Selected Impact

• Led a multi-year performance turnaround, moving a key organizational outcome metric from 21% to 93%

• Reduced suspensions by 65% through culture and systems redesign

• Increased staff retention from 37% to 88% by redesigning talent systems and adult-learning frameworks

• Secured governing board approval for multi-site launches across distinct regulatory and political contexts

• Directed accreditation and compliance processes resulting in six-year approval cycles

• Secured $7M+ in competitive funding and built partnerships replicated across sites and regions

• Launched and scaled cross-functional systems supporting operations, HR, compliance, academics, and external partnerships

What I'm Known For

Building Trust Across Complex Stakeholder Landscapes
Earning and sustaining credibility with boards, executives, community partners, and frontline teams, often simultaneously and in tension.

Turning Strategy Into Sustained Execution
Ensuring initiatives don't stall after approval but translate into clear operating structures, timelines, and results.

Developing People and Teams That Stay
Building talent systems and coaching frameworks that grow capacity, reduce turnover, and make organizations less dependent on any single leader.

Designing Systems That Hold Under Pressure
Creating structures that outlast funding cycles, leadership transitions, and moments of urgency, so organizations don't have to rebuild every time conditions shift.

How I Work

I operate as a steady, embedded partner--balancing strategic perspective with hands-on execution.

My approach is grounded in:

• Sequencing work so teams can move forward without overload

• Translating vision into clear operating structures and decision pathways

• Using data and narrative together to support sound judgement

• Designing systems that respect people while meeting performance demands

Who I Work With

I work with organizations navigating complexity, transition, or growth, especially when the stakes are human and the margin for error is thin.

My work is a strong fit for leaders and teams who need to:

• Bring clarity to fragmented or fast-changing systems

• Align people, strategy, and execution across multiple stakeholders

• Move initiatives from approval to sustained implementation

• Navigate governance, accountability, or organizational change with steadiness

My background is rooted in education, workforce development, and social impact, and the capabilities I bring transfer across sectors. The throughline is helping organizations hold under pressure and build systems that last.

Next Steps

Whether you're filling a senior leadership role or looking for a strategic partner to stabilize and move complex work forward, the next step is a conversation.

• Founding School Leader & Senior Administrator

• District, State, and Cross-Sector Leadership

• Founder, Searchlight Studio, LLC

• Nationally Recognized Arts Administrator
  Program finalist for President Obama's Committee on the Arts & Humanities
  National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Awards

EDUCATION

MAEd, Education Administration - California State University, Stanislaus

MFA, Theatre: Acting - University of Delaware

BA, Theatre - University of California, San Diego

BA, Communication & Culture - University of California, San Diego

CERTIFICATIONS

CSM, Certified Scrum Master - Scrum Alliance

CSPO, Certified Scrum Product Owner - Scrum Alliance

CA Clear Administrative Services Credential

CA Clear Single Subject: English Teaching Credential

CA Clear Designated Subjects Credential: Arts, Media & Entertainment

Leading for Equity - National Equity Project

Liberatory Leadership Design - Los Angeles Education Partnership

Restorative Practices & Conferencing - International Inst. of Restorative Practices

Art of Coaching Teams - Bright Morning, LLC

Design Thinking for Innovation - University of Virginia, Darden School

Credentials

Experience Highlights

Connect

RJ@rjmabanta.com