CAO Cohort

Supporting great teaching, leading, and learning

Our Chief Academic Officer Cohort brings academic leaders together to learn alongside trusted colleagues in similar roles. Through the cohort, cohort members sharpen their vision, build their skills, exchange resources, problem solve, build relationships, and feel more fulfilled in their roles.

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The investment [in the CAO Cohort] is worth it because you will walk away with a network that will support you for life and create systems and tools that will have an invaluable impact on the students you serve every day. We saw our network’s highest student achievement results in the year I did the cohort, and we were able to close our Covid Learning Loss gap.

CRYSTAL LANE | Chief Education Officer, DREAM

2024-2025 Cohort Members

Darren Gray

Managing Director of Academic Leadership & DEI
Excel Academy Charter Schools

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Natasia Cooper

Chief Academic Officer,
Foundation Academies

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Lanira Murphy

Senior Director of Academics,
Ednovate

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Efrat Kussell

Chief Academic Officer,
Explore Schools

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Dr. Ami Rudd

Chief Learning Officer, Breakthrough Public Schools

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Melissa Duphiney

Chief Academic Officer,
Unity Prep

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2023-2024 CAO Cohort

Kate Finley

Kate Finley,
DC International School

Nora French 2

Nora French,
Urban Community School

Brittany Jean-Louis

Brittney Jean-Louis, Etoile Academy Charter School

Cassie Pergament 2

Cassie Pergament, DC Prep Charter Schools

Katelyn McGrath 2

Katelyn McGrath, Mastery Charter Schools

Lex Zain 2

Lex Zain,
Leaders In Our Neighborhood (LION) Charter School

2022-2023 CAO Cohort

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Dr. Saskia Brown, Harlem Children’s Zone Promise Academy

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Dr. Megan Frankiewicz, Vista College Prep

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Ben Johnson,
Ingenuity Prep

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Jeremy Jones,
Eagle College Prep

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Crystal Lane,
DREAM

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Nate Lowry,
Academies of Math and Science

2021-2022 CAO Cohort

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Andrew McRae, Breakthrough Schools

Portraits at Ascend Learning in Brooklyn

Anjya Thomas, Ascend Learning

emily fernandez

Emily Fernandez,
Hebrew Public Schools

jonathan mcintosh

Jonathan McIntosh,
Prospect Schools

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Katie Severn,
DC Prep

leah peters

Leah Peters,
KIPP Colorado

Meet Our Facilitators

Erica Murphy

Former CAO, Ascend Schools

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Jonathan McIntosh

Former CAO, Prospect Schools

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As the CAO, I’m responsible for making all decisions about our instructional program. This includes selecting curriculum, managing instructional implementation, and coaching and developing our instructional leaders. Hendy was helpful in many ways - both in helping me normalize some of the demands of the job and building my interpersonal leadership skills. However, the most important component of the Hendy programming was helping me get on the balcony and take some time to long term plan for the future of our organization. It is so easy to get caught up in the day to day challenges in this role and getting time to think about the big picture with a very talented and knowledgeable group of peers was tremendously helpful.

BEN JOHNSON | Chief Academic Officer, Ingenuity Prep

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If you...

  • are committed to the success of all participating networks

  • value partnerships with other CAOs

  • are grounded in a vision of racial equity and a champion for anti-racist schools

  • consider yourself a flexible thinker with an eagerness to learn from others

  • exhibit willingness to push others and to be pushed

  • believe in sharing best practices and resources for the good of all members

...you are a good candidate for Hendy Avenue's CAO Cohort!

Apply or Submit a Nomination

We are looking for Chief Academic Officers (or equivalent role) from high performing charter school networks across the country; responsible for setting the academic vision, goals, and strategy for all schools across the network and managing a central team to implement that vision. Our cohort members are also typically responsible for principal management.

May - June
SUBMIT AN APPLICATION

Download the application document, respond to each question, and email your completed application to sarahrosskamm@hendyavenue.org.

CAO Cohort Application

July
COHORT MEMBER SELECTION

The Hendy Avenue team with review all applications and make selections during the month of July. Candidates will be notified of their acceptance via email.

September
FIRST SESSION

Selected cohort members will attend their first session with Hendy Avenue in the month of September. We are excited to work with you!

Questions?

If you encounter questions during either you application or nomination process, please reach out! You can email sarahrosskamm@hendyavenue.org with your inquiries.

Nomination

Please complete the form below to nominate another leader to the cohort. We will reach out to nominees with more information about how to apply. You can use this form for up to five nominations. You can submit nominations at any time.

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The CAO Cohort was energizing and clarifying. It provided me time each month to stop, reflect and learn. It was a protected time to gain perspective, to learn from others in a similar role and to get consultation and advice from trusted colleagues. I always left the sessions feeling more connected, supported and empowered to try new things to solve dilemmas I faced at my network.

KATIE SEVERN | Senior advisor, dc prep