Partners in School Innovation celebrates Dr. Derek Mitchell as he transitions from his role as Chief Executive Officer, a position he has held for 17 years, to CEO Emeritus. His tenure has helped shape Partners into a nationally recognized organization committed to advancing educational equity and building the capacity of educators and school systems to create meaningful, lasting change for students.
Throughout his tenure, Derek has championed a fundamental belief: every student deserves a school where they are seen, valued, challenged, and supported to thrive. He has brought that belief to life by investing in the people closest to students, strengthening educational leadership, and helping schools build the collective capacity to improve continuously.
Under Derek's leadership, Partners expanded its reach beyond California, deepening partnerships with schools, districts, foundations, and organizations across the country that are committed to improving educational outcomes. His initiative in just the past 12 years enabled partnerships with close to 700 schools in 27 districts, and across his tenure as CEO, Derek has raised nearly $50 million in philanthropic funds. He guided Partners through significant organizational evolution, including expanding its fee-for-service model, participating in national Networks for School Improvement, and developing new approaches that bring together leadership coaching, continuous improvement, and equity-centered practice.
Derek's contributions to education have earned recognition well beyond Partners. In 2017, he was named a Gratitude Fellow, and in 2022 he received a Jefferson Award honoring both his service to communities and his commitment to expanding educational opportunity. He was later selected as a member of the Fall 2023 cohort of Pahara Fellows. This year, he is the 2026 Camilla Greene Courage Award Recipient from SF Coalition of Essential Small Schools, recognized for his commitment to the radical discourse needed to interrupt and transform the barriers and inequities facing our least-reached students and communities.
Beyond these honors, his writing, speaking, and thought leadership have helped shape national conversations on educational equity, improvement science, and the role of leadership in creating lasting change.
Yet those who have worked alongside Derek know that his legacy reaches well beyond organizational milestones and professional recognition.
Derek has built a culture grounded in the belief that people do their best work when they feel valued, trusted, and empowered to contribute. He has consistently challenged traditional notions of leadership, recognizing that the wisdom and capacity to create change are not limited to those with formal titles. Teachers, families, students, and community members all have an essential role in shaping the future of education.
That belief shows up not only in how Partners works alongside schools and districts, but also in how Derek has led the organization. Across roles and generations of staff, he has made room for different perspectives, encouraged people to bring their full selves to the work, and invested in the growth of leaders around him.
"One of Derek's greatest gifts is his ability to see possibility in people, sometimes before they see it in themselves," shares Sanee Nashashibi, Partners' new CEO. "I've experienced that personally over my 14 years at Partners. He has helped build an organization where people feel valued, trusted, and empowered to lead. That culture, along with his unwavering belief in what educators and communities can accomplish together, is a legacy I'm deeply proud to carry forward."
For Derek, Partners' success has never been measured solely by the number of schools served and the academic gains they achieved. It is reflected in the educators who are acting collectively and with greater skill to advance student learning, the leaders who have developed the confidence and capacity to lead and sustain improvement over time, and the students whose opportunities have expanded as a result.
As he concludes his tenure as CEO and steps into his role as CEO Emeritus, Derek hands over leadership to an organization rooted in strong relationships, a commitment to continuous learning, and a belief in the collective power of educators and communities to shape better futures for students.
Partners is deeply grateful for Derek's leadership, courage, humor, generosity, and enduring dedication to public education. His influence will last through the people, partnerships, and possibilities he has helped cultivate. True to his commitment to Partners, Derek will continue to support the organization as CEO Emeritus, helping ensure a smooth transition and Partners’ continued success.
Thank you, Derek, for 17 years of leadership, and for continuing to be a partner in the work ahead.
