Leading the Way Towards Brighter Futures
Think Education Appoints New Leaders to its Ranks
Think Education is proud to welcome Dr. Keith B. Wheeler II as Area Vice President overseeing the organization’s presence across the Bay Area, Northern California and Central California. Dr. Wheeler joins Think Together at an exciting time of growth for the area, including the organization’s newest partnership with Santa Maria-Bonita School District and growing work with Fremont Unified School District. Read more about his new role here.
In addition, Rupa Patel has been promoted to the interim position of AI Transformation and Strategic Project Leader. In this expanded role, she will continue the mission of improving program and operations performance, while also leading the organization’s AI transformation portfolio. This includes the integration of the recent work AI work with Boston Consulting Group (BCG) into Think Education’s strategic priorities.
Along with this organizational change, Manuel Urena has been promoted to Interim Senior Director of Strategic Projects and Billy Cruz will transition into the role of Enterprise AI Platforms & Engineering Leader. These transitions will enhance Think Education’s ability to integrate AI-enabled transformation with connected strategic leadership and execution.
Learn more about the AI transformation launching at Think Education here.
Celebrating Literacy with the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation
In Think Together’s San Bernardino region, more than 100 students from Colton Joint Unified School District attended an LA Reads Storytime event featuring a special reading from LA Dodgers alum Derrel Thomas.
Thanks to our partners, Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation and Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation, these young readers also received LA Dodgers gear, free books and a special edition bobblehead. This partnership continues to highlight the importance of literacy as we work together to inspire the next generation.
Thank you to the San Bernardino Sun for shining a light on this inspiring event.
Rolling into New Opportunities with Boeing
Thanks to more than 150 Boeing employee volunteers, 57 skateboards were assembled and donated to Think Together students across Orange County. Partnering with organizations like Boeing provides these next generation of leaders with meaningful access to high-quality STEM and Workforce Readiness and Education (WREP) Programs.
Read more about Think Together’s partnership with Boeing here.
Think Digital Expands Raly Report Adoption Across California
Think Digital is expanding the reach of Raly Report, its AI-powered platform designed to simplify LCAP development for California education leaders.
Since its launch in June, Raly Report has welcomed new partners across a range of California education settings, including Panoche Elementary School District, Vibrant Minds, Mountain View–Los Altos Union High School District, Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA), and Compass Charter Schools.
These partnerships reflect growing interest in tools that can reduce administrative workload while supporting accurate, efficient LCAP development. Read the full announcement to learn more about Raly Report and the California education organizations now using the platform.
Think Transcend Connects Values to Decisions
Leading with purpose starts with space to reflect. Two recent articles highlight how the Transcendent Leader Institute helps education leaders connect their values to their decisions and strengthen the systems they serve.
In ACSA’s EdCal, Drs. Francisco Escobedo, Paul Gothold and Judy White explore what it means to lead with clarity, courage and a deep commitment to students. Read the article.
In CCEE’s Frontline Voices, Bellflower Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Erin M. Simon shares how the institute helped her shift from proving herself to focusing on what truly serves children, embracing reflection and healthy boundaries along the way. Read her story.
The next Transcendent Leader Institute cohort begins Oct. 22, 2026. Space is limited. Learn more here.