Maggie Runyan-Shefa is an independent education and non-profit consultant & executive coach at Oak Tree Group. Previously, she served as the Co-CEO, Chief Innovation Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Schools Officer of New Schools for New Orleans (NSNO). Runyan-Shefa oversaw NSNO’s school investment, school support, human capital investments, internal operations and organizational culture. In her time at NSNO, Runyan-Shefa helped to fund or launch 28 schools, doubled the size of NSNO’s human capital portfolio, and was a chief architect of the Common Core programming offered to over 50 schools across the city. Prior to NSNO, Runyan-Shefa founded and led KIPP STAR College Prep Charter School in Harlem, New York City, and she is a graduate of the KIPP School Leadership Program. Under her leadership, KIPP STAR was among the highest performing open-enrollment public schools in Harlem and its graduates have gained acceptance into some of our nation’s finest college preparatory high schools and colleges. She was recognized by the Robin Hood Foundation with its Hero’s Award in 2004. Runyan-Shefa is a former Teach For America corps member (Mississippi Delta ’97) and holds a B.A. in International Affairs from the George Washington University and a M.P.A. from the Harvard Kennedy School.