Transitions on the horizon
Dear Challenge Success Community,
With deepest gratitude and appreciation for our Executive Director’s outstanding leadership, I am writing to share that Kathy Koo has submitted her resignation from her role effective September 1, 2021. Please see her letter below.
For the last five years, Kathy has been a treasured guide to so many of us. Her wisdom, expertise, grace, and dedication to our mission have helped Challenge Success grow and thrive in every possible way. Throughout the pandemic, Kathy has been a grounded, compassionate leader who has kept the Challenge Success family’s mental and physical well-being at the center of her work. Her intuitive ability to anticipate and meet the organization’s financial, staffing, and programmatic needs, both before and during COVID, is truly commendable. In announcing her resignation plan now, Kathy gives us the benefit of her adept leadership for the next few months as we begin a search for a permanent ED.
In late May, the Board of Directors unanimously and enthusiastically approved Dr. Sarah Miles as the Interim Executive Director from September 1st to early January 2022. Most of you know Sarah in her current role as Director of Research and Programs. In her 12 years at Challenge Success, Sarah has proven to be a highly respected and effective leader, and we have full confidence in her ability to oversee the organization as we prepare to search for and welcome a new ED in early 2022.
Kathy so beautifully steered our ship with our mission at the center, and we are committed to conducting a search that does the same. With this in mind, please stay tuned for our ED upcoming position description. We invite our full extended community to help us find our new leader and continue to thrive as a national education reform organization.
Sincerely,
Lisa Busby
Board Chair
Letter from Kathy Koo, Executive Director
Dear Challenge Success Community,
It is with mixed emotion and heartfelt appreciation that I share news of my resignation as Executive Director of Challenge Success.
The opportunity to lead Challenge Success for the last 5 years has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my professional career. I’ve received only 100% support, respect, and partnership from each and every constituent that I’ve worked with – our founders, board, staff, advisory council, donors, and each and every one of our dedicated school ambassadors and community members – and will greatly miss the collaborative and congenial nature of our mission-based culture.
Together we have achieved an operationally sound and impactful program model with a (pre-pandemic) 3-year average annual growth rate of nearly 30% in all areas - school participation, students served, program fees, fundraising, staffing, and overall revenue - and hurdled an incredibly difficult pandemic year by evolving our offerings and responding to the immediate needs of our schools, families, and students, and receiving sustained financial support from our generous community.
We are positioned once again for further reach and impact. School communities are increasingly responding to our research and program offerings, and we are operating with a realistic and balanced budget and a significant cash reserve. In addition, we have an exceptional staff with significant content and process expertise, as well as several exciting opportunities and collaborations on the horizon.
As difficult as it is to leave such a highly professional and impactful organization, the timing feels right to shift away from the responsibilities that come with executive leadership and turn my energy toward matters of a personal nature. I depart confident that Challenge Success will continue to thrive!
There are several initiatives under way that I plan to see through, and of course, am committed to making this transition as seamless as possible. It has been an honor serving in this role, and I am forever grateful for your support and the opportunity to serve the mission of Challenge Success.
With best wishes and a genuine hope that our paths continue to cross,
Kathy Koo
Executive Director
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Transform the Student Experience
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