Andrea Zayas
K12 Director, Ballmer Group
Andrea Zayas is Ballmer Group’s National Director of K-12 Education, leading the organization’s national education strategy for impact, as well as developing and executing its education grantmaking, policy, and systems change work. Andrea has dedicated her 25 years in education to making progress on challenges faced by schools, working at every level — from the classroom to district administration — to improve education outcomes for young people of color.
Prior to joining Ballmer Group, Andrea served in cabinet positions at Boston Public Schools, most recently as its Chief Academic Officer during the COVID-19 school building closures, where she focused on ensuring every one of the district’s students had equitable access to rigorous and culturally relevant instructional materials.
Previously, Andrea founded and led three organizations that reach youth who are furthest from education opportunities: New Orleans Youth Alliance, Upstream Education Consulting, and La Cima Elementary Charter School in Brooklyn, New York. She also served in diverse leadership roles, focused on school success, at established organizations, including the National Director of Regional Leadership Development for Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP); Regional State Turnaround Superintendent in Camden, New Jersey; and Director for Charter School Accountability for the New York City Department of Education.
Andrea is a Doctor of Education candidate in urban education leadership at Xavier University of Louisiana. She earned her master’s degree in education from Harvard Graduate School of Education and her bachelor’s degree at Rutgers University.