Kari Flitz

Kari A. Flitz is an accomplished educational leader with over three decades of experience fostering academic growth and instructional excellence. Her career reflects a deep commitment to scholar achievement, teacher development, and systemic improvement within school districts.

Kari holds a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Cardinal Stritch University (Magna Cum Laude). She earned multiple Master of Arts degrees in Professional Development (2005) and Administrative Leadership (2021) from Alverno College, where she also obtained her Director of Instruction and Principal Licenses. She also holds an MA in Administrative Leadership from National Louis University (2010) and completed the KIPP Leadership Development Program (2009).

Currently, Kari serves as the School District Chief Instructional Officer at The Lincoln Academy since 2020. In this role, she oversees the entire K-12 academic program, providing comprehensive training and leadership for over 100 employees. Her responsibilities include leading professional development, conducting data analysis, serving as District Assessment Coordinator, and overseeing MTSS and character education initiatives. She ensures continuous curriculum review and adoption, driving district priorities through data-driven collaboration.

Further demonstrating her influence, Kari was appointed to the Wisconsin Early Literacy Curriculum Council (ELCC) in September 2023. As a council member, she advises the State Superintendent on the Director of the Office of Literacy nomination and recommends 5K-grade 3 early literacy curriculum statewide.

Prior to her current role, Kari was the Chief of Academics in a Milwaukee from 2011 to 2020. Under her leadership, all four network charter schools, serving 2000 scholars, achieved WI 5-Star DPI School Report Cards, with all four schools recognized for "Exceeding Expectations." Her responsibilities included developing performance monitoring systems, overseeing curriculum and instructional models, managing academic budgets, and leading quality professional development for all academic staff.

Kari's foundational experience includes serving as an Elementary Curriculum Director (2006-2011) and as a dedicated classroom teacher in various Milwaukee public and private schools. She also volunteered as a second-grade teacher for Haitian refugees in the Bahamas (1992-1993).

Throughout her career, Kari A. Flitz has consistently demonstrated a profound dedication to enhancing educational outcomes for all students. Her expertise in instructional leadership, curriculum development, data-driven decision-making, and professional development makes her an invaluable asset to the educational community.