Announcing the new Aspire Public Schools CEO

Dear Friends of Aspire Public Schools,

On behalf of the Aspire Board of Directors, we are delighted to share that Mala  Batra has been named CEO of Aspire Public Schools!

Over the last year, Aspire conducted a robust national search and selection process with over 100 applicants from around the country. Throughout that process, Mala demonstrated a clear track record of bringing people together to share experiences, evaluate options, and articulate solutions for the future.

Mala joined Aspire in 2011 as Director of Growth & Strategy, overseeing Aspire’s growth and operations teams. She went on to serve as Chief of Staff, before being named Interim CEO in 2018. Over the course of the last year, Mala has demonstrated a unique capacity to listen, learn, and lead with intention. As my fellow Board member Jonathan Garfinkel shared, “Mala is a deeply reflective strategist for our work. She is also an especially caring person intent on leading an inclusive, respectful approach to producing educational equity. She models an unwavering commitment to making decisions in the best interest of our scholars and families.”

As we enter Aspire’s 20th anniversary year, we have an ambitious set of priorities & initiatives to guide our work. We’re calling them “Our Aspire Priorities”: High-Quality Instruction, Equity & Culture, and Aspire Identity. These priorities are grounded in our Equity Commitments, and while they aim to be inclusive and reflective of all our schools and regions, we expect they will be brought to life in ways that are right for each of our communities.

In just a few short weeks, over 17,000 scholars will enter our doors, each with their own hopes and dreams for the future. We are so grateful to you — our friends and partners across the entire Aspire Public Schools community — for helping to realize those hopes and dreams for our families.

Sincerely,

Beth Hunkapiller

Chair, Aspire Public Schools Board of Directors