Senior Director, Program

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As Senior Director, Program, Dr. Cynite Ola serves as our federal grant manager for TSL Project R.I.S.E. She manages the project team, leads annual reporting efforts, and provides operational and administrative oversight of the TSL grant, including risk mitigation and implementing federal compliance controls.

Dr. Ola embarked on her educational career after earning a BBA in Accounting from Texas State University - San Marcos as a first-generation college graduate. Joining Teach for America led her to Baltimore, Maryland, where she taught and led in Baltimore City Public Schools and pursued advanced degrees at The Johns Hopkins University. Her educational journey culminated in completing a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. Throughout her career, Cynite served in diverse roles in K12 urban school districts, including teacher, teacher leader, assistant principal, principal, district content specialist, managing director of leader development, and interim VP of Schools. In each capacity, she consistently prioritized safeguarding the instructional core as essential to the success of individual students and the overall school community.

Dr. Ola's expertise includes systems-level organizational development, evidence-based leadership practices, executive and instructional coaching, school management and improvement, culturally relevant leadership development, and change management.

Beyond her professional endeavors, Cynite is active in her church and finds joy in traveling, listening to music and audiobooks, and spending quality time with her family.