Dear DCSC Community:
On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I am writing to share that Sonia Park has informed the Board of her decision to step down as Executive Director of the Diverse Charter Schools Coalition in September 2026.
For the past nine years, Sonia has provided visionary leadership and helped build DCSC into a nationally recognized voice for intentionally diverse schools. Under her leadership, DCSC has expanded its reach, strengthened its impact, and built a vibrant network of school leaders, educators, advocates, and partners committed to this work. We are deeply grateful for her service and the lasting contributions she has made to the organization and the broader movement.
While we will have opportunities in the coming months to celebrate Sonia and her accomplishments, we also want to reassure our members, partners, funders, and stakeholders that DCSC remains focused on its mission and committed to the schools and communities it serves. Current programs, partnerships, and services will continue without interruption. We are incredibly excited about our planned programming for 26/27, including our Communities of Practice, UnifiED program, and the Annual Convening, which will be Las Vegas.
The Board has begun implementing a thoughtful transition plan that includes appointing an Interim Executive Director to ensure continuity and stability during the transition. We are committed to a smooth leadership transition and will share additional updates in the months ahead.
We are also grateful to the DCSC staff team for their continued leadership, dedication, and commitment to the organization’s mission.
Below, Sonia shares a personal message reflecting on this transition and what DCSC has meant to her over the past nine years.
Thank you for your continued partnership and support as DCSC enters this next chapter. If you have questions or would like to share your perspective, please reach out to us at transition@diversecharters.org.
Sincerely,
Kristina Kyles-Smith
Chair, Board of Trustees
Amanda Fenton
Vice Chair, Board of Trustees
___________
Dear Friends and Partners,
After nine exciting years of leading and building DCSC, I have made the decision to step down as Executive Director at the end of September.
This organization and community have meant the world to me, and sharing this news is not easy. At the same time, I do so with a full heart and deep gratitude for the opportunity to serve alongside such a passionate, dedicated community.
Every milestone we’ve reached (and there have been many) we’ve reached together. I am incredibly proud of what we have built and deeply grateful to the members, partners, funders, staff, and board leaders who have made that work possible.
Today, DCSC is strong, vibrant, and deeply rooted. That strength is exactly why I believe this is the right moment for new leadership to carry our shared mission into its next chapter.
Please know that DCSC’s work continues, fully and without interruption. DCSC’s heart, mission, and commitment to the schools we serve remain the same. This is a change in leadership, not a change in direction—a passing of the torch, not a change in who we are.
I have complete confidence in the Board, staff, and community that will guide DCSC forward. Over the coming months, I will work closely with the Board and team to support a smooth and successful transition.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for being part of the DCSC family. It has been one of the great honors of my life to serve this organization and this movement. I cannot wait to watch all the beautiful things DCSC will accomplish in the years ahead.
With gratitude,
