Stockton, CA – San Joaquin A+ (SJA+), a key educational organization in San Joaquin County, has announced significant changes in its leadership and staff. Kai Kung, previously the Chief Operating Officer (COO), has been promoted to the role of Co-CEO. Additionally, the organization has welcomed new staff members to enhance its work-based learning experience programs and has appointed Lisa Blanco Jimenez to its Board of Directors.
Kai Kung, who joined SJA+ as COO in 2020, has an impressive background in education and business. Prior to SJA+, he worked at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on the K-12 Education Team and held positions at Edmodo and Intel Corporation. Kung holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and an MBA from the University of Chicago. In his new role as Co-CEO, Kung aims to use his experience to further support students, families, and educators in San Joaquin County.
Shayla Walker has been hired as the Senior Director of Career Connected Learning. Walker's background includes serving as a Program Director at San Joaquin Delta College, overseeing student leadership and basic needs services. She is also actively involved in community outreach, volunteering with nonprofits focused on youth mentorship and trauma support.
Tony Gladney, formerly the manager of the Child Savings Account program at SJA+, has been promoted to Director of Community Engagement. Gladney, a native of the San Joaquin Valley, has extensive experience working with system-impacted youth and has played a pivotal role in developing youth programs in the community.
Lisa Blanco Jimenez joins the Board of Directors, bringing a wealth of legal expertise and community involvement. A principal attorney at Neumiller & Beardslee, she is also engaged in several local boards and committees. Jimenez is a Stanford University alumna, holding both a B.A. and a Juris Doctorate.
These appointments mark a significant step for San Joaquin A+ in its mission to collaborate with local families, educators, and workforce partners. The organization, with nearly a quarter-century of commitment to education in Stockton and San Joaquin County, continues to strive towards creating a system of great schools and preparing students to be successful, responsible citizens.
Information on the recent developments at San Joaquin A+ provided by the organization
