Dear Team, 

I am thrilled to share an exciting next step in the evolution of leadership at DSST. After much deliberation and planning by the Board and Senior Leadership Team, we are ready to take DSST into the future by restructuring a current C-level role (CFO) into a new role in our organization, a President.

Like many charter organizations or districts, the President (often the Deputy Superintendent in districts) will work in close partnership with SLT and myself to drive the strategic direction of our organization, as well as support our continued growth, organizational stability and development of our top leaders. The public listing for the role will be posted on Feb. 21, and we will use an equitable hiring process to find the right candidates. We are not just hiring someone for the role; rather, we are looking for someone who fits and lives our mission, culture and values. 

We are able to repurpose a C-level role because we will be combining the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer roles into one. Nick Plantan, who currently serves as the Chief Financial Officer, will be moving into the role of Chief Operating Officer while continuing to shepherd and lead the organization’s financial health. I am grateful for Nick’s leadership and his growing impact on our organization. 

I am excited about the opportunities ahead for DSST. The new President will be a key partner in implementing our five-year strategic plan, which we are finalizing now. DSST has been my home for almost 19 years, and I have been inspired by the tremendous growth we continue to see as a network. I am looking forward to continuing this great work with you and building our leadership capacity to be the best public school option in our communities.

With appreciation,

Bill