Kat Ellison

Kat Ellison is the Superintendent of Equitable Instruction for Central Valley with Aspire Public Schools. Kat has been an education and instructional leader since 2001. Mrs. Ellison began her educational journey teaching 5th grade math in Baton Rouge, LA through Teacher for America. She then started working for Aspire as a 4/5 teacher at River Oaks Charter School, and continued to serve as the principal of River Oaks for four years. During this time, she led the school to become one of the top performing schools in the Lodi Unified School District, receiving the Title 1 Academic Achievement Award and California Distinguished School Award. Kat then founded Aspire APEX Academy and led the school through the first four years of establishment, serving a diverse and high-needs community in south Stockton. She now supports principals and the TK-5 instructional program in the Central Valley.

Kat holds a BA degree from UC San Diego, a MA in Educational Leadership from San Jose State University, and a Ed.D in Education Administration from University of the Pacific. She has taught the course Teaching and Assessment as part of the Aspire Teacher Resident program. She loves working for Aspire, and feels a close connection to Aspire’s vision of providing an excellent education so that all students have a path to and through college.

Kat lives with her husband and three children. Two of her children currently attend Aspire Public Schools, and the third will once he’s old enough. She enjoys being a parent in the Aspire family as well as a teammate. For fun, she likes to spend time with her family traveling, watching movies, and attending her children’s many activities including soccer, basketball, gymnastics, and scouts.