Dr. Michael Kohlhagen is the Chief Executive Officer of CEI. He served as Vice President and Executive Director of the Center of Educational Innovation since August 2015.

In his first four years at CEI, Dr. Kohlhagen served as Director of Education and School Improvement Specialist, working with a team of some of the finest educators who continue to have a significant impact on the lives of New York City students.

Dr. Kohlhagen came to CEI as a seasoned Superintendent of Schools with solid experience in providing leadership, accountability, supervision, and strategic planning to large school districts. Over his career in education, spanning nearly three decades, he has been successful in initiating change to improve outcomes for students in grades pre-K to 12.

His leadership style is collaborative and motivational; he works most effectively with diverse constituencies.

He served as Superintendent of Schools in Wethersfield, Connecticut, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction in Port Chester, New York, and Assistant Superintendent for the Hartford Public Schools.

Dr. Kohlhagen was a founding partner and served as host district of the Southern Westchester Collaborative High School, a regional, therapeutic, Regents prep alternative high school that continues to successfully graduate students.

Throughout his career, Dr. Kohlhagen has focused on ensuring the success of all students and facilitating school improvement while maintaining high expectations at every level.

Jeff Brisard serves as Chief of Staff at the Center for Educational Innovation (CEI), where he works closely with senior leadership to guide organizational priorities and ensure smooth day-to-day operations. He plays a key role in coordinating projects across CEI’s program areas, supporting strategic planning, and strengthening internal systems that help the organization deliver high-quality services to schools and communities.

With broad experience in education and nonprofit management, Jeff is dedicated to fostering collaboration, efficiency, and innovation. His work helps CEI’s teams stay aligned and focused on their mission to empower educators, engage families, and improve outcomes for students.

Cindy Lopez

Cindy V. Lopez, Chief Program Officer at the Center for Educational Innovation (CEI), is a trailblazing educator and former Superintendent of the Charter School of Educational Excellence (CSEE) in Yonkers, NY. Born to immigrant parents and shaped by 17 years in Brazil, she brings a multicultural perspective to her lifelong commitment to equity and excellence in education. Beginning as a 4th-grade teacher in 2007, she rose to become CSEE’s founding Superintendent, where she expanded the school to a full K–12 program and oversaw the construction of a new high school campus, earning repeated recognition for closing achievement gaps. Her leadership emphasizes innovation, community engagement, and collaboration with families and organizations, earning her numerous awards, including Educator of the Year and the Visionary of Hope Award. Holding multiple master’s degrees, an honorary doctorate, and accolades such as the Phi Delta Kappa Principal of the Year Award, she continues to shape education with vision and impact, while her family proudly carries on her legacy of public service.

Dr. Meisha Porter, Senior Visiting Fellow at the Center for Educational Innovation (CEI), leads the development of CEI Bronx and its Innovation Center, advancing future-ready learning and impactful reforms for students and educators in the borough.

A lifelong Bronx resident and trailblazer, she most recently served as the inaugural President & CEO of The Bronx Community Foundation, where she built its strategic vision, expanded participatory grantmaking, and launched its first Gala and Asset Awards.

Previously, Dr. Porter made history as the first Black woman Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education, overseeing 1.1 million students across 1,800 schools.

Her career began as a youth organizer and teacher, ultimately founding and leading The Bronx School for Law, Government and Justice before serving as Superintendent of District 11 and Executive Superintendent for the Bronx.

With degrees from Hunter, Mercy, and Fordham University, and board service spanning multiple education and community organizations, Dr. Porter remains deeply committed to equity, collaboration, and strengthening opportunities for Bronx families.

Nicholas Overton leads CEI’s digital infrastructure and product development efforts, overseeing the Read to Lead platform and guiding organization-wide technology strategy. Nicholas plays a key role in aligning CEI’s technical operations with program delivery, ensuring the seamless deployment and evolution of CEI’s digital tools to support students, educators, and partners across the country.

Erika Freund is a versatile social impact leader with more than 15 years of experience in strategy, program design, partnership development, communications, revenue generation, and fiscal management. She has a strong track record of launching and scaling new initiatives, revitalizing underperforming programs, and aligning action with long-term vision to create meaningful impact.

Recognized for her ability to balance big-picture strategy with results-driven execution, Erika is known for her bold, innovative approach and willingness to take risks to drive change. Her leadership has been highlighted through multiple honors, including the 40 Under 40 recognition from the New York Food Policy Center at Hunter College (2018), the American Express Leadership Academy (2018), and the American Express Global Alumni Academy with Atlas Corps (2019). She was also awarded the Leaders Quest, Community Quest Scholarship in 2020.