Announcing New Chief Executive Officer in January 2023
Contact Information: Wendy-Ann Dixon-DuBois Director of Communications wdixon-dubois@newschools.org For Immediate Release NewSchools Board of Directors Announces that Frances Messano will succeed Stacey Childress as the next Chief Executive Officer in January 2023 Oakland, Calif.—March 8, 2022—NewSchools Venture Fund today announced that Stacey Childress will step down as Chief Executive Officer, effective January 1, 2023 and […]
NewSchools Venture Fund Welcomes New Chief External Affairs Officer

(Oakland, CA, July 9, 2021) – NewSchools Venture Fund today announced Danielle Kristine Toussaint as its new Chief External Affairs Officer. This executive role was created to amplify the stories, impact, influence, and innovation that have emerged from NewSchools growing investment portfolio and bring all the organizations’ donor stewardship, thought leadership, and external messaging into […]
NewSchools CEO Stacey Childress Included in Forbes 50 Over 50: Impact List

On July 7, 2021 NewSchools CEO, Stacey Childress, was included in the Forbes 50 Over 50: Impact list. Forbes launched the first iteration of the list in June to highlight women over the age of 50 who are leaving a positive and lasting impact on the world. Below is an excerpt from Stacey on her […]
In Pursuit of Justice
In Pursuit of Justice By Stacey Childress | April 21, 2021 The past year has laid bare the pernicious effects of structural racism and its impact on people of color, especially Black Americans. Through George Floyd’s life and death, and the recent trial, we are reminded of the moral imperative of racial justice. Yesterday’s […]
Diverse Leaders: Our Time is Now
This blog was originally published by EdSurge on Mar. 29, 2021 and can be found on their website here. Diverse Leaders are Changing Education By Frances Messano | Mar. 29, 2021 I was 20 years old and wearing my best suit. I woke up early so I could make the one-hour trip to Midtown Manhattan […]
NewSchools President Frances Messano Featured by Inside Philanthropy
This story was originally published by Inside Philanthropy on Feb. 26, 2021 and can be found on their website here. For a K-12 Funder’s New President, “Racial Equity Is the Work” By Connie Matthiessen | Feb. 26, 2021 In response to the events of 2020 and the growing outrage over racial injustice, many philanthropies are […]
Open Funding Opportunity! Literacy Solutions to Empower Black, Latino, and Low-income Students
We are excited to share a new $3 million funding opportunity for educators and early-stage innovators working at the intersection of literacy and equity. We believe literacy is the foundation for all learning. Students of all races, abilities, and linguistic backgrounds deserve the opportunity to build literacy skills. In particular, there is a need for […]
Big News! NewSchools Venture Fund Announces New Strategy and Leadership
By Stacey Childress, CEO, NewSchools Venture Fund If there was ever a time to imagine a more equitable future for our young people, it’s now. We know that an excellent education is central to this vision and that we can’t get there without rethinking the educational approaches of the past. I’m excited to announce that […]
NewSchools Venture Fund Announces $6 Million in Funding for Education Innovators
Opportunity for Educators Launching New Innovative Schools and Supporting Diverse Education Leaders to Receive Funding and Management Assistance (Oakland, CA, January 12, 2021) — NewSchools Venture Fund (NewSchools) today announced $6 million in funding opportunities in two investment areas: Innovative Public Schools and Diverse Leaders. These grants will be allocated to teams of educators and […]
Top 10 Takeaways from the NewSchools-Gallup Survey for Ed Tech Innovators

Justin Wedell, Associate Partner, NewSchools Venture Fund In 2019, NewSchools partnered with Gallup to release “Education Technology Use in Schools,” a comprehensive report to better understand ed tech’s perceptions and usage. This past summer, we conducted a follow-up survey of parents, teachers, and students to evaluate how ed tech’s engagement may be changing in the […]