Jacqueline Okpala
School Leader
“With an education, you have everything you need to rise above all the noise and fulfill every last one of your dreams.” -