CEO
CEO
Mr. Knowling joined us in January 2018 and formerly served on the Audit and Compensation Committees of the Company’s Board of Directors. In July 2026, he was appointed and currently serves as Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Knowling served as Chairman of Eagles Landing Partners, which specializes in helping senior management formulate strategy, lead organizational transformations and re-engineer businesses. From 2002 to 2005, he served as Chief Executive Officer of the NYC Leadership Academy, an independent non-profit corporation created by Chancellor Joel I. Klein and Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg that is chartered with developing the next generation of principals in the New York City public school system. Mr. Knowling previously held roles as Chief Executive Officer of Telwares, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of SimDesk Technologies, Inc. and Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Covad Communications. He was awarded the Wall Street Project’s Reginald Lewis Trailblazers Award by President Clinton and the Reverend Jesse Jackson in 1999. Mr. Knowling serves on the board of directors for CECO Environmental Corp., Rocket Software and Stream Companies. He also previously served on the board of directors of Citrix Systems Inc. from 2020 to September 2022, Heidrick & Struggles, Inc. from 2001 to 2015, Convergys Corporation from 2017 to 2018 and Roper Technologies, Inc. from 2008 to 2021.
Attributes, Skills and Qualifications:
Mr. Knowling holds a B.A. in theology from Wabash College and an M.B.A. from Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University.
Chief Financial Officer
Chief Financial Officer
Donna Blackman, Stride’s CFO, brings more than 20 years of experience in accounting, finance, and strategic planning. As CFO, Blackman informs Stride’s efforts to lead innovation in education for learners of all ages. She had previously served as Stride’s Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer.
Prior to joining Stride in 2020, Ms. Blackman served as the SVP of Business Operations at BET Networks, where she oversaw finance, strategy, research, live events, security, facilities, and operations. During her tenure at BET, she also held roles as SVP and Head of Finance, SVP, Financial Planning and Analysis, and SVP Finance and Controller.
Earlier in her career, Ms. Blackman worked for Marriott International and KPMG in a variety of leadership roles in accounting and finance.
Ms. Blackman earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business, a bachelor’s degree in accounting from North Carolina State University, and is a certified public accountant.
Chief Marketing Officer
Chief Marketing Officer
Deb Hannah, Stride’s chief marketing officer, brings more than 25 years of experience in marketing, brand development, and digital strategy to the Stride management team.
At Stride, Ms. Hannah leads a variety of product and integrated marketing initiatives, creative strategy, website performance, customer relationship management (CRM), and data analytics.
Prior to joining Stride, Ms. Hannah served as senior vice president of marketing at Shoe Carnival, where she led the company’s broader marketing organization in addition to e-commerce, store design management, and corporate communications. Previously, Ms. Hannah spent more than 20 years in various marketing, merchandising and management roles in the consumer-packaged goods and retail industries for companies such as Kellogg’s, the Starbucks Coffee Company, and the Kimberly-Clark Corporation.
She earned a Master of Business Administration from Emory University’s Goizueta Business School and a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University.
Chief Learning Officer at K12
Chief Learning Officer at K12
Niyoka McCoy, Stride’s Chief Learning Officer, has decades of experience building strong academic programs, driving initiatives that promote academic equity, and creating professional development opportunities for teachers and school leaders.
Prior to her current role, she served as Stride’s Chief Academic Officer and Senior Vice President of Academic Services. In these positions, Ms. McCoy—in partnership with the Regional Vice Presidents of Academics—led a suite of programs and initiatives that tracked and supported achievement and growth among students, administrators, and school leaders. Additionally, she managed the Academic Services organization, including the assessment, special programs, accountability, counseling, and talent development teams.
A published author and former teacher, Ms. McCoy earned a bachelor’s degree from Spelman College, a master’s degree in education from Mercer University, and a post-graduate degree in curriculum and instruction from Capella University.
SVP & Chief Human Resources Officer
SVP & Chief Human Resources Officer
Valerie Maddy, SVP, Human Resources at Stride, brings more than 20 years of global leadership and innovation in the full range of human resources disciplines. At Stride, Ms. Maddy is leading the development and implementation of new systems, processes, policies, and programs aimed at maximizing every employee’s contribution to student academic success. As part of that effort, she is working with business teams to drive alignment, clarity and competitive advantage across the company and to plan, acquire, develop, and retain the talent required to achieve organizational goals.
