As Senior Strategist, Elana draws on her experience as a charter network superintendent, founding school leader, and classroom teacher to help expand and codify the organization’s impact and shape design support for partners.

Prior to joining the team, she spent a decade as the regional superintendent at Achievement First, where she directly managed the development and launch of Achievement First’s high schools and managed several middle and high school superintendents. During her tenure, Elana also oversaw the development of the network’s high school and college access and success programming, including as manager of the college success team. Under her tenure, 98% of Achievement First students took at least one AP class by their senior year, with more than half of them passing at least one AP test. High schools in the network saw a 94% graduation rate and a projected college graduation rate of 52%.

Previously, Elana spent 12 years in the New York City Department of Education, as a high school English teacher, Assistant Principal, Regional Instructional Specialist, and founding principal of the Urban Assembly School for Law and Justice, a public high school focused on academic rigor, supportive relationships, and integrated partnerships. She designed the school and led its growth and iteration as principal for four years. Under Elana’s leadership, the school received As on the school’s Progress Report and “Well-Developed with Outstanding Features” on the School Quality Review. Most critically, 93% of the founding class graduated on time and 100% of them were accepted to college.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Bryn Mawr College and a Master of Arts in English Education from New York University.