Kimi Kean
Co-founder & CEO, Families in Action for Quality Education
Email: kimi.kean@lighthousecharter.
Kimi Kean brings twenty-two years of experience in public education and advocacy in the Bay Area, California. Since 2019, she has been honored to serve as the CEO and Co-Founder of Families in Action for Quality Education, a coalition of 42 public charter schools that are committed to shaping the narrative and policies that dramatically increase school quality and family voice in public education. Kimi also consults with national consulting groups focused on increasing instructional quality and rigor in schools and systems across the country. Kimi has also served on the Lighthouse Community Public School Board of Directors since 2019 and in the Chairperson role since 2020.
Previously, Kimi served as Bay Area Superintendent of Aspire Public Schools for five years, overseeing all aspects of the TK-12 region including the launch of a new regional model, redesign of the instructional program, and evolution of the educator and leader development. As Bay Area Superintendent, Kimi also championed system-wide equity work, scaling affinity groups and racial equity development for leaders, educators, students and parents as well as significantly increasing the proportion of leaders and educators of color in the region. During Kimi’s tenure, Aspire Bay Area’s academic growth outpaced 80% of district and charter peers in California. Over three years, proficiency increased across elementary, middle and high school by +15% in ELA and +13% in math, while the percentage of students in the lowest band decreased by 50% in both ELA and math.
Kimi also served in the Oakland Unified School District for 14 years as a teacher, principal and Regional Executive Officer overseeing 24 elementary and middle schools in East Oakland. As principal of Acorn Woodland Elementary, she led the school through transformation resulting in double-digit proficiency increases and was recognized by OUSD and New Leaders for leadership excellence. Acorn Woodland was awarded with California Distinguished School status after rising from being the lowest performing elementary school in the district ten years prior. As Regional Executive Officer, Kimi led the implementation of school restructuring efforts including expansions, mergers and school redesigns to increase access to quality education in some of Oakland’s most underserved communities.
Kimi grew up in Oakland, California. She holds an M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction from Teachers College, Columbia University and a B.A. in Ethnic Studies from the University of California at Berkeley, attained after dropping out of high school as a sophomore. Kimi has been a fellow with the National Equity Project and resident with New Leaders. At home in Oakland, Kimi loves spending time with her two teenage daughters, husband and two mini-dachshunds.