Paola Zalkind manages Zeta’s school leaders with a commitment to academic excellence, where rigorous instruction is integrated with social-emotional learning and world-class enrichment. Under Paola’s leadership Zeta schools have achieved over 90% of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards. Paola began her charter career as a 5th grade teacher with Teach for America. She later joined Success Academy Charter Schools as a kindergarten teacher, and then transitioned  to 3rd grade in the network’s first year of state testing. Her students achieved a 97% pass rate on New York State assessments in their first testing year, placing the school in the top 1% statewide. She went on to serve as an Assistant Principal and later as the Founding Principal of Success Academy Union Square Elementary School, before becoming Managing Director of Schools, overseeing a large portfolio of elementary and middle schools. Following that, she served as Director of Leader Development at KIPP New Jersey, supporting the growth and effectiveness of school leaders across the network. Paola holds an M.A. in Politics and Education from the Teachers College, Columbia University, and a B.A. in Law and Society (Literature minor) from American University.