Jennifer Lucas, M.Ed

With over 20 years of experience in the charter school sector, Jennifer Lucas brings a wealth of expertise to her work, understanding both the challenges and opportunities charter schools face. Throughout her career, she has held diverse roles, including Teacher, Special Education Liaison, Multi-Language Liaison, Principal, Executive Director, and Chief Academic Officer at Alliance Education Services.

As Chief Academic Officer, Jennifer provides comprehensive support to client schools, guiding them through pre-development marketing, daily operations, grant writing, curriculum design, and student performance improvement. She is also deeply involved in governance, working closely with parents and governing boards to strengthen school-community relations. Jennifer’s expertise extends to overseeing Cognia accreditations, charter contract renewals, and financing efforts for school expansions.

A staunch advocate for charter schools, Jennifer formerly served as Co-Chair of the North Carolina Association for Charter Schools and currently holds the position of Vice Chair for the NC Charter Schools Association ACTION PAC. She is also a frequent presenter at state conferences, sharing her knowledge on topics ranging from academics to community engagement.  

Under Jennifer’s leadership, schools have earned recognition for academic achievement, school culture,  and innovative instructional models. Her passion for educational equity and innovation drives her to collaborate with charter school leaders, helping them create strategies that empower students, educators, and entire communities.

Outside of her professional life, Jennifer enjoys spending time with her children and best friends riding roller coasters, fishing, playing pickleball and exploring new places.