Top 10 School Executive Directors - 2026

Logan Gogarty is the Executive Director of Villa Bella Expeditionary, a high-performing K–8 expeditionary charter school in Pueblo, Colorado. His work sits at the intersection of mission, strategy and execution, with a clear focus on ensuring that daily decisions consistently serve student learning and the long-term health of the school.

Edward DeShazer is an accomplished school leader, educational consultant and entrepreneur, known for driving literacy growth, strategic alignment and community-centered education. As Executive Director, he champions innovative leadership, measurable outcomes and sustainable school transformation across diverse learning environments, with a community-centered impact.

Christi Crittenden is the executive director and founder of Anna’s House School. With two decades of experience in early childhood education, she helped launch a new private school during the height of the pandemic under a timeline most leaders would consider unrealistic. Today, her focus remains clear: small class sizes, strong teacher support, thoughtful use of technology, and a culture rooted in shared values. Here is our conversation with her.

Dr. Ronald P. Rinaldi serves as Executive Director of The Center School, bringing a rare combination of law enforcement experience, academic leadership, and specialized training in school safety. His career reflects a commitment to serving communities, supporting educators, and strengthening systems that help students thrive. He believes effective leadership depends on confidence, communication, and an unshakeable dedication to the people who carry out the mission. Rinaldi’s work centers on building trust and ensuring that every staff member feels prepared, supported, and empowered.

Sonya Y. Rodriguez, Ed.D., is an accomplished education leader serving as Chief Academic Officer at Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District. With extensive experience in curriculum development, instructional leadership and district-wide strategy, she drives academic excellence, educator performance and student success through data-informed decision-making and systemic school improvement initiatives.

Michael Friis is a seasoned leadership consultant and executive Director, specializing in principled leadership and organizational performance. Operating at the intersection of leadership development and business strategy, he leverages experience in sales and entrepreneurship to help organizations drive growth, accountability and cultural transformation across dynamic, evolving markets.

Bob Hall is an experienced education professional associated with Elmbrook Schools, bringing expertise in school operations, instructional support and student-focused initiatives. With a background in academic leadership and community engagement, he contributes to strengthening educational systems, enhancing learning environments and supporting organizational effectiveness across school communities.

Miranda McLaren is the Executive Director of Accountability and Assessment in Gwinnett County Public Schools, Georgia. With a strong foundation in classroom teaching and special education across Georgia and Texas, McLaren brings profound experience in state testing and data-driven learning to enhance educational outcomes districtwide.

Throughout the conversation, McLaren emphasized the importance of making assessments more meaningful and focused on students. She underscored the value of using testing to truly support learning and open opportunities through initiatives like the SAT. By shifting focus from test scores to student growth, her motive is to help educators and parents better understand the improvement of digitalization.

Nancy Patterson helps leaders and organizations achieve clarity, confidence and alignment. With over a decade of experience guiding teams through change, she builds systems and mindsets that drive lasting success. Her approach blends strategy and humanity, empowering people to perform at their best while fostering cultures of growth and purpose.

Through this interview, Patterson highlights the importance of purposeful leadership grounded in trust, collaboration and continuous growth, emphasizing how strong systems, empowered teachers and compassionate accountability create thriving schools and future-ready students.

Dr. Jeffrey Beavers is an experienced education leader serving as Executive Director and CEO at Crean Lutheran High School. With a strong background in school leadership, curriculum development and student services, he drives institutional growth, faculty development and holistic student success.