Designed & implemented college readiness program for middle schools (Challenge Network).

Safal worked closely with Houston A+ as they redefined strategy and reinvented themselves as a non-profit that engaged with middle schools to enable post-secondary success. During the life of Safal’s work with the organization, Safal has designed and built many of its programs, continuously helping to build the team and implement systems that support scalable, sustainable growth. Key accomplishments: (1) As thought partners to the executive leadership, Safal helped design and launch the Challenge Network, including conceptualizing the program, designing a robust evaluation system, engaging the Board, developing a financial plan and a funding strategy (including grant proposals), recruiting the team, and working with districts to ensure participation. The initiative is already showing a significant increase in students on track to be college ready; (2) Safal also helped develop a scaling strategy and defined a financial model and an organizational structure to enable sustainable growth.