Ashley N. Leonard is the Executive Director at Spark, a career exploration and self-discovery program that helps middle school students understand, experience and pursue what’s possible for their futures. She began her career in a management training program at Kraft Foods before deciding to pursue a full-time career in education in 2012.

Prior to joining Spark, Ashley was at Chicago Public Schools (CPS) where she led the successful launch of Mentoring the Next Generation, a district-wide mentoring initiative. Most recently, she served as special projects manager at The Chicago Public Education Fund (The Fund) where she supported principal talent management and fundraising efforts.

Ashley holds a Masters of Education in Education Policy and Management from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a Bachelor of Arts in sociology from Vassar College. She is an alumna of the 2017 Surge Institute Fellowship and the inaugural Education Pioneers Yearlong Fellowship.