Prior to joining Stride, Ms. Maddy was VP, Global Human Resources Operations for Ciena Corporation, a global leader in next-generation network infrastructure. While there, she introduced reliable automation to human resources systems, significantly increasing efficiency levels, and led the human resources due diligence efforts and integration activities of eight acquisitions. Before rising to this position, Ms. Maddy served in a number of leadership roles at Ciena in the areas of Global Total Rewards and Global Risk Management.
Earlier in her career, Ms. Maddy held leadership roles in Human Resources and Finance at Crown Vantage, a specialty paper manufacturer and distributor. Prior to that, she served in Human Resources and Auditing roles at SAFECO and American General, both providers of financial and insurance services.
Ms. Maddy is a graduate of Humboldt State University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in business administration. She holds a certificate in Global Benefits Management, a designation from Fellow Life Management Institute, and is also a Certified Employee Benefits Specialist and Certified Internal Auditor.
Chief Data Officer
Chief Data Officer
Vida is a visionary advocate committed to ensuring that innovation serves humanity. With a background in data science, she leverages her expertise to catalyze social and economic progress within communities. Her diverse experiences span across industries, including energy, healthcare, and education, where she has consistently championed transformative change.
Vida served as Chief Digital and Branding Officer at the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority. Prior to that she assumed the dual roles of Chief Data Officer and Chief Diversity Officer at SingleStone, a testament to her belief that technological advancements must be guided by principles of inclusivity and ethical responsibility.
Recognized as an industry leader, Vida served as the inaugural “Innovator in Residence” at VCU’s da Vinci Center in 2017, further solidifying her reputation as a trailblazer in innovation and education. In 2013, she co-founded Axis Partners, Inc., a social enterprise consulting firm dedicated to empowering mission-driven organizations through data architecture, process engineering, and data sciences.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Vida remains deeply engaged in her community, serving on the boards of esteemed organizations such as the Biotech Authority Board, Code VA, Activation Capital, and Dominion Energy Innovation Center. Through her multifaceted contributions, Vida continues to drive positive change at the intersection of technology, data, and society, leaving an indelible mark on the world around her.
General Counsel & Secretary
General Counsel & Secretary
Greer McMullen is Stride’s General Counsel and Secretary. He has over 30 years of international legal experience spanning FMCG, consumer services, industrial, life sciences, and luxury hospitality. His expertise includes M&A, commercial contracting, corporate governance, compliance, and risk management.
Before joining Stride, Mr. McMullen previously served as General Counsel and Company Secretary at LGC Ltd in London. Prior to that, he was Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel at Coty Inc. and held senior legal roles at Schweitzer Mauduit International, The ServiceMaster Company, CNL Hotels & Resorts, and Global Signal Inc. He spent nearly a decade with General Electric in various legal positions and began his career at Sullivan & Cromwell in Washington, D.C., and Paris.
Born in New York City, Mr. McMullen spent his childhood in England, Ireland, and France before attending boarding school in England. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University and his law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law. Mr. McMullen has three children and enjoys fencing in his spare time.
EVP, Superintendent of Schools
EVP, Superintendent of Schools
Janice Gruneberg, Executive Vice President & Superintendent of Schools at Stride, Inc. (K12.com), brings more than 30 years of experience in education leadership. In this role, she oversees academic strategy, curriculum quality, and instructional delivery, ensuring strong student outcomes and compliance across Stride’s network of K–12 schools.
Ms. Gruneberg leads efforts to improve student achievement, support school leaders and teachers, and drive continuous improvement across academic programs. She also aligns the full student lifecycle—from enrollment through retention—by partnering across operations, student services, and customer experience to enhance student success and family engagement.
Previously at Stride, she led operational and compliance initiatives that strengthened school performance and supported the launch and growth of K12-powered schools. Her work helped establish best-in-class standards in compliance, risk management, and operational effectiveness.
Before joining Stride, she developed online coursework for adult learners at MindQ and served as a special education teacher with Fairfax County Public Schools.
Ms. Gruneberg holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a master’s degree in special education from George Mason University.
Managing Director, Portfolio Companies
Managing Director, Portfolio Companies
Todd Goldthwaite, managing director of portfolio companies, has more than 25 years of experience in technological innovation, marketing, operations management, and enterprise sales. At Stride, Mr. Goldthwaite manages a growing number of portfolio companies. He also leads Stride’s enrollment and customer service operations.
Prior to this role, Mr. Goldthwaite served as Stride’s chief marketing officer. He also previously served as senior vice president of school services for Stride’s online public schools. In this position, he amplified best practices and drove improvements in academic performance, teacher effectiveness, and student retention.
