Open to opportunities

Gabriella Blake

@gabriellablake

Message

Mission-driven partnerships leader scaling equitable college access and student outcomes.

United States

Message

What I'm looking for

I’m looking to lead education partnerships and recruitment strategy, using data-informed decisions and cross-functional collaboration to expand access, grow enrollment, and strengthen student persistence—especially for first-generation and historically underserved learners.

I’m a mission-driven education leader with 15+ years of experience building recruitment pipelines, expanding strategic partnerships, and increasing access to postsecondary opportunities for historically underrepresented students. I’ve driven measurable growth—doubling program participation, recruiting 40+ staff members, and meeting enrollment targets for a new school launch serving 350 students—by pairing data with strong relationship-building.

As Managing Director, Partnerships, I lead statewide partnership strategy across Connecticut, managing and expanding relationships with school districts, charter networks, higher education institutions, and community-based organizations. I doubled student participation in the Ignite Fellowship program, launched the Connecticut Alumni Advisory Board, and strengthen partner outcomes through partnership contracts, data-sharing agreements, and rigorous performance reporting.

Previously, as Associate Director, College Success at KIPP NYC, I expanded KIPP Forward’s college success model across Connecticut and Rhode Island to increase postsecondary enrollment, persistence, and degree attainment. I’ve also served as Dean of College & Career, managing alumni caseloads, advising students and families through admissions, and building college-readiness programming—plus leading recruitment and operational efforts for new school launches as an Operations Fellow.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Managing Director, Partnerships

Current

Teach For America Connecticut

Jan 2025 - Present (1 year 5 months)

Led statewide partnership strategy across Connecticut, managing district, charter, higher-education, and community partners to expand educator pipelines and student opportunities. Doubled Ignite Fellowship participation and launched the Connecticut Alumni Advisory Board while managing partnership contracts, data-sharing agreements, and performance reporting.

Partnership Development Stakeholder Management Data Analysis performance reporting Contract Management Alumni Engagement Cross functional Leadership

Associate Director, College Success

KIPP NYC

Jun 2021 - Dec 2024 (3 years 6 months)

Expanded KIPP Forward’s college success model across Connecticut and Rhode Island to improve postsecondary enrollment, persistence, and degree attainment for first-generation and historically underserved students. Served as hiring manager for advisor and manager recruitment, leading the onboarding of 40+ staff members across three hiring cycles.

Admissions And Enrollment Strategy College Success Programming Hiring Team Leadership

Dean of College & Career

Achievement First Hartford High School

Mar 2018 - Jun 2021 (3 years 3 months)

Led the College and Career department, supervising and coaching a team of six College and Alumni Counselors to meet annual college access, enrollment, and persistence goals. Managed 300+ alumni caseload and advised 200+ students and families on admissions and financial aid, improving retention and completion outcomes for first-generation and historically underrepresented students.

Student Advising College Admissions Support Team Leadership Curriculum Design

Operations Fellow

Uncommon Schools

Jun 2014 - Mar 2018 (3 years 9 months)

Led student recruitment and enrollment for the launch of new schools in Camden, NJ, enrolling 350 students across grades K–5 and meeting 100% of opening enrollment targets. Managed recruitment operations logistics, planned 40+ community engagement events annually, and oversaw enrollment tracking and academic reporting systems to ensure data accuracy.

School Launch Operations Student Recruitment Community Engagement Event Planning Fundraising Support

High School Teacher

The School District of Philadelphia

May 2011 - Jun 2014 (3 years 1 month)

Taught U.S. History, African American History, World History, and AP U.S. History, building students’ critical thinking, analytical writing, and research skills. Developed a personal statement writing curriculum and supported 500+ students through college-readiness instruction while leveraging historical text analysis and assessment data.

Curriculum Development Student Writing Instruction College Readiness Critical Thinking Lesson planning Student Support