Tony Monfiletto’s family has a long history in New Mexico and his Chicano heritage informs his vision. Tony has worked in education since 1990. He has been a leader in establishing the context for a network of schools in his hometown of Albuquerque, NM, and a broader vision for schools to be the catalyst for creating healthier and more prosperous communities. In 2008, Tony began working on ACE Leadership High School, the first in a network of the next generation of career-focused schools that are designed to serve students that are off-track to graduation or are no longer attending school. There are now four schools in the Leadership Schools Network which are committed to providing “the best education for the students who need it the most.” He is emerging as a leader in equity conversations across the country. His belief in local wisdom and the inherent value of young people and their lived experience frames his approach to the most complex and seemingly intractable problems we face.