Kelly Garrett

Kelly Garrett is an experienced education leader who has served as the Executive Director of KIPP St. Louis since August 2011.12 With over a decade of leadership at KIPP St. Louis, Garrett has played a crucial role in the organization's growth and success.

Professional Background

Garrett has a strong background in education management and nonprofit leadership. Before joining KIPP St. Louis, he served as the Executive Director of the Rainwater Charitable Foundation in Fort Worth, TX from 2005 to 2011.2 His earlier experiences include roles such as Director of Business Development at KC Distance Learning, Founder/Director of Perea Preschool in Memphis, TN, and Co-founder/Director of Project Chrysalis Middle School.2

Education

Garrett holds an MBA in Management/Leadership from Harvard Business School, which he obtained between 2001 and 2003.2 He also has a BA in Religious Studies/International Studies from Rhodes College, completed between 1988 and 1992.2

Achievements at KIPP St. Louis

Under Garrett's leadership, KIPP St. Louis has experienced significant growth:

• Expanded from a single middle school to a network of six schools1
• Now serves more than 2,300 students in grades pre-K through 12th grade1
• Became one of the region's largest charter school operators1

Current Status

As of September 2024, Garrett announced his plans to step down from his role as Executive Director of KIPP St. Louis, effective June 30, 2025.1 During his tenure, KIPP St. Louis has shown strong financial performance, with revenue of $58.9 million and expenses of $47.3 million for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023.1

Kelly Garrett's leadership and dedication to education have been instrumental in shaping KIPP St. Louis into a successful and impactful charter school network in the St. Louis area.