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Jeff Sands

CEO/PRESIDENT & FOUNDER

 Jeff currently leads the work that has developed among school leader members through the Cohort and Cadre model in the 360 Accelerator. Jeff has spent several years designing and refining model, and the majority of his career supporting education organizations and nonprofits:

An advocate for public education and education reform and a passion for system design, Jeff is focused on the intersection between the classroom and the social sectors—and committed to the idea that what lies ahead for the Central Valley will be determined primarily by how closely and thoughtfully these sectors work together to prepare our youth. Jeff led policy and advocacy work for school choice efforts statewide, including local ballot initiatives, local school board elections, legislative engagement, and regional charter school collective action and advocacy efforts;

  • Led strategic planning for nonprofit organizations and higher education institutions

  • As an educator, spent over a decade in the classroom teaching high school and college English and composition in Fresno USD, Central USD, Reedley College and Fresno City Colleges

  • Supported and facilitated organizational and board development for nonprofits and educational institutions;

  • Secured and managed several million dollars in grant funding for various nonprofits, school organizations, and public entities.

  • Co-founded a Fresno County-authorized charter public school that has served its community as a high-quality school for 12 years;

  • Designed and implemented the consortium work to promote capacity and relationship building among Central Valley schools through the 360 Accelerator.

In his previous work with as the Managing Regional Director for Advocacy, Northern and Central California for the California Charter Schools Association, Jeff worked with local and state leaders to expand, strengthen, and mobilize charter public schools as high-quality educational options for students and families From Shasta to Ventura County. A former high school and college English teacher of ten years, Jeff also served nonprofit organizations as a strategic planning and grant writing and management consultant, and as a member of multiple civic and community commissions.

After coming to California from a cattle ranch in Montana, Jeff fell in love with the dynamic tension between the urban and rural edges of the Central San Joaquin Valley. Jeff and his wife Corrie--an educator, photographer, and world-changer--and their four kids live in Fresno with their two dogs, three cats, and one rabbit.