America), Andrew Smarick, (distinguished visiting fellow, Thomas B. Fordham Institute), Leah Hamilton, (program officer, urban education, Carnegie Foundation of New York) and Aaron Lieberman, (co-founder and chief executive officer, Acelero Learning) to name a few.
“The Alliance is so proud that Carmita is able to participate in this prestigious program,” said Marguerite W. Kondracke, president and CEO of America’s Promise Alliance. “We look forward to witnessing her contributions to the field and learning from the insights she will discover with her peers in this extraordinary fellowship.”
Vaughan has been chief strategy officer of the Alliance since April 2009 where she oversees the Alliance’s programmatic efforts, including the Grad Nation Campaign to help communities increase high school graduation rates and ensure that all students graduate high school, college- and career-ready. Prior to joining the Alliance she served as chief of staff for the Chicago Public Schools Office of High Schools and High School Programs. In this role she helped develop a comprehensive strategy to increase Chicago’s graduation rate to 70 percent which included implementing a systematic approach to supporting at-risk students. She also managed all central high school operations and administrative services supporting 120 schools in areas including budget, human resources, data and communications. A former Broad Resident in urban education, Vaughan also spent several years working in global marketing, strategic planning, and engineering/operations management roles at several Fortune 500 companies including Procter and Gamble and Danaher Corporation.
For more information on the program and the full list of 2010 fellows visit: www.newschools.org.
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About America’s Promise Alliance
America’s Promise Alliance is the nation’s largest partnership organization dedicated to improving the lives of children and youth. Through the collective power of our partner network, we raise awareness, support communities and engage in nonpartisan advocacy to ensure that young people receive more of the fundamental resources they need to graduate high school prepared for college, work and life. Building on the legacy of our Founding Chairman General Colin Powell, the Alliance believes the success of our young people is grounded in the Five Promises—caring adults; safe places; a healthy start; an effective education; and opportunities to help others. For more information about America’s Promise Alliance, visit
www.americaspromise.org