Leigh McNamara Gianakos

Leigh McNamara Gianakos has extensive experience in education and talent recruitment, serving in various leadership roles across notable organizations. Currently, Leigh holds the position of Chief of Staff at Avela. Prior to this, Leigh was the Senior Regional Director and General Manager for the East Coast at Kokua Education, and worked at Teachers Pay Teachers as a Recruiting Lead and Senior Recruiter. At Achievement First, Leigh advanced from Talent Recruiter to Director of the Teacher in Residence Program, overseeing initiatives in Connecticut and Rhode Island. Leigh began a career in education as a Corps Member with Teach For America in 2013. Leigh's academic credentials include a Master’s Degree in Education from Lipscomb University and a Bachelor of Sciences in Psychology, Communications, and Education from Northeastern University.