Leadership Team

Margaret Fortune, President/CEO

 

Dr. Margaret Fortune is changing what’s possible, creating excellent educational options for Black children. As the President/CEO of ten PK-12 public charter schools in Sacramento and San Bernardino counties with a combined enrollment of 2,200 students, her work is pointed toward one North Star— to close the African American achievement gap. She has found some of the top majority African American public schools in the State of California.

 

She 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 can earn a high school diploma and associate's degree upon graduation.

 

Margaret also operates Rex & Margaret Fortune School of Education, a graduate school that credentials teachers and administrators for over 60 public school systems to address the state’s teacher shortage.

 

A nationally sought-after education expert, Margaret 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 $300 million block grant in 2018 for the lowest-performing students. A graduate of UC Berkeley and Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, she served as an education adviser to two California governors. Margaret is a Trustee Emeritus of the California State University, a Pahara-Aspen Fellow,

and former chair of the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. She was awarded an honorary doctorate from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo for her substantial contributions to the field of education.

 

Margaret was inducted into the National Charter School Hall of Fame for her role in reopening schools during the Camp Fire, the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California’s history.

 

Motivated by her experience on the ground helping survivors of the Camp Fire, Margaret decided to run for public office to have an impact on climate change. She was elected to the El Dorado Resource Conservation District Board, which promotes responsible stewardship of natural resources through education, planning, and project assistance.

Chiefs

 

Bonnie Bensen

Chief Financial Officer

Phone: 916.924.8633

 

Michelle Grace

Chief Operating Officer

Phone: 916.924.8633

 

Wesley Pepper

Chief Academic Officer

Phone: 916.924.8633

  

Directors

 

Mallory Arevalos

Director of Fiscal Services

Phone: 916.924.8633

 

Kara Crochett

Director of Human Resources

Phone: 916.924.8633

 

Stefon DuBose

Director of Visual & Performing Arts

Phone: 916.924.8633 

 

Joseph Gambino

Director of Education Technology

Phone: 916.924.8633 

 

Jerold Ligons 

Director of Facilities

Phone: 916.924.8633

 

Derek Swafford

Athletic Director

Phone: 916.924.8633

 

Sara Williams

Director of Curriculum and Instruction

Phone: 916.924.8633

 

Dominic Zarecki

Director of Data, Analytics, and Strategy

Phone: 916.924.8633

 

Hunter Rockwell 

Director of Enrollment

Phone: 916.268.8366

 

Jessica Castellanos

Director of Special Education

Phone: 916.268.8366

 

 

Principals 

 

Raafi Bell

Hardy Brown College Prep

Phone: 909.884.1410

Fax: 909.889.5002

 

Marcus Atkins

Fortune School

Phone: 916.287.4470

Fax: 916.287.4477

 

Monisha Blake

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

 

Monisha Blake 

Ephraim Williams College Prep Middle School

Phone: 916.262.8083

Fax: 916.273.1035

 

Bunlong Hong

Hazel Mahone College Prep

Phone: 916.999.8187

Fax: 916.999.8196

 

Dr. Akele Newton

Rex and Margaret Fortune Early College High School

Phone: 916.753.1170

Fax: 916.753.1171

 

Dr. Akele Newton

Fortune Middle School

Phone: 916.753.1170

Fax: 916.753.1171

 

Jade Harrison

Tecoy Porter College Prep

Phone: 916.504.5040

Fax: 916.504.5052

 

Jade Harrison

Stephon A. Clark College Prep

Phone: 916.504.5040

Fax: 916.504.5052