Rhonda Flemming is an experienced education leader with over 25 years of experience designing and leading learning experiences that integrate academic learning with social and emotional development. Across classroom, school, district, and organizational roles, her work is grounded in the belief that meaningful learning is holistic, rooted in critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and belonging and that students and adults learn best through immersive, experiential learning. She believes that meaningful learning, if it is truly expected, must build from what students already know, value, and bring with them.

Rhonda began her career as an elementary educator in the primary grades, where she developed a deep belief that young people are capable learners who arrive with curiosity, lived experience, and perspectives that learning should build upon. She saw early on that academic growth is inseparable from social and emotional learning and from students’ developing identity, voice, and sense of belonging. She views the arts as foundational to experiential learning, supporting cognitive development, emotional expression, communication, collaboration, and identity formation.

She later served as a School Site Literacy Coach and in school and district leadership roles, including Assistant Principal, Coordinator of English Learner Services, and Coordinator of Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports. Across these roles, she partnered with educators and families to design learning experiences and systems that integrate academic rigor with social-emotional learning, reflection, and practice. This work reinforced her commitment to facilitating thinking and intentionally developing what already exists within learners, both students and adults.

Throughout her career, Rhonda has focused on serving students of color and students whose experiences and identities have not been centered in schooling, including multilingual learners, students experiencing homelessness or foster care, and students with disabilities. Her leadership is rooted in the belief that there is no achievement gap inherent in students of color or other marginalized student groups, but rather an opportunity gap created by unequal access to meaningful, affirming learning experiences.

Rhonda is also a co-founder of Up to Code Academy, where she led the development of engaging, video-based curriculum for youth. Using intentional backward design, she created immersive, experience-driven units centered on essential questions, youth voice, and real-world relevance, supported by facilitator guides that promote collaboration, dialogue, and social-emotional learning.

For the past five years, Rhonda has served as a Principal in Benicia Unified School District. A central focus of her leadership is designing systems that intentionally welcome, support, and see every student, ensure a strong foundation for learning, and hold adults accountable for reflection and continuous improvement.

Born and raised in Oakland, Rhonda brings a deep connection to the community and a strong commitment to expanding access to foundational learning experiences, including those grounded in the arts. As an advisory board member, she brings a systems-level lens and a collaborative approach, with a focus on designing learning environments and systems that cultivate what already exists within every young person.

Rhonda’s leadership and impact have been recognized throughout her career, including being named New Teacher of the Year and, most recently, Administrator of the Year in Benicia Unified School District.