Center for Powerful Public Schools

Javier Guzman (he/him)

“We can transform all of education if we pay attention to and learn from what the most innovative and transformative alternative schools are doing, schools that mostly serve students and communities already in the margins.

When I was principal of New Village Girls Academy, I saw firsthand how students in alternative education are cast aside. I also saw how it was precisely in these environments where, if we are thoughtful and courageous enough, we could transform all of education. This led me on a path to working with alternative education schools and programs for the last 10+ years.”

Javier Guzman has served youth for three decades in multiple capacities. Most recently, he became the third CEO of Center for Powerful Public Schools, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit committed to transforming public education through learner-centered approaches, community-embedded strategies, and social justice practices. Through district and county partnerships, he has led the growth of innovative schools in California, guiding the transformation of dozens of schools across ten districts. Javier holds master’s degrees in education leadership and poetry. His undergrad work is in literature, and he recently began coursework in psychology.