One Team,
One Purpose

Shara Hegde serves as Chief Executive Officer for Alpha Public Schools, a K-12 network of charter schools in East San José, CA, focused on preparing first generation students for college and career. In this role, she provides leadership, vision, and strategic direction for the network, and serves as the external leader of the Alpha organization. Additionally, she plays a key role in furthering educational equity efforts at the local and state level, serving as a member of the California Charter Schools Association board of directors and playing an active leadership role in the Charter Community of Silicon Valley Advocacy Group. She was recognized for her leadership efforts, being named California Charter School Leader of the Year by the state association in 2023.

Before assuming the role of CEO, she served as Alpha Public Schools’ Chief Schools Officer, directing the academic program vision and providing coaching and management to several key senior leaders. Under her leadership, Alpha’s schools all made significant academic progress while growing in enrollment and students served. Prior to joining the Alpha team, Shara served as the Founder, Executive Director, and Principal of Cornerstone Academy, a K-8 elementary charter school that is now part of the Alpha network of schools. Since its opening in 2010, Cornerstone Academy has been amongst the highest performing schools in the city of San José, and was named a California Distinguished School in 2014 and 2018, as well as a 2023 School to Watch by the California Department of Education.

Shara received her bachelor’s degree in history from Brown University in Providence, RI and has her masters degree in education policy, organizations, and leadership studies from Stanford University. She also has an additional master’s degree in instructional leadership from the Reach Institute for School Leadership in Oakland, CA. In her spare time, Shara enjoys coaching youth sports including her son’s soccer and basketball teams.

Since October 2023, Erin Bryan has been the Chief Talent Officer at Alpha Public Schools, where she acts as a coach and trusted advisor to school and network-based leaders. In this role, Erin develops Alpha’s five-year talent strategy to support the organization’s mission, vision, and goals, while managing a multidisciplinary talent team to enhance retention, recruitment, and development across our schools.

Prior to her current position, Erin was the Managing Director of Talent Operations at Alpha starting in July 2021. She spearheaded the annual talent strategy in collaboration with the Chief Strategy Officer, focusing on high-impact talent initiatives and managing the HR Operations and Talent Acquisition departments. This role built on her experience as Alpha’s Director of HR, where she managed HR strategy and operations.

Erin’s career in human resources began in healthcare research companies such as Scanadu and inui Health. There she served as an HR Manager and HR Director supporting cutting edge research in at-home medicine. As the HR Director at inui Health she was a member of the executive team, managing HR operations and recruitment and supporting the company’s mission to provide FDA-approved mobile diagnostic capabilities to consumers.

Erin holds a Masters in Classics from San Francisco State University and a post-baccalaureate in Classical Languages from the University of California, Davis. She earned her Bachelors in Ancient History and Classical Archaeology from Brandeis University. She holds a professional certificate in Human Resource management from the Society of Human Resource Management, where she is an active member of SHRM’s advocacy team.

Passionate about enhancing educational environments, Erin is driven by her commitment to fostering inclusive and supportive workplaces in the education sector. Outside of her professional life, she enjoys exploring classical literature and contributing to academic journals, maintaining a personal connection to her academic roots.

Rosie Carlson, Ed.D., brings over a decade of dedicated experience in educational leadership and instructional excellence. Currently serving as a Network Leader at Alpha Public Schools in San Jose, CA, Rosie spearheads comprehensive management strategies, elevating school operations and fostering a positive adult culture that significantly improves the student and family experience.

Concurrently, Rosie serves as a Coach at All Means All, where she fosters transformative adult learning spaces, empowering leaders to drive their school communities towards ambitious goals. She collaborates with leaders nationwide, championing the mission of “cultivating humans to change the world” through impactful professional development initiatives.

Prior to her roles at Alpha Public Schools and All Means All, Rosie served as a School Leader & Teacher at Aspire Public Schools in Los Angeles, CA. Here, she developed an engaging curriculum and implemented academic programs tailored to meet students’ diverse needs, resulting in significant academic gains and revenue growth for the school.

Drawing on her wealth of experience, Rosie is driven by a profound belief in the power of education to transform lives and communities. Her passion for supporting K-12 schools stems from a deeply personal commitment to ensuring equitable access to quality education for all students, regardless of background or circumstance.

In her spare time, Rosie enjoys spending time with her family, supporting her son’s passion for baseball, and nurturing her daughter’s love for dance and the performing arts. She holds a Doctorate in Education and is dedicated to lifelong learning and growth, both personally and professionally.

Meet Fallon Housman, the Principal of Cornerstone, whose journey with our community began in 2017. Fallon’s passion for fostering a strong sense of community and collaboration can be seen within our school community.
With a Masters of Science in Education from Drake University, specializing in Education Leadership (PK-12), Fallon brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her role. Her educational journey began in Iowa, where she spent a decade honing her skills as a teacher, deeply invested in the growth and development of her students.

Throughout her teaching career, Fallon collaborated with educators across a spectrum of grade levels, from early childhood to high school. This diversity of experience allowed her to gain invaluable insights into the unique needs and challenges of each educational stage. Within this collaborative environment, Fallon fostered open communication and shared visions, creating a dynamic learning community where everyone’s voice was heard and valued.

