Ariana Valenzuela is a Partner on the Innovative Schools investment team, leading the selection and diligence process and supporting a portfolio of leaders across the country.
Prior to joining NewSchools, Ariana served as the Director of Innovation for Spring Branch Independent School District in Texas, where she led the district’s strategic initiative to personalize learning for every child. Within this role, she had the opportunity to work with school teams, district leaders, and community members to ensure the successful design and implementation of innovative school models.
Ariana began her career as a classroom teacher and school administrator in Houston Independent School District (HISD) and KIPP Texas. At HISD, she designed and launched a personalized learning microschool anchored in a reimagined student experience, which included the flexible utilization of curriculum and time, project-based learning, and comprehensive social-emotional supports. Ariana holds a B.A. in Chemistry from Boston University and an MBA from Rice University.
Ariana lives in Oakland with her husband and two kids. She loves to spend her free time baking, traveling, and finding new parks, hiking trails, and museums to explore.