West Contra Costa family, I am excited and honored to announce that I have officially assumed the role of Executive Director of Chamberlin Education Foundation. After nearly a decade building relationships in West Contra Costa as a part of the Chamberlin team, including the past eight months as Interim Executive Director, I am thrilled to lead the foundation in this next chapter. In the months and years ahead, I look forward to collaborating closely with our extraordinary grantees and school partners to offer excellent educational opportunities to the young people of West Contra Costa.
I am grateful to Steve and Susan Chamberlin and the foundation Board for their trust in my leadership, and for their ongoing commitment to the West Contra Costa community. I also extend my deepest thanks to my predecessor and mentor Dr. Stefanie Phillips, for her outstanding contributions to the foundation’s success. We are so lucky that she will continue offering her guidance and wisdom as a member of CEF’s Board of Directors.
I step into this role mindful that I am building upon the incredible groundwork laid by Dr. Phillips, as well as that of Chamberlin Foundation’s trailblazing founding Executive Director, Julie Wright. I’ve had the pleasure and privilege of working for both of these inspiring women, and their relational approach to leadership has profoundly influenced my own. As I take the helm in this new chapter, I proudly stand on their shoulders.
I am driven by a vision for our schools that transcends the status quo – a vision that sees every single one of our young people as filled with possibility, and us as adults coming together to help them realize that amazing potential. I am filled with optimism about our collective ability to create life-changing outcomes for our children.
How do we get there? As a former classroom teacher, I have a deep empathy for the daily challenges and triumphs faced by educators and school leaders. My teaching experience guides every part of my work at Chamberlin Education Foundation, where I have focused extensively on strengthening teaching and learning across West Contra Costa public schools. I plan on growing our capacity to support teachers, principals, and others doing this work daily, ensuring they have the tools and strategies to guide students’ learning and growth, while also helping to ensure coherence on those strategies across schools and systems. The ability to work directly with teachers, school leaders, and district-level leadership has been a privilege as a funder, and it is a critical component of my leadership strategy to boost these efforts and improve educational outcomes across West Contra Costa.
I believe we reach that goal only if we come together in pursuit of true systemic change. For me, that starts with placing an even greater emphasis on authentic conversations across our community. If we haven’t sat down together lately, know that I want to, soon. Together, we will ensure our students not only dream of a brighter future but possess the tools to achieve it. Thank you for your continued support and partnership as we strive to make the vision of educational excellence and equity a reality for every child in West Contra Costa.
Dr. Caroline Damon oversees Chamberlin Education Foundation’s grantmaking, partnering with West Contra Costa public schools to advance educational equity and academic excellence for all students, with a particular focus on Black, Latinx, and other historically under-resourced students. Dr. Damon joined the Foundation in 2015 and holds two decades of experience in education policy and practice, as a former classroom teacher, instructional coach, and nonprofit leader. Dr. Damon earned her MA in Education Policy from Stanford University and her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from NYU.