Before joining Stride, Mr. Goldthwaite managed operations for Blackboard Student Services. He also spent 18 years in the telecommunications field. This includes a position at MCI Communications where he launched operations for the company’s emerging telemarketing and customer service business, established call centers across the country, and expanded the company’s global sales and service footprint to five international locations.
Board Chair
Board Chair
Mr. Fink is the Co-Chairman of Heron International. He served as a director of Nobel Learning Communities, Inc. from 2003 to 2011 and as Chairman of the Board of Life Storage, LLC from 2013 to 2016. In addition, Mr. Fink is a member of the boards of City of Hope, St. Helena Hospital, OLE Health Foundation and the Herb Ritts Foundation. From 1999 to 2009, Mr. Fink served as a director of Leapfrog Enterprises, Inc. and was its Chairman from 2004 to 2009. From 2000 to 2008, Mr. Fink was the Chief Executive Officer of Lawrence Investments, LLC. Mr. Fink has also previously served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Anthony Manufacturing, Chairman and Managing Director of Knowledge Universe and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Nextera Enterprises, Inc.
Attributes, Skills and Qualifications:
Mr. Fink holds a B.S. in Psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles and a J.D. and an L.L.M. from New York University. Mr. Fink was selected as a director based on his significant experience in operations and financial oversight gained from serving as director or chairman for various public and private companies, in addition to his membership on various company audit committees which enables him to contribute significantly to the financial oversight, risk oversight and governance of the Company.
CEO
CEO
Mr. Knowling joined us in January 2018 and formerly served on the Audit and Compensation Committees of the Company’s Board of Directors. In July 2026, he was appointed and currently serves as Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Knowling served as Chairman of Eagles Landing Partners, which specializes in helping senior management formulate strategy, lead organizational transformations and re-engineer businesses. From 2002 to 2005, he served as Chief Executive Officer of the NYC Leadership Academy, an independent non-profit corporation created by Chancellor Joel I. Klein and Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg that is chartered with developing the next generation of principals in the New York City public school system. Mr. Knowling previously held roles as Chief Executive Officer of Telwares, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of SimDesk Technologies, Inc. and Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Covad Communications. He was awarded the Wall Street Project’s Reginald Lewis Trailblazers Award by President Clinton and the Reverend Jesse Jackson in 1999. Mr. Knowling serves on the board of directors for CECO Environmental Corp., Rocket Software and Stream Companies. He also previously served on the board of directors of Citrix Systems Inc. from 2020 to September 2022, Heidrick & Struggles, Inc. from 2001 to 2015, Convergys Corporation from 2017 to 2018 and Roper Technologies, Inc. from 2008 to 2021.
Attributes, Skills and Qualifications:
Mr. Knowling holds a B.A. in theology from Wabash College and an M.B.A. from Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University.
Ms. Alvarez currently serves as Chair Emerita of the Latino Community Foundation. As Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration, she was a member of President Clinton’s Cabinet from 1997 to 2001. Previously, Ms. Alvarez served as the Director of the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight from 1993 to 1997, where she was charged with financial oversight of the secondary housing market, the Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”). Prior to that, she worked for the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, Bear Stearns & Company, Inc. and the First Boston Corporation. She has served on the boards of directors of Fastly, Inc. since August 2019; and Bill Holdings, Inc. since May 2022. From 2016 to April 2025, Ms. Alvarez served on the board of directors of HP Inc.; from 2006 to June 2016, served on the board of directors of Wal-Mart Stores Inc., and from 2004 to 2014, served on the boards of directors of MUFG Americas Holdings Corporation (formerly UnionBanCal Corporation) and MUFG Union Bank N.A. (formerly Union Bank N.A.). From 2014 to 2019, she served on the board of directors of Zoosk, Inc., and from 2011 to November 2022, on the board of Oportun Financial Corp. (formerly Progress Financial Corporation).
Attributes, Skills and Qualifications:
Ms. Alvarez holds a B.A. from Harvard College. Ms. Alvarez was selected as a director because of her financial expertise, government experience and ability to bring diverse perspectives to the Board.
Ms. Lawrence serves as VP, Commercial Learning & Development at Stanley Black & Decker, Inc., driving the strategy to build commercial capability, strengthen organizational effectiveness, and support business growth across the region. She has been with the organization since 2003, holding progressive leadership roles, including serving as president of eCommerce in the tools and outdoor division, business segment president, vice president and chief of staff to the chief executive officer. As president of eCommerce, Allison led a global team as they drove the strategic expansion of the eCommerce business and evolved the organization’s digital capabilities to address the end-to-end customer journey.
