On behalf of the Board, I’d like to thank Nina for her service and celebrate her tremendous impact at the helm of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools.
It would be difficult, if not impossible, to capture all that Nina has accomplished in more than a decade at the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. Her tenure has proven transformative for the organization, for the charter school landscape and, most importantly, for our nation’s children. It has been an honor to work alongside her, and anyone who believes in excellent educational opportunities for children and families knows the ally and friend they have in Nina.
I met Nina shortly after she assumed the role of President and CEO and I don’t believe either of us could have anticipated quite how significant the past decade would be for charter schools. She proved to be a great leader at a very important time, navigating a complex political, policy and media landscape. Her 11 years in the seat advanced the work of the National Alliance and the charter school sector across every possible measure. We’ve seen the number of students attending charter schools grow to nearly four million, all but four states now have charter school laws, and federal funding for charter schools grew by 75%—the largest increase in history.
Yet those numbers alone don’t tell the story in full. Nina and her team accomplished this during a turbulent time. Working across three presidential administrations and through a pandemic, the National Alliance strengthened the coalition of national partners, bringing together diverse educators and advocates, state leaders, policymakers, parents and funders in service of a shared mission with kids at the center.
We are collectively better for Nina’s leadership and her transition is bittersweet. We will miss her greatly as we will the passion and determination she brings to the fight for great public schools. As we look ahead to the future and embark upon the search for a new leader, we will look to her time in the role as a model for what can be achieved.
Best,
Rick Cruz
Board Chair
National Alliance for Public Charter Schools
P.S. Read Nina’s statement here.
Pictured in header: National Alliance board of directors and Nina Rees.
