What Type Of Person Thrives In K-12 Education According To A Chief Strategy Officer At America Achieves
Allison, Chief Strategy Officer at America Achieves, describes individuals thriving in the K-12 and related sectors as "Mission driven," "up for adventure," and comfortable with risk-taking to improve outcomes for underserved communities; this aligns with Allison's own career trajectory, encompassing teaching, district work, nonprofit leadership, political advocacy, and school administration, demonstrating a commitment to solving "big challenging problems."
Mission-driven, Problem-solving, Risk-taking, Community-focused, Adaptable
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Allison Bajracharya
Chief Strategy Officer
America Achieves
Middlebury College, 2000
USC, MPP
Environmental & Related Sciences
Nonprofit, Foundations & Grantmaking
Business Strategy
Worked 20+ Hours in School
Video Highlights
1. Mission-driven individuals thrive in this industry.
2. A willingness to take risks and think differently is essential.
3. Commitment to improving outcomes for underserved communities is a key characteristic of successful professionals in this field.
Transcript
How would you describe people who typically thrive in this industry?
I've spent most of my career in the K-12 space. I've worn basically every hat possible, starting as a teacher, then working in a large district and with a large nonprofit.
I worked with Teach for America, then did political campaigns and advocacy work, and ran schools. Now I'm in a slightly adjacent field, but I'd say there's a reason I've done both.
I think it's because you have a lot of people who are mission-driven, who are up for adventure, and who want to solve big, challenging problems. They're also open to taking risks, thinking differently, and are comfortable with what happens when you take risks.
These individuals are really motivated and committed to improving outcomes for communities, especially low-income communities and communities of color. There's a through-line that I've experienced both in the K-12 space, where I spent most of my career, and in the work I'm doing now, connecting the workforce and economic development space.