The Achievement First Leadership Team
We started with a single school. Now we’re 15,000 students strong. As we continue to grow and better serve those students, our leadership team is at the helm of this important work of transforming public education in America.
Our leadership team is made up of content specialists, leadership coaches, operations experts, financial wizards, former teachers and principals, and all around champions for kids.
Chief Executive Officer
Lisa serves as Achievement First’s Chief Executive Officer, a network of 41 schools in New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. She joined AF as Interim CEO in 2022 and transitioned to CEO in August 2023. Prior to this, Lisa was the Interim CEO of Ascend Charter Schools. Lisa also served as KIPP’s Chief Program Officer and Director of Network Growth and Chief Customer Officer of the Girl Scouts of the USA. Prior to that, she led businesses in financial services with Bank of America and JP Morgan Chase.
With more than thirty years of experience with for-and-non-profits, Lisa continues to learn and grow in navigating all facets of leadership, which includes developing high performing teams, leveraging stakeholder management, rebuilding underperforming businesses, leading businesses through integration, and scaling and transforming organizations.
Lisa, a proud Wisconsin native and child of public-school educators, has always had a deep and abiding passion for K-12 education. She believes the key to social justice and racial equity is quality education that creates access for all children. She has a bachelor’s degree from Marquette University and an MBA from Columbia Business School.
Executive Director, Connecticut
Amy D’Angelo is a systems-driven, human-centered leader, with over 20 years of leadership experience. Driven by excellence, equity and impact, she believes strongly in the power of strong teams to do hard things together. Amy is a passionate manager and coach of leaders, with a track record of results leading through technical and adaptive challenges. Before stepping into the role of AF Connecticut Executive Director, she served as Transitional Superintendent of Achievement First charter schools. Previously she was an independent consultant and also Chief of Staff of Jeremiah Program, supporting the growth and expansion of a national nonprofit, focused on a 2-generation approach to economic mobility of single moms and their children. Prior to that, Amy was a leader at Achievement First public charter schools for 15 years. For over a decade, she served as Regional Superintendent – including roles as Chief of Schools, High Schools and Chief of Schools, Middle Schools. She was also the founding principal of AF Bushwick Middle School which was awarded National Blue Ribbon recognition. Earlier in her career, as a NYC Teaching Fellow, she was awarded the Outstanding Achievement Award in Teaching from Pace University and selected to be part of a national cohort of new principals, New Leaders for New Schools. She has a wide range of experience including foundational years at McKinsey & Company. She earned three Masters degrees from Teachers College, Columbia University and Pace University after attending Binghamton University as an undergrad. When not working, Amy loves to travel with her family.
Executive Director, New York
Kristin comes to this position with almost two decades of experience in education and a dedication and commitment to our students and communities. She is currently the Executive Director for AF New York. Kristin was a Regional Superintendent and supported both elementary and middle schools. Prior to joining Achievement First in 2021, Kristin was a middle school principal at Success Academy Charter Schools. Before entering into leadership, she has held a number of positions within education, including as a high school advanced placement teacher, instructional coach, and Teach Plus leadership fellow. She holds a B.A. from Carleton College and an M.A. from Columbia University, Teachers College. In her spare time, she enjoys exploring Brooklyn with her partner and children, as well as their dog, Thor.
Executive Director, Rhode Island
Tom’s experiences as a teacher and leader have deepened his conviction that systemic opportunity gaps drive differences in student experiences and outcomes, particularly for underserved students. Throughout his career, he has led students, teams, schools, organizations, and communities in pursuit of equity, excellence, and meaningful results. Tom has served in both traditional public school districts and charter management organizations, always grounded in his belief in the brilliance of young people and the strength of their communities. He holds a Doctorate in Education Leadership (Ed.L.D.) from Harvard University. Most recently, Tom served as Managing Director at the Achievement Network, and previously as Chief Strategy Officer for Jefferson County Public Schools in Colorado, where he developed and led the execution of the district’s strategic plan. In 2021, Tom and his family moved to Rhode Island and have proudly made it their forever home. Above all, Tom is a devoted partner to his wife Lizzy and a proud “GirlDad” to their daughters, Caroline (4) and Grace (19 months). He is passionate about working alongside Rhode Island leaders to support students, educators, and families.
Chief of Development
Aaron Obrochta serves as Chief of Development at Achievement First, leading philanthropic strategy and public grant funding to support the network’s 15,000 students across three states. A former Navy helicopter aircraft commander and aerospace engineering graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Aaron brings two decades of experience in leadership, education, and strategic growth. Prior to Achievement First, he held senior talent strategy roles at Ascend Public Charter Schools, guiding multi-functional teams through major organizational transitions, focusing on equity, culture, and impact. Aaron holds an MBA from NYU’s Stern School of Business and a Master’s in Education Leadership from The Broad Center. His work is grounded in the belief that every student—regardless of background—deserves access to an excellent education and the resources to thrive.”
