Brightbeam, a nonprofit network of child justice activists and umbrella organization for the platform known as Education Post, publically welcomes Nancy Gutierrez as a member of its board of directors.
A true leader of leaders, Gutierrez serves as the president and CEO of the Leadership Academy, a nationally recognized nonprofit dedicated to building the capacity of education leaders from local school districts and state education departments to education organizations across the country and internationally. In February 2020, she was named among the 100 most powerful leaders in education in New York by “City & State New York.”
Gutierrez started out as a teacher in her hometown of East San Jose, California. She later became the founding principal of Renaissance Academy, the highest performing middle school in the district, and a California Distinguished School. She successfully turned around the district’s lowest performing middle school and was named the UC Davis Rising Star, among other distinctions.
She graduated from the inaugural cohort of the Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Doctor of Education Leadership (Ed.L.D.) program and from the Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (ALAS) Aspiring Superintendents Academy. Gutierrez has served on the national board of the Coalition of Essential Schools for more than a decade, is an instructor at New York University and frequently teaches at the Harvard Principals’ Center institutes for School Turnaround Leaders, as well as Urban School Leaders and Race, Equity, Access and Leadership. Gutierrez is a member of the Education Leaders of Color (EdLoC) Board of Directors and serves on the Latinos for Education teaching team.
“Brightbeam is unbelievably fortunate to have Nancy Gutierrez sitting on our board of directors,” brightbeam CEO Chris Stewart said. “Her talent and experience as a leader and as an educator will deepen our capacity to win campaigns on behalf of children. She understands exactly what it takes to successfully run an organization like ours and we are so excited to have her as a steady and reliable resource as we work to make a difference for kids.”
Gutierrez was officially voted in as a board member during brightbeam’s March 2021 board meeting.
About brightbeam
Brightbeam is a nonprofit network of education activists demanding a better education and a brighter future for every child. Using the power of communications, we shine a light on communities that challenge decision-makers to provide the learning opportunities all children need to thrive. We help strong voices tell powerful stories that unite and move their communities to action. Brightbeam amplifies these stories through a variety of digital platforms, including Education Post, Citizen Ed, Project Forever Free and more than 20 local and regional sites that spotlight education issues nationally. We also sponsor on-the-ground initiatives, projects or organizations that align with our mission. To learn more, visit brightbeamnetwork.org.
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