Sharon Olken

Sharon Olken, M.A., is the Executive Director of Gateway Public Schools in San Francisco, where she has worked for 20 years as a teacher, school leader and school founder. Gateway Public Schools leads two schools, Gateway Middle and Gateway High, as well as Gateway Impact, an initiative that shares Gateway’s best practices and brings educators together to collaborate and learn from one another through conferences, speaker series, and digital publications. Gateway’s schools serve 800 students who represent the rich diversity of San Francisco and help them discover their unique potential, what they love, and the impact they hope to make on their communities. Annually, more than 96% of Gateway’s diverse graduates attend college, more than double the statewide rate. Sharon recently founded Everyday Leadership, a website dedicated to providing models of positive leadership and helping others cultivate their power and voice. Sharon loves her work because she sees education and leadership as two essential tools for personal growth and social change. Sharon holds a B.A. and an M.A. in Education.