Soenda Howell is a Partner at Charter School Growth Fund, a philanthropic nonprofit that identifies the country’s best charter schools, funds their expansion, and helps to increase their impact. Soenda leads the Seed strategy, which includes all investments in and support to early-stage charter school networks, particularly those led by leaders of color, across the country. Prior to joining CSGF, Soenda provided strategic support to growing, emerging regions in the KIPP network and led and expanded three of KIPP’s national leadership development programs for school founders - the Miles Fellowship, the Global Fellowship and the Fisher Fellowship. Soenda began her career as a Teach For America corps member and later transitioned to be a teacher and a principal. Soenda serves on the board for Girls on the Run Chicago, the board of Clarksdale Collegiate Public Charter School, and the national advisory board of Teach For America’s Collective. She has a BA in economics from Swarthmore College, an MA from Teachers College, Columbia University, and an MBA from Kellogg, Northwestern University.