Leadership

About Uplift Education

As a public charter school, our leadership structure varies slightly from a traditional ISD. We have a Chief Executive Officer instead of a superintendent, and we have an appointed Board of Directors instead of an elected school board. Our Central Management Offices (CMO), located in Pegasus Park in Dallas, oversee the broad business functions of the network, such as Human Resources, Accounting and Finance, IT, Development and Academic Coordination, while each of our campuses has its own set of leaders. All entities work together to ensure every scholar is receiving a top level education. See our leadership below.

The Board of Trustees consists of community leaders who have a passion for education. Our Board members represent all areas of the metroplex and a variety of professions, but all are strong advocates for educational choice. Through their guidance and innovation, Uplift Education has grown to the largest public charter network in D/FW. Click to view our Board of Trustees.

Uplift Education Announces Dr. Remy L. Washington as incoming CEO

We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Remy L. Washington, current President of Uplift Education, has been named incoming CEO, effective January 2026. After more than 16 years of transformational leadership, Yasmin Bhatia will retire as CEO of Uplift Education in December 2025. After retiring as CEO, Yasmin will continue serving Uplift in a volunteer capacity, leading the launch of Uplift’s first-ever endowment to commemorate its 30th anniversary and focusing on securing additional funding to ensure Uplift’s signature programs remain strong and sustainable.

Dr. Remy L. Washington, President and Incoming CEO (January 2026)

Dr. Remy L. Washington is the President of Uplift Education and a lifelong educator with more than 20 years of experience. Since joining Uplift over a decade ago, she has served as a principal, Managing Director of Schools, Chief Academic Officer, and now President, helping lead the organization through key milestones and advancing a bold vision for academic excellence.

In her current role, Dr. Washington champions Uplift’s proven strategies in early literacy, accelerated math instruction, and college and career readiness, continuing to strengthen a foundation that has driven strong scholar outcomes across the network. She oversees Uplift’s nationally recognized Road to College and Career program, which has helped scholars, most of whom identify as Latinx and are first-generation college students, achieve college graduation rates three times the national average. On average, Uplift alumni earn $20,000 more annually than their Dallas County peers.

Dr. Remy L. Washington, President And Incoming Ceo (January 2026)

Under her leadership, Uplift has continued to expand the International Baccalaureate Programme and will soon be the largest public school system in the country offering IB to all.

A former high school mathematics teacher and school leader in Chicago Public Schools, Dr. Washington holds a Doctorate in Education with a focus on Urban Leadership from Johns Hopkins University. She is an alumna of the Pahara and Greenhouse E3 Fellowships and is widely respected for her ability to lead transformative change while centering joy, connection, and scholar outcomes.

Affectionately known as “DJ Remyx,” she brings energy, authenticity, and a deep belief in the power of public education to everything she does.

Yasmin Bhatia, CEO (through December 2025)

Yasmin Bhatia is the Chief Executive Officer of Uplift Education. Yasmin joined Uplift Education in 2009 after having been a consultant at McKinsey & Company, a global management consulting firm, for 9 years. During Yasmin’s tenure, she has scaled Uplift from 3,500 scholars to over 23,000 and expanded Uplift’s footprint to 45 schools across 6 cities in Dallas-Fort Worth. Under Yasmin’s leadership, Uplift expanded its college advising and alumni support programming. Uplift leads at a local, State, and national level on college matriculation and college completion for its alumni, 78% of whom are first in their family to go to college.

Yasmin holds an undergraduate degree in Finance and Business Honors from the University of Texas in Austin and a MBA from Stanford University. She and her husband reside in Dallas with their daughter Isabel and sons Ian and Mason.

Yasmin Bhatia - Best Charter School Texas Education

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Executive Team

Best Charter School Texas Education
Alexander Berk
Chief Legal Officer
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Leslie Berlin
Chief Financial Officer
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Deborah Bigham
Chief of External Affairs
Best Charter School Texas Education
Johnny Deas
Chief Operations Officer
Dr. John Gasko
Dr. John Gasko
Chief Well-Being and SEL Officer
Amanda Martin
Amanda Martin
Chief of Staff
Best Charter School Texas Education
Vieanna Austin
Deputy Chief of People
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Jonathan Dant
Deputy Chief of Primary Schools
Kenya Jackson
Kenya Jackson
Deputy Chief of Secondary Schools
Priscilla Parhms
Priscilla Parhms
Deputy Chief of Primary Learning Acceleration

Managing Directors

Mandi Cannon
Mandi Cannon
Managing Director - Middle + High
Uplift Grand, Uplift Mighty, Uplift North Hills, Uplift Elevate
Amanda Dudley
Amanda Dudley
Managing Director - Primary
Uplift Grand, Uplift Heights, Uplift Infinity, Uplift North Hills, Uplift Triumph
Karen Evans
Karen Evans
Managing Director - Middle + High
Uplift Ascend, Uplift Wisdom, Uplift Hampton, Uplift Summit
Chermanda Frazier
Chermanda Frazier
Managing Director - Primary
Uplift Pinnacle, Uplift Summit, Uplift White Rock Hills, Uplift Wisdom
Aleia Mcdaniel
Aleia McDaniel
Managing Director - Primary
Uplift Ascend, Uplift Crescendo, Uplift Elevate, Uplift Meridian, Uplift Mighty
Hannah Mensah
Hannah Mensah
Managing Director - Primary
Uplift Atlas, Uplift Gradus, Uplift Hampton, Uplift Luna