Rochelle Van Dijk has 20 years of experience creating transformative educational experiences for children, grounded in the science of learning and development. She earned a BA in Psychology from Harvard University and an MA in Human Development from the University of Colorado. After beginning her career as a science teacher, she became the founding principal of Denver School of Science and Technology (DSST): Green Valley Ranch, a National Blue Ribbon school. As Chief of Schools at DSST she led the expansion of the nationally recognized network of public, open-enrollment STEM schools, focusing on both rigorous academics and character development. Under her leadership, DSST became home to the highest-performing and highest-growth secondary schools in Denver with 100% of graduates being admitted to college or post-secondary programs. Before joining Great MN Schools, Rochelle served as Chief Academic Officer at Hiawatha Academies in South Minneapolis, where she led K-12 academic strategy and supported principals and teachers, and was a partner with TNTP supporting projects devoted to whole child development. Throughout her career, she has remained committed to ensuring all students have access to a high-quality education and the opportunity to succeed.