The Leadership Academy announced today the addition of two new members to the education nonprofit’s board of directors. Elected to three-year terms, Kerri Briggs, Ph.D., and Diane Robinson, Ed.L.D., will join The Leadership Academy’s board effective immediately, bringing extensive experience in education leadership and policy, and in working to ensure that all students have access to quality schools.
Briggs is the Executive Director of Educate Texas, an initiative of the Communities Foundation of Texas, where she leads efforts to help solve some of the state’s most significant public education challenges. Her education career has spanned nonprofits, government, and the private sector. Prior to her current role, she was the Chief of Staff to the Superintendent for Houston I.S.D., one of the largest school systems in the nation and was also previously the State Superintendent for Washington D.C. Briggs also spent nearly eight years at the U.S. Department of Education where she held multiple roles, culminating in her appointment as Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education under President George W. Bush. She later served as the founding Director of Education Reform at the George W. Bush Institute. In the private sector, Briggs worked on K-12 education and social sector issues as a partner at Cicero Group, and as an Education Program and Policy Officer at ExxonMobil. She holds a Ph.D. in Education Policy from the University of Southern California.
“Throughout my career, I’ve seen the powerful impact that strong, supported, courageous leaders can have on student outcomes,” said Briggs. “The Leadership Academy’s work is about investing in leaders so that they can make change possible and I’m proud to be able to contribute to that mission.”
Robinson is a nonprofit leadership consultant and the founder of Yard Girl Productions, where she develops films that drive meaningful societal impact. Her recent documentary, The Young Vote, which can be seen on PBS and is available to schools and colleges, follows young people through the 2020 election, capturing what inspires their participation in democracy. Her storytelling expertise extends to her consulting work with nonprofit executives, helping leaders effectively communicate their impact and strengthen philanthropic initiatives. Robinson began her career as a teacher before stepping into leadership roles at Teach for America in California and Hawaii, where she led fundraising and served as executive director, and then at KIPP Foundation, where she recruited educators for school leadership roles nationwide. Later, she founded a Connecticut nonprofit dedicated to increasing high-quality school options in low-income communities. She then expanded globally with Teach For All, securing funding to support growth across Africa. Robinson holds a Doctor of Education Leadership (Ed.L.D.) from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education, where she was part of the program’s inaugural cohort.
“The Leadership Academy’s work resonates with everything I stand for: improving systems, elevating students’ voices, and a deep belief that when education leaders invest in the potential of every student, they can change the futures of not just those students, but entire communities,” said Robinson. “I look forward to supporting their work, helping more leaders grow, and driving impact where it matters most.”
Briggs and Robinson are both Pahara Institute Fellows, a highly-selective leadership development program focused on transforming public education.
“We’re thrilled to be welcoming Kerri and Diane to our board at such a pivotal time for education,” said Jonathan Moses, Chair of The Leadership Academy’s Board of Directors. “They are renowned educators with a breadth of experience ranging from leading school systems to shaping national policy. Adding their perspective will help the board support The Leadership Academy as it continues to realize its strategic vision of supporting education leaders who create limitless possibilities for every student.”