ABOUT PROPEL
Our Mission
Our purpose is simple yet profound. We go to great lengths to meet the diverse needs of the schools and communities we serve.
WHO WE ARE
Who We Are
At Propel, our core values — Authenticity, Empathy, Great Lengths, and Leadership — shape how we show up for people, how we listen, and how we support the schools and communities we serve.
At Propel, we believe every student deserves the opportunity to learn in a school where they can thrive, and every family deserves meaningful choices in their child’s education. That belief is at the heart of who we are. We are educators, operators, problem-solvers, and champions for educational choice. We partner with school leaders, families, and communities to strengthen great schools, create new opportunities, and build educational models around the needs of students, not the limitations of systems. Our work is grounded in a simple conviction: students come first. Always. We believe choice expands opportunity, innovation makes education stronger, and communities are best served when families have access to high-quality schools that reflect the different ways students learn and grow.
Propel was founded in 2019 by Colleen Mullen alongside 24 colleagues who shared a commitment to protecting and expanding educational opportunity. That beginning continues to shape us today, not because we are tied to one model or one way of doing things, but because we know what is possible when committed people come together around students.
Our work is grounded in a simple conviction: students come first. Always.
Today, Propel is a nonprofit organization working alongside educators and communities to turn possibility into something real. We bring experience, resources, and hands-on support to the people doing the hard work of building and sustaining schools, while honoring their leadership and the communities they serve. And because we are funded through earned revenue, everything we build is reinvested back into that mission, creating stronger schools, more choices, and greater opportunity for students and communities. Choice for every learner. Opportunity for every community.
Meet Our Leadership Team
Colleen Mullen
Chief Executive Officer
Jessica Ray
Chief Academic Officer
Vrej Boghokian
Chief Operating Officer
Jacob Kaaekuahiwi
Chief Strategy & Development Officer
Brooke Bern
Senior Director of Academics
Kelly Bishop
Senior Director of Engagement & Initiatives
Nick Perez
Director of Schools
Vanessa Ruiz
Director of Academic Compliance
Abel Cabrera
Director of District Relations
Lori Butler
Director of District Relations
Heather Grace
Director of Programs
Jesse Leyva
Director of Educational Partnerships
TESTIMONIALS
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