Currently serving as Director of the Oakland Charter Academy, Jorge Lopez joined the once-struggling institution one decade after it was established, and today wields six years of experience in that position. Since beginning his work at the institution, it has transformed into a leading California middle school and is recognized as one of the California Charter Schools Association’s Charter Schools of the Year. With a great respect for education, Jorge Lopez utilizes his Master of Science in Education with an emphasis in school counseling from California State University, Sacramento to motivate and guide students toward academic success. Additionally, Jorge Lopez holds California Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) credentials. Oakland Charter Academy’s high Academic Performance Index (API) scores are due in part to Jorge Lopez’s effective leadership techniques. Jorge Lopez enforces discipline, hard work, and responsibility in order to reach previously unreachable goals. Accounting for Jorge Lopez’s success in quickly turning around the Oakland Charter Academy are financial flexibility, rigorous standards-based curriculums, and high expectations for students, parents, and staff. Despite receiving nearly $4,366 less per student than the average California public school, Oakland Charter Academy produced outstanding API score results. Under Jorge Lopez’s direction, the school’s score reached 943 out of 1,000, increasing 42 points from 2008 and exceeding the statewide goal of 800. Additionally, Oakland Charter Academy’s students proved their impressive proficiency in mathematics and reading on standardized tests. In order to further foster academic development in the Oakland area, Jorge Lopez founded Oakland Charter High School in 2007, which is currently the highest performing high school in the city of Oakland and throughout Alameda County, with an API score of 955. Despite these gains, Jorge Lopez continues to take advantage of the flexibility of the charter school system to close the achievement gap and help students attain academic success.
