Current Role: Chief People Officer, Leading Educators
Fellowship Role: Chief Strategy and Operating Officer, Partnership for Los Angeles Schools
Mikelle Willis is the Chief People Officer of Leading Educators.
While participating in the Fellowship, she served as Chief Strategy and Operating Officer for the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools. In this role, she oversaw talent, finance, operations, and technology for all Partnership schools and the home office. Prior to this role, Mikelle served as the Senior Director of Principal Preparation Programs for the KIPP Foundation, where she was responsible for planning and leading their comprehensive approach to elementary, middle, and high school principal development. While at the KIPP Foundation, Mikelle also served as the Director of New Site Development, where she was responsible for selecting and managing KIPP’s expansion into new communities and supporting existing and emerging KIPP Regions in developing and executing their growth plans. Before joining the KIPP Foundation, Mikelle was the School Director and Founder of KIPP Academy of Opportunity in Los Angeles, CA.
Mikelle holds an M.B.A. from Pepperdine University, an M.A. in Education from National Louis University, and a B.S. from California State University.