Andrea Francis
School Leader
Andrea is the Founding School Leader of KIPP University Park Middle School, KIPP second of what will be 5 schools in Stockton, CA. Andrea has spent the past year designing UPMS while learning about the Stockton Community. Prior to becoming a Founding School Leader, Andrea held various teaching and leadership roles in the Special Education department at KIPP Public Schools Northern CA, KIPP Bayview Academy, and Uncommon Schools. Andrea has served as a course instructor for teacher residents at Alder multiple semesters over the past few years, and participates in various service opportunities with the Princeton Teacher Prep program, and youth golf associations in the Bay Area. Andrea earned a BA at Princeton University in Sociology with a certificate in Teacher Preparation, and an MA in Health & Behavior Studies with a focus on Severe & Multiple Disabilities at the Teachers College at Columbia University. Andrea earned her general education teaching credential from Princeton and her SPED credential from Rutgers University, and is currently pursuing an Administrative Services Credential at the Teachers College of San Joaquin County. Andrea grew up in San Mateo, CA, where (most of) her family still lives. Andrea has chosen to work in education & in historically underresourced communities because she loves teachers, students, and their families; and because she has made a choice to commit her life’s work to disrupting systemic inequities in Black & brown communities that result from the multi-generational legacy of slavery & indigenous erasure. Outside of work, Andrea enjoys time with family & friends, many kinds of fitness, reading, hiking, golfing, drinking wine, puzzling and cooking.
