Robert Schwartz

Robert Schwartz was appointed Executive Director of the Level Playing Field Institute in March 2010. Prior to joining LPFI, Robert spent three years as Chief Academic Officer for Inner City Education Foundation (ICEF) Public Schools in South Los Angeles, leading the strategic expansion of the academic program from 3 schools with 500 students to 15 schools with almost 4,000 students. As instructional leader, Robert facilitated the curricular design of the charter organization’s rigorous academic program with the goal to prepare students to attend and compete academically at top colleges and universities. Prior to serving as ICEF’s CAO, Robert was the founding principal at ICEF’s flagship high school, where he led its growth from 93 to 375 students. Under Robert’s direction, the first three classes achieved a 100% graduation rate with 97 percent accepted to four-year universities. Three years later, 73 percent of the students are still enrolled in college. As a 1994 Teach for America corps member, Robert spent seven years at his placement site in East Los Angeles. He was twice named teacher of the year and was made lead teacher and science department chairperson in his second year. Robert graduated cum laude from Binghamton University with a double major in Biology and Classical Languages, and earned his MA in Urban Education Policy Planning and Administration and EdD in Urban Educational Leadership from the Rossier School of Education at USC. In 2009, Robert was named to the African American Achievement Commission by the California State Board of Education.