LaNolia Omowanile is vice president of leadership development at the KIPP Foundation, where she leads the national strategy to strengthen regional leadership pipelines and talent systems in service of student achievement and long-term principal retention. In this role, LaNolia partners closely with regional and network leaders to build cohesive, data-driven approaches to leader development, succession planning, and effective implementation across KIPP’s schools.

Prior to joining KIPP, LaNolia served at IDEA Public Schools in Austin, Texas, where she held several senior leadership roles, including vice president of schools. There, she managed and coached a portfolio of schools and school leaders, led regional leader development strategy, and ensured that all principal vacancies were filled internally through a strong principal pipeline. Her leadership contributed to improved retention, multiple new school launches, and recognition for first-year principals as district School of the Year award recipients.

Earlier in her career, LaNolia spent nearly a decade at Brooklyn Prospect Charter Schools in New York City. She was the founding principal of Brooklyn Prospect International Baccalaureate Charter School and later served as chief academic officer, supporting principals and overseeing network-wide academic strategy, curriculum, and assessment. Under her leadership, schools consistently outperformed district and state averages while serving ethnically, socioeconomically, and academically diverse student populations.

LaNolia began her career as a middle and high school science educator and was named Ida S. Baker Teacher of the Year for her excellence in teaching. She holds a Master of Arts in Education Leadership Studies from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a Bachelor of Science in secondary science education from Oral Roberts University.