Monica Zdrojewski — Chief of Staff

Monica Zdrojewski started her career in public education as an elementary school teacher —a role that continues to inspire her dedication to improving teaching and learning at scale. With experience spanning the classroom, district leadership, and state agency levels, Monica offers a holistic perspective on how to drive meaningful change across complex school systems. She has led large-scale initiatives and has a strong track record of supporting districts through critical reforms to improve student outcomes.

Prior to joining the Houston ISD leadership team in June 2023, Monica worked with system-leaders, administrators, and district teams across Texas to implement innovative educational practices as Director at Ed Direction. Monica has supported school districts and educational service centers across Texas in understanding and navigating the state school finance and accountability systems, as well as implementing key pieces of passed legislation. During her time at the Texas Education Agency, she worked with districts to implement transformative school models. Monica pairs her experience managing change with a passion for the teacher experience and teacher preparation. As an Assistant Director with City Teaching Alliance, she championed teacher preparation by leading a program that provided aspiring educators with rigorous training, a residency year, and a master’s degree—tools essential for becoming effective, certified instructional leaders. Monica holds both a master’s degree in Education Policy and Management and a bachelor’s degree in Government from Harvard University. Her academic and professional achievements underscore her commitment to fostering high-quality educational experiences for all students.