Chief Strategy Officer
Michael comes to the Chief Strategy Officer role with thirteen years of teaching, school leadership, and regional leadership experience in Washington D.C and at Achievement First. He served as the Founding Assistant Principal at Rocketship Rise Academy before becoming the Founding Principal at Rocketship Legacy Prep. He then served as the Associate Director of Schools with Rocketship DC, where he led the region’s COVID recovery and reopening, school leader development, and regional operations, while also supporting wellness initiatives, systems-level coordination and strategic planning, and project management across the entire Rocketship Public Schools network. Michael joined Achievement First in March 2022 as the Associate Chief of Staff and has had the opportunity to collaborate with staff across Network Support and within the schools in all three regions on a variety of projects including charter renewals, school contingency planning, portfolio management, and more. Michael is originally from Chicago and now lives in Fairfield, CT with his wife Monica, two daughters Devon (6) and Blair (3), and yellow lab puppy, Clementine.
Chief Operating Officer
Jason serves as Chief Operating Officer at Achievement First. Jason has extensive experience in the charter school space, serving as Associate Chief Operating Officer at Uncommon Schools for over a decade of his career and as Director of Operations at North Star Academy Charter School of Newark. While at Uncommon, Jason led operations for eighteen K-12 schools serving over 6,500 students. In his role, he led, coached, and trained operations leaders, as well as stewarded the return from covid, enrollment and procurement strategies for all Uncommon schools. Prior to joining the charter school sector, he worked at for profit multinational organizations in his home country of Brazil in marketing, sales and business development strategies.
Jason holds a BS in Business Administration from the University of Richmond (Class of ‘00) and completed Columbia University’s Senior Leadership Program for Nonprofit Professionals in 2016.
General Counsel
Mirtha Camille Sabio, Esq., is an accomplished legal executive and trusted advisor with extensive experience across public agencies, private enterprises, and advocacy work. She currently serves as General Counsel and Agency Chief Contracting Diversity Officer at the NYC Office of Chief Medical Examiner, where she leads a team of 20 and provides strategic legal guidance on operations, intergovernmental affairs, and compliance for the largest public DNA laboratory in the world. Previously, Mirtha was General Counsel at the Office of the Bronx Borough President, advising on legislative initiatives, policy development, and agency compliance. She led initiatives advancing MWBE participation, secured funding for critical programs, and fostered civic engagement across Bronx community boards. Her expertise extends to corporate counsel roles, litigation, and labor negotiations, with a proven ability to build consensus and mitigate risks in complex environments.
A passionate advocate for equity, Mirtha has developed programs that expand access and opportunity for underrepresented groups. She holds a Juris Doctor from New York Law School and dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Accounting and Marketing from NYU’s Stern School of Business. Her certifications in employment law, human resource management, and commercial real estate development reflect her dedication to professional growth and interdisciplinary expertise.
In addition to her legal practice, Mirtha has held leadership roles in educational and community organizations, including serving as Board Chair of Great Oaks Legacy Charter School. She is an active member of professional associations, such as the NYC Bar and the Society for Human Resource Management, and regularly volunteers as a judge for moot court competitions.
Chief Equity Officer
LaNelle Alexander has a legacy of leading significant organizational development, culture and diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging efforts for nearly 20 years across international non-profits, for profits, and higher education based on her deep commitment to advancing equity and combating the pernicious legacy of systemic racism by leading healthy culture transformation.
LaNelle is a mission-driven leader, workshop facilitator and leadership coach who has a track record of designing and infusing DEIB and Racial Justice strategies to help organizations create healthy cultures, cultivate positive engagement and drive business success by building more resilience and equitable environments, systems, practices and programs so their people and people leaders are empowered with tools and resources to remove systemic barriers to individual and collective success.
Most recently, she served as the inaugural Head of DEI where she was a member of the senior team, responsible for designing and executing a multi-year DEI-AR strategic plan, executing, leadership and team coaching, leadership development workshop, driving organizational alignment and sustainable change impacting teams aligned to Mission, Vision and Values.
Prior, LaNelle was on the executive leadership team at buildOn, an international nonprofit based in Stamford, CT, where she served as their first Vice President of Human Resources and founding Global Director of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI).
LaNelle holds a BA in Organizational Behavior and Change Management, with a concentration in Diversity and Inclusion from New York University. She is an ICF certified professional coach (CPC) specializing in executive leadership and team coaching from iPEC. She also maintains certifications from both the Society of Human Resources [SHRM-CP] and Society for Diversity [CDP].
LaNelle is also on the board of buildOn NY, a nonprofit focused on youth development in the South Bronx and HOPE Worldwide’s CT Chapter, which delivers sustainable, high impact community-based services to vulnerable local and international communities.
Chief Financial Officer
Benjamin (Ben) Schanback is Chief Financial Officer at Achievement First. Previously, Ben worked at NYC Public Schools, where he most recently served as Senior Managing Director on the Operations & Finance team. Over his eleven years there, he held several leadership roles, including Interim Acting CFO. Before NYCPS, Ben worked at the New York City Office of Management and Budget. Ben brings deep expertise in financial management, strategy, forecasting, and change management. He has a proven track record of leading through complexity, including major policy reforms and change initiatives that directly supported schools and students. He earned his B.A. from Brown University and his M.P.A. in Public and Nonprofit Management and Policy from NYU’s Wagner School of Public Service.