What truly ignites Fallon’s passion as Principal is the vibrant spirit of the Alpha Community at Cornerstone. The unwavering dedication of our staff, families, and scholars fills her with immense pride and joy. Each morning, welcoming families and scholars as they arrive is a highlight, a moment brimming with warmth and anticipation for the day ahead.

Beyond her role in education, Fallon is a proud native of Los Angeles. In her free time, she enjoys reading, spending quality time with her family, exploring nature through hiking, and unleashing her creativity through various arts and crafts endeavors.

With Fallon’s leadership, Cornerstone continues to thrive as a place where collaboration, dedication, and joy intersect, creating an environment where every member of our community can flourish and succeed. Join us on this exciting journey of learning and discovery!

Chris Kang is the Chief Operating Officer for Alpha Public Schools. In this role, Chris manages the operations function at Alpha. Ensuring that schools have strong systems and processes in order to ensure that school leaders and teachers are able to focus on providing highly effective instruction for our students is a driving priority for Chris.

Prior to joining Alpha, Chris worked as Senior Director, KIPP School Leadership Programs Operations at the KIPP Foundation. Chris began his career in education as an AmeriCorps member at Partners in School Innovation in San Francisco. After moving to New York City, Chris worked for the next five years as a middle school math teacher in public and charter schools in New York City and Hoboken, New Jersey. Chris then served as the Director of Operations of the Excellence Boys Charter School Middle Academy, part of the Uncommon Schools network in Brooklyn, New York. Chris earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan, a master’s degree in education from Bank Street College, and an MBA from Yale University.

In his spare time, Chris is a long-suffering Buffalo Bills fan, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fanatic, and most importantly enjoys spending time with his wife and two sons.

Emma Karpowicz is the principal of Alpha: Cindy Avitia High School. Equitable access to a high-quality education regardless of the zip code one lives in has always been important to Emma and has driven her throughout her career in education.

Emma transitioned to become the principal at ACAHS in February 2021 after she spent a semester as principal in residence. Before being the principal in residence, Emma served as an assistant principal since 2016 where she was a founding member of the ACAHS team.

Prior to joining the Alpha team, Emma taught high school math in Memphis, TN while part of Teach for America. In 2012 she served in an AmeriCorps program in her hometown by building community awareness around public health. Emma holds a master’s in curriculum and instruction and a dual bachelor’s of science degree in mathematics and mathematics education from Syracuse University.

Emma has been part of Building Excellent School’s Leader in Emerging Networks fellowship, engaged in RELAY Graduate School’s instructional programs, and participated in the All Means All leadership program.

Outside of her work in education, Emma enjoys spending time with her husband and one-year-old son, testing new recipes out in the kitchen, being outdoors, and watching sports (she’s a Memphis Grizzlies and New England Patriots fan!)

Cynthia Martínez Nava serves as the Chief School Officer at Alpha Public Schools, a charter network of free public schools dedicated to empowering students to excel in college and beyond. At Alpha, Nava leads the charge in driving towards the fulfillment of Alpha’s vision, mission, and the achievement of the North Star goal. Her focus lies in cultivating and supporting an exceptional Schools Team while fostering a culture where all members embody Alpha’s core values and leadership principles.

Nava’s journey in education spans various leadership roles, from serving as a school principal, director in extended learning, and teacher. In college, she focused on increasing diversity in higher education, working on recruitment and retention for underserved communities.

Nava’s commitment to education is deeply personal. As an immigrant, a student of color, and the first in her family to attend college, she understands firsthand the transformative power of education. She believes that education should nurture curiosity, encourage critical thinking, and cultivate individuals who are keenly aware and proud of their strengths and capabilities.

Nava earned her bachelors at UC Berkeley, earning a double major with distinguished honors. She then pursued a Master’s at Harvard Graduate School of Education, focusing on education policy and management.
Outside of work, Nava enjoys spending time with her community, family and friends. She loves reading and enjoys hiking and camping adventures.

Russ Michaud is the managing director of special education at Alpha Public Schools. He joined Alpha in 2014 as the founding director of special education; in this role, he’s worked to build out the internal special education department, including the staffing model, compliance structures, and continuum of services. Russ has a deep commitment to providing equitable educational opportunities for all students, including students with disabilities, and has been supporting individuals with exceptional needs since high school.

In the past, Russ served as a special education consultant for charter schools in the Bay Area. Prior to joining Alpha, he worked as an elementary special education teacher in a therapeutic day class, and served as a coach and mentor to new special education teachers in the Bay Area. Russ currently serves as a commissioner on California’s Advisory Committee on Special Education after being appointed by the State Board of Education in 2023. Originally hailing from Boston, Massachusetts, he earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Ithaca College and his master’s degree in educational leadership from San Jose State University.

In his spare time, he enjoys spending quality time with his husband, his friends, and his wild menagerie of cats and dogs. You can usually find him enjoying the San Jose weather on a run or hike, finding new favorite restaurants, or relaxing with one of the many great books on his overflowing to-be-read list.

