Rhonda Baldenegro is the executive director of Gabriella Charter Schools, a small, high-impact network of dance-themed public schools serving historically under-resourced communities in Los Angeles. She leads the organization’s strategic direction, working alongside educators, families, and partners to accelerate student learning by pairing rigorous instruction with transformative arts education across two TK-8 schools. Her leadership is grounded in meeting students’ needs with both high expectations and deep care, so that every child is supported to grow academically, socially, and artistically.

With more than two decades of experience in K-12 public education, Rhonda has served as a teacher, instructional coach, principal, and systems leader in both the Los Angeles Unified School District and the charter sector. At Gabriella, she has secured multi-year public and philanthropic investments to expand teacher pipelines and student opportunities, strengthened systems that support strong instruction and adult development, and helped earn recognitions including California Distinguished School, Gold Ribbon, and Exemplary Arts Program honors.

Rhonda serves on the board of Rocketship Public Schools, is a Coro Women in Leadership alumna, and represents schools on the California Charter Schools Association’s Los Angeles Advocacy Council. She has also mentored doctoral students in UCLA’s Educational Leadership Program.

Rhonda holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame, a master’s in education from Loyola Marymount University, and a doctorate in educational leadership from UCLA.