Ms. Lawrence previously served on the board of Hartford Hospital, one of the largest teaching hospitals in New England.
Attributes, Skills and Qualifications:
Ms. Lawrence holds a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing from Oklahoma State University. She also earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Texas at Dallas. She was selected as a director because of her expertise in brand development, digital media, and eCommerce.
Ms. McFadden founded LIZA and Partners LLC, which provides consulting services for nonprofits and foundations. She is the inaugural recipient of the Women Who Mean Business Award in her hometown of Tallahassee for her community service and serves on the boards of the Conservation Nation, the Florida State Parks Foundation, Village Square and the Suwannee River Area Council, Scouting America. Previously, she was President and Chief Executive Officer of the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy from 2012 to 2018. She is a former high school teacher, Florida Department of Education administrator and served in Governor Jeb Bush’s administration. Additionally, Ms. McFadden was appointed by President George W. Bush to serve on the National Institute for Literacy Board.
Attributes, Skills and Qualifications:
Ms. McFadden holds an M.A. from Florida State University and a B.A. from Fitchburg State University. Ms. McFadden was selected as a director because of her expertise in educational policy and programming for adults and children, as well as her experience in working with local and state governments.
Mr. Smith currently serves as the Managing Director of The Campaign for Grade-Level Reading (“CGLR”), which he launched in May 2010 as a project of the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The CGLR supports a national network of 350+ communities in developing and implementing plans to ensure early school success for children of economically challenged families.
From 1994 to 2016, Mr. Smith served on the senior management team at the Annie E. Casey Foundation (“AECF”), first as Director of Planning and Development, then Senior Vice President, and Executive Vice President. At AECF, Mr. Smith led a comprehensive effort to assist local communities committed to improving economic and educational outcomes for families and children in disinvested communities across the nation. He also previously served on the boards of directors of LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. from 2005 to 2009 and Nobel Learning Communities, Inc. from 2008 to 2011. From 1983 to 1990, Mr. Smith served as Special Counsel and then as Chief of Staff and Chief Operating Officer for the School District of Philadelphia. From 1991 to 1993, he served as a senior advisor to Philadelphia’s mayor, focusing on children and family policy. Mr. Smith was a tenured member of the law faculty at the University of Pennsylvania, where he taught education law and policy, corporations, and securities regulation from 1975 to 1997.
Attributes, Skills and Qualifications:
Mr. Smith holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Loyola University of Los Angeles and a law degree from the University of California, Los Angeles. Mr. Smith was selected as a director because of his leadership experience in education and improving access to educational resources.
Mr. Verbrugge served as Chief Commercial Officer of Sirius XM Holdings Inc. (“Sirius XM”), where he oversaw all commercial activities focused on marketing, subscription revenue, automotive and streaming partnerships and retail product development and sales for various SiriusXM brands from June 2022 to July 2024. Mr. Verbrugge held various senior roles at SiriusXM since 2004, including Executive Vice President, Sirius XM Digital Subscriptions. He served as a member of the board of directors of Sirius XM Canada Inc. (previously, Toronto: XSR), and since July 2020 also serves as a member of the Board of Advisors for Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business. From 1997 to 2004, Mr. Verbrugge worked as a management consultant with The Dealy Strategy Group LLC, where he advised senior leaders of media, technology and services companies on strategy, operations and transactions.
Attributes, Skills and Qualifications:
Mr. Verbrugge holds a doctorate in philosophy in management studies from University of Oxford, an M.B.A. from Georgetown University and a B.A. from the University of Michigan. Mr. Verbrugge was selected as a director because of his leadership experience in marketing, partnership development, strategy, operations and human resources.
Most recently, Mr. Shepherd served as President, CEO, and a member of the board at CSG Systems International, Inc., a provider of software solutions for telecommunications, broadband and digital service providers, from 2021 through its acquisition by NEC Corporation in 2026. Prior to his role as President and CEO, he served as Executive Vice President and Group President from 2017 to 2021 where he focused on accelerating the growth and strategic development of the company. Prior to joining CSG, Mr. Shepherd held executive roles at TeleTech, Amdocs, DST Innovis, and McKinsey & Company. Mr. Shepherd received an MBA from Harvard Business School and graduated from Wabash College with a B.A. in Economics.
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