Brandon Paige is the Chief Financial Officer at Alpha Public Schools. In this role, he is responsible for the financial health of APS and each of its school sites. Brandon began his career as a Math Teacher and brings that lens to his role, focusing on how Alpha’s resources are spent to support students’ outcomes and the experiences of school staff.

Brandon joined Alpha Public Schools after serving as the Director of Finance at Lighthouse Community Public Schools in Oakland. Prior to that, Brandon had been a Client Manager at EdTec, a firm supporting charter schools with finance and operations. In that role, he was able to support Alpha: Cornerstone in its initial years. Prior to EdTec, Brandon had been a High School Math Teacher for six years in New York and San Francisco. Brandon earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from Princeton University and a Master’s of Science in Education from Pace University.

Outside of work, Brandon spends his time with his wife and four-year-old daughter.

Julianna Parra is the principal of Alpha José Hernández, one of three TK-8 schools within Alpha Public Schools serving students and families in East San Jose. Parra’s personal experience of navigating the education system as the child of Colombian immigrants and learner of English as a second language drives her work towards an educational system that provides equitable support for all students and sees multilingualism as a strength instead of a barrier. She believes that one of the most important markers of success is access to making well informed choices and that it is our responsibility to ensure all students and families have access to the skills, tools and resources to do this for themselves.

Prior to her current role, Parra’s interest in education started with developmental and psycholinguistics studies at Boston University where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Shortly after graduating she began her teaching career in Houston, TX via Teach for America working as a Bilingual elementary teacher before moving to San Jose, CA to work as a middle school humanities teacher for a couple of years. During this time, she earned her Master of Science in Education with a focus in Elementary Studies from the Johns Hopkins University and began to look into more specialized opportunities to further her impact.

She joined the AJH team as a consultant for the English Language Development (ELD) program in 2019 before transitioning into ELD Specialist supporting TK-8 in strengthening intentional support of English Language Learners. Her work in this role laid the foundation for improved results for all identified English language learners and prepared her for principalship with the vision of serving all learners.

When she is not working, she enjoys spending time outdoors, seeing live music and sports (Go Pats!) and traveling to new places.

Angelica Ruiz is the executive assistant and events manager. In her role, she has a high level of responsibility for being the groundskeeper at the Network office while also managing the CEO’s scheduling and correspondence. She has also taken on additional duties that have expanded her skills in project coordination especially with Network-wide events and executive board meetings.

Angelica started her career with Alpha Public Schools as an Office Assistant at Alpha: Blanca Alvarado. Her transition to the Network has helped her learn more about the organization as a whole and it has allowed her to make a positive impact across all four campuses.

This community is near and dear to her as she was born and raised in East San Jose. She believes in helping all of our scholars achieve greatness and helping our community excel forward.

In her spare time, Angelica enjoys quality time with her daughter.

Nicole Wais is chief strategy officer at Alpha Public Schools, where she has worked in support of an exceptional education for students in East San José since 2018. Nicole’s own experience growing up in excellent public schools led her to become a strong proponent of school choice: every family should have the right to seek out the best education for their child.

Before stepping into her current role, Nicole led Alpha’s talent team, which is responsible for attracting, retaining, and developing the hardworking educators who have the privilege of serving Alpha’s students every day. Prior to joining Alpha, Nicole accumulated a range of experiences within and outside the education sector. She spent several years serving nonprofit and private sector organizations as a consultant and project leader at Boston Consulting Group. Nicole first experienced the potential and impact of charter schools while working at DC Prep, where she led the organization’s foray into data-informed instruction. She began her career as a first grade teacher in Atlanta, GA, as a part of Teach For America; in her time at Fulton County Schools, she served as grade level chair and was honored as Hamilton E. Holmes Elementary School’s Teacher of the Year in 2009.

Nicole graduated cum laude from Yale University with a bachelor’s degree in history. She holds an MBA and MA in education from Stanford University and is a graduate of the Broad Residency in Urban Education. She has called the Bay Area home since 2012 and lives in Redwood City with her husband and two daughters, who are giving her a new lens into navigating public education as a parent.

Jin Yun is the principal of Alpha Blanca Alvarado School, which serves TK-8th grade students in East San Jose, California. Educating the whole child through the integration of social-emotional learning and equity-oriented pedagogy has been Jin’s driving force. She is dedicated to bringing high-quality instruction that enhances critical thinking through authentic collaboration among students.

Drawing from her personal journey as a first-generation immigrant, Jin values multilingualism in education and truly embodies the assets of the multiethnic communities her school serves. Prior to her current role, Jin worked as an elementary school teacher for 16 years in Georgia, Michigan, and California. Seeking to make a greater impact on her students, she served as an assistant principal at Alpha: Cornerstone Academy for three years before assuming the principalship at Alpha Blanca Alvarado.

Jin earned her bachelor’s degree in sociology and anthropology from Agnes Scott College in Georgia and a master’s degree in education leadership from the University of California, Berkeley.

When she is not working, she enjoys reading, gardening, and watching K-Drama. Otherwise, she can be found spending time with her husband, two sons, and their dog, Shiloh.