Our Team and Family
At KIPP SoCal, we believe in reflecting our communities, and are committed to diversity and investing in professional development. 80% of our family and 66% of our leadership team identify as people of color, 79% of our leadership identify as female, and 82% of our leaders are developed from within.
Meet our talented and passionate leaders below.
Senior Leadership
Angella Martinez
Chief Executive Officer
Kevika Amar
Chief of Academics
Joanna Belcher
Chief External Impact Officer
Jenn Miranda
Chief Operating Officer
Michelle Rojas-Soto
Chief Talent & Equity Officer
Kyle Salyer
Chief Financial Officer
Belen Sanchez
Chief of Staff
Amber Young Medina
Chief of Schools
Leadership Team
Alvina Aratyunyan, CPA
Controller
Mara Bond
Director of Schools
Aisha Bonner
Director of Schools
Lynnzi Brianza
Managing Director of Public Affairs
Lonneshia Burrell
Director of KIPP Forward
Dennis Chao
Director of Finance
Kim Dammann
Managing Director of Student Services
Eric DeSobe
Director of Talent Acquisition
Erik Hagstrom
Director of Real Estate
Ms. Queenie Johnson, M.A.
Director of Equity
Carlos Lanuza
Director of Schools
Brett Leghorn
Director of School Operations
Cindy Malouf
Director of Marketing & Communications
James Marin
Director of Leadership Development
Carrie Olshan
Director of Special Education
Adriana Rodriguez
Director of Leadership Development
Andrew Simmerman
Director of Community & Donor Relations
Megan Szabo
Director of Talent Development
Cynthia Thomas
Director of Advocacy & Community Engagement
Cesely Westmoreland, Esq.
Registered In-House Counsel
Chelsea Zegarski
Director of Schools
School Leadership
Yesenia Castro
School Leader, KIPP Raíces Academy
Amanda Cavagnero
Interim Co-School Leader, KIPP Comienza Community Prep
John Coleman
School Leader, KIPP Academy of Opportunity
Michelle Cornejo
Co-School Leader, KIPP Corazón Academy
Roxanne Cowperthwaite
School Leader, KIPP Adelante Preparatory Academy
Christine Crawley
Interim Co-School Leader, KIPP Compton Community School
Karla Davalos
School Leader, KIPP Sol Academy
Tricia Dong
School Leader, KIPP Generations Academy
Maggie Estrada
School Leader, KIPP Endeavor College Prep
Amber Fleming-Morales
School Leader, KIPP Promesa Prep
Libby Gronquist
School Leader, KIPP Philosophers Academy
Tania Hernandez
School Leader, KIPP Iluminar Academy
Danielle Johnson
School Leader, KIPP Ignite Academy
Monica Madrigal
School Leader, KIPP LA Prep
Tommy McConnell
Interim School Leader, KIPP Scholar Academy
Courtney Richardson
Co-School Leader, KIPP Compton Community School
Christopher Rozario
School Leader, KIPP Academy of Innovation
Daisy Salazar
School Leader, KIPP Poder Public School
Claudia Solórzano
School Leader, KIPP Corazón Academy
Melissa Torres
School Leader, KIPP Pueblo Unido
Amanda Tran
School Leader, KIPP Vida Preparatory Academy
Chinedu Udeh
School Leader, KIPP Empower Academy
Krystal Vega-Washington
Co-School Leader, KIPP Comienza Community Prep