Ann Levy Walden (she/her/hers) is a dedicated and experienced organizational leader with a background in public education, spanning over two decades. Her unwavering commitment to providing high-quality public education to every student has driven her to champion programs that uplift vulnerable communities. Growing up in the Bay Area, Ann has a profound understanding of the region’s strengths and the persisting gaps and systemic inequalities affecting many students and families.
Throughout her career, Ann has honed her expertise in people and program management, leading successful change efforts in both school districts and education nonprofits. Her passion lies in developing and launching programs and organizations that enhance urban education. In her career Ann has collaborated closely with national and local education philanthropic leaders, school district administrators, state education offices, charter authorizers, universities, and community stakeholders to align strategies, influence decisions, and find solutions at the systems level.
One of Ann’s significant achievements was serving as the inaugural Executive Director of The Primary School in East Palo Alto. Under her leadership, this innovative school model thrived, managing a substantial budget of over $9 million and overseeing a team of around 100 staff members. She prioritized building strong relationships with families and stakeholders, ensuring educational excellence and authentic community participation.
Ann’s impact also extended to Western NY, where she contributed to shaping and implementing a regional Foundation’s charter school and human capital investment strategy. Collaborating closely with grantees, she successfully achieved strategic objectives. Prior to this, Ann worked at Chicago Public Schools, providing support to a network of 40 schools on their federally and state-funded school improvement mission.
With a Master of Education in Urban Education Leadership from the Broad Residency and a Master of Arts in Educational Development from Columbia University Teacher’s College, Ann remains steadfast in her dedication to improving public education and advancing equitable opportunities for all students. She continues to use her voice and expertise to advocate for a world where high-quality public education is accessible to every student.
