Jose Estrada

Dynamic leader with a proven track record excelling in strategic planning and operations. Achieved honors in budget oversight and innovative program development. Skilled in stakeholder engagement and data-driven decision-making, fostering collaboration to enhance outcomes and operational effectiveness.

• Member, Association of California School Administrators (ACSA)
• Member, California Charter Schools Association (CCSA)
• Participant, National Institute for School Leadership (NISL)

• Education is the foundation of opportunity, and leadership is the catalyst for transformation.
• As a servant leader, I believe in: Empowering People, Data-Informed Equity, Innovation with Purpose, Community as Cornerstone, Resilient Systems.

• Principal / Director of Academics, Imagine Schools Hemet Dual Language Academy, Hemet, CA, 01/01/20, Present, Spearheaded the launch of a start-up charter school, designing all academic, operational, and cultural frameworks from the ground up; grew enrollment from 0 to 500+ students within three years., Recruited, trained, and retained 90% of founding staff through a robust mentorship program and leadership pathways, reducing annual turnover to <5% (vs. industry average of 20%)., Secured $750K in grants and partnerships to fund STEM labs, arts integration, and a 1:1 technology initiative, driving a 22% increase in statewide proficiency scores (2020-2023)., Implemented a data-driven MTSS model, reducing achievement gaps for ELL and SPED students by 30% through targeted interventions and PLC collaboration., Pioneered a project-based learning curriculum, resulting in 40% of student projects winning regional academic competitions and recognition by the CA Department of Education.
• Principal/Head of Schools, PAL Charter Academy, San Bernardino, CA, 01/01/18, 12/31/20, Designed and launched two award-winning programs: Independent Studies Program and Classroom-Based Program., Led WASC accreditation efforts, achieving 100% compliance with a 6-year renewal by aligning curriculum to state standards and training faculty on evidence-based grading., Restructured the school's budget, reallocating $200K annually to teacher PD and classroom resources, which correlated with a 15-point API score increase.
• Principal / Curriculum Developer, SIATech Charter High School, Los Angeles, CA, 01/01/14, 12/31/18, Transformed a dropout-recovery program into a dual-certification model (diploma + vocational training) in partnership with LA Job Corps; 85% graduation rate (vs. 52% prior) and 70% job placement in skilled trades., Revamped social studies curriculum to align with Common Core, resulting in 15% annual growth in SBAC scores and a 40% increase in student civic engagement., Trained 50+ educators in trauma-informed practices, reducing behavioral referrals by 45% and increasing daily attendance to 92%., Part of a cohort that negotiated a $500K federal grant to expand career-tech pathways, adding certifications in cybersecurity and renewable energy.

• Strategic Planning & Organizational Development
• Data-Driven Decision Making & Performance Metrics
• Multi-Program Budget Oversight
• Culturally Responsive Curriculum Design
• Community & Stakeholder Engagement
• Talent Development & Instructional Leadership
• School and Program Building