As Chief of Staff at NewSchools Venture Fund, Heather LaLuzerne serves as a strategic partner to the CEO, leads efforts to engage the board of directors, advances the organization’s thought leadership strategy, and supports the effectiveness of the Executive Leadership Team.
Prior to NewSchools, Heather worked as a nonprofit advisor and strategy consultant supporting education organizations, including Leading Educators, where she guided the development of a multi-year strategic plan, acted as a thought partner to the CEO, and strengthened executive team and board effectiveness. Previously, she was a Senior Director at Leading Educators, consulted on investment strategy at the Charter School Growth Fund, and held several roles at Teach For America.
Heather began her career as a middle school reading teacher in St. Louis Public Schools, where she received the Pettus Foundation Award for Excellence in Teaching and was recognized as a finalist for District Teacher of the Year for her work improving literacy outcomes.
Heather holds a B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, an M.Ed. from the University of Missouri-St. Louis, and an MBA from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management, with additional study in venture capital at the Stockholm School of Economics. She lives in Minneapolis with her husband and two children and enjoys backpacking, running marathons, and traveling with her family.