Mike Heffner

Mike entered the education community after a successful career in human resources with a major retailer. The time working in retail supporting worker retention and satisfaction as well as recruiting was important, but not the difference in the world for which Mike aspired. After earning his Master of Arts in Teaching, Mike worked as a middle school and high school teacher, working closely with Title I students, English Language Learners. Mike continued on to serve as a high school assistant principal and principal before his selection as an elementary school principal. During his tenure at the elementary level, the school earned both the No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon and two California Distinguished School Awards. Mike went on to serve as an area superintendent with oversight of both traditional and charter schools. Mike continued his career path serving as a Vice President, Leadership Development with New Teacher Center, a national non-profit. Mike’s work at New Teacher Center focused on inducting and supporting excellent teachers and school leaders, the connection between supervision and evaluation, strengthening professional learning communities and leveraging the principal’s role in educational reform. Mike went to work as the Chief Academic Officer at Carmel Unified School District where he brought coherence to the instructional program through the Local Control Accountability Plan.