Rick Cruz

Chair
"It is my privilege to serve as the new chair of the board, partnering with staff and the community to expand high-quality school options for families in DC. DC PCSB is often recognized as one of the country’s leading public charter school authorizers, and our success can be attributed to a few core principles: hold school leaders accountable, focus on equity, operate transparently and with consistency, and, most importantly, keep students at the center of all decisions. We lead, always, with these in mind in working to create the conditions of success for the public charter sector and for our students."

Mr. Cruz has extensive experience in education management and has served in senior roles at leading education and youth development organizations, including DC Prep Public Charter School, College Board, America’s Promise Alliance, FSG (a mission-driven consultancy) and Teach for America.  Mr. Cruz is currently chief revenue officer at Arabella Advisors, a mission-driven Certified B Corporation dedicated to helping clients increase their philanthropic impact and make a difference on the issues that matter most to them.  Mr. Cruz is deeply committed to advancing equity in education and is a frequent panelist and speaker on public education and reform efforts. He also holds Board positions at several local and national nonprofits, including Instruction Partners and the Washington International School.  Mr. Cruz is a member of the Pahara-Aspen Fellowship and the Aspen Global Leadership Network. He has a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Yale University.