Carlos Perez

About Carlos Perez

I have dedicated my career to social justice, community service, and building people power and leadership. I bring two decades of C-suite experience to community-based advocacy and political campaign strategy and execution. My executive coaching has accelerated leadership for transformational change in education and social equity in urban and rural communities across the United States. A proud Puerto Rican from Chicago, I attended Chicago Public Schools when the US DOE named it the worst public school system in America. This has led me to pursue a career in justice and advocating for high quality public education for all children, particularly those who are most often disenfranchised. As a community organizer, I’ve worked with new immigrant and Latino voters in Virginia, Minnesota, and Missouri to Illinois. This experience illustrated the power of organized communities making positive change for all. I lead with and through my identity, prioritizing the inherent strengths of those I works with and leveraging the unique assets of all leaders, with an emphasis on leveraging the work of leaders of color. I employ a two-pronged approach to organizational advancement: developing the leadership mindset and the technical skills needed for successful executive management.

Experience

1. Executive Director

   Erie Elementary Charter School

   Jan 2020 — Present · Chicago, IL, US

Education

• Truman State University

  BA, Political Science

  1995 — 1999

• DePaul University

  MA, Public Services

  2004 — 2009