Leadership Team
Margaret Fortune, President/CEO
Margaret Fortune is changing what’s possible when you create excellent educational options for Black children. As the President/CEO of nine K-12 public charter schools in Sacramento and San Bernardino counties with a combined enrollment of more than 2,300 students, Fortune’s work is pointed towards one North star—to close the African American achievement gap. Fortune has founded some of the top majority of African American public schools in the state of California. Fortune founded an early college high school in partnership with Cosumnes River College and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo focused on science, technology, engineering, art, and math. Students are able to earn a high school diploma and associate degree upon graduation.
Fortune also operates Rex & Margaret Fortune School of Education, a graduate school that credentials teachers and school administrators for over 60 public school systems with the goal of addressing the state’s teacher shortage.
A nationally sought-after education expert, Fortune is often invited to participate in or lead conversations detailing the Fortune School approach to successfully educating Black children. She was a catalyst for efforts that resulted in the State of California budgeting a new $300 million block grant in 2018 for the lowest-performing students. A graduate of UC Berkeley and Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, Fortune served as an education adviser to two California governors. Fortune is a Trustee Emerita of the California State University, a Pahara-Aspen Fellow, and board chair of the California Charter Schools Association. She was awarded an honorary doctorate from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo for her substantial contributions to the field of education.
Most recently, Fortune was inducted into the National Charter School Hall of Fame for pioneering the development and growth of charter schools, implementing innovative ideas, and inspiring others in the movement. Fortune continues to increase her national footprint through her work as the Co-Chair of the Freedom Coalition for Charter Schools, a national organization founded to protect the right of “self-determination” for parent choice for Black and Latino families.
Click here for a full bio.
Chiefs
Bonnie Bensen
Chief Financial Officer
Phone: 916.924.8633 x107
Michelle Grace
Chief Operating Officer
Phone: 916.924.8633 x112
Wesley Pepper
Chief Academic Officer
Phone: 916.924.8633 x118
Directors
Stefon Dubose
Music Director
Phone: 916.924.8633
Cell: 916.956.4468
Shonda Moore
Director of Marketing and Communications
Phone: 916.924.8633 x119
Cell: 951.963.4362
Andre Slade
Director of Special Education
Phone: 916.684.0100
Cell: 916.214.8622
Derek Swafford
Athletic Director
Phone: 916.924.8633 x135
Cell: 916.953.3574
Dominic Zarecki
Director of Data, Analytics and Strategy
Phone: 916.924.8633 x124
Cell: 916.215.3241
Deans
Roque Neto
Dean Higher Education
Phone: 916.924.8633 x120
Cell: 916.956.2069
Principals
Toiya Allen
Hardy Brown College Prep
Phone: 909.884.1410
Fax: 909.889.5002
Kim Howard
Fortune School
Phone: 916.287.4470
Fax: 916.287.4477
Joseph Gambino
William Lee College Prep
Phone: 916.273.1030
Fax: 916.273.1035
Beverly Bryant
Alan Rowe College Prep
Phone: 916.684.0100
Fax: 916.684.0121
Joseph Gambino and Monisha Blake
Ephraim Williams College Prep Middle School
Phone: 916.262.8083
Fax: 916.273.1035
Hazel Mahone College Prep
Phone: 916.999.8187
Fax: 916.999.8196
Odisa Nyong
Rex and Margaret Fortune Early College High School
Phone: 916.753.1170
Fax: 916.753.1171
Tamara Williams and Corryn Hamakawa
Tecoy Porter College Prep
Phone: 916.504.5040
Fax: 916.504.5052
Odisa Nyong and Janine Knill
Fortune Middle School
Phone: 916.753.1170
Fax: 916.753.1171