The Work I Do
Dr. Caroline Damon is the Intermin Executive Director at Chamberlin Education Foundation (CEF), where she oversees the grantmaking portfolio and partners with West Contra Costa public schools to advance educational equity and academic excellence for all students, with a particular focus on Black, Latinx, and other historically under-resourced students. In her role at CEF, Caroline collaborates closely with principals, teachers, and district leaders to improve academic outcomes by adopting high-quality, standards-aligned instructional materials, strengthening instructional leadership systems, and fostering a school culture that respects the identity and intellect of every student.
Dr. Damon joined the Foundation in 2015 and brings nearly two decades of experience in education policy and practice as a former classroom teacher, instructional coach, and nonprofit leader. Her perspective is deeply rooted in her experience as a high school ELA teacher in the Bronx, where she worked alongside creative and resilient students, families, and teachers to achieve record academic gains. Later, she served as Director of External Engagement at Citizen Schools, a national education nonprofit that provides experiential learning opportunities to close opportunity gaps. Caroline has also served as a faculty member at Mount Tamalpais College, teaching college-level writing courses to incarcerated students at San Quentin State Prison. She is currently pursuing an EdD from New York University, studying how local philanthropic organizations can authentically partner with school districts to strengthen accountability systems and drive long-term structural change.
Connection to the Work of Student Achievement Partners
Caroline’s admiration for Student Achievement Partners (SAP) began on a 2018 trip to the Standards Institute, where she discovered the valuable resources within Achieve The Core. She has since seen firsthand how tools like the Focus Documents, Major Works of the Grade, Coherence Map, and Instructional Practice Guides serve as foundational resources for schools seeking to transform teaching and learning through the instructional core. In 2021, Chamberlin Education Foundation partnered with SAP to develop a Racially Inclusive ELA Fellowship for West Contra Costa teachers, focused on adapting the EL Education curriculum to include diverse texts and culturally responsive teaching strategies. Caroline joined the SAP Board to support SAP’s commitment to racial equity, academic excellence, content-rich and inclusive curriculum, and rigorous, culturally responsive instruction.
The Perspective I Bring to this Board
Although she is no longer in the classroom, Caroline remains an educator at heart, always viewing her work through an educator’s lens. Since leaving the classroom, she has gained extensive experience in fundraising and philanthropy, building a knowledge base around nonprofit finances and sustainability. Caroline is eager to support SAP in strengthening its reach and sustainability. With CEF’s place-based focus and deep partnerships within one school district, she brings insights into the specific challenges, needs, and opportunities within historically challenged urban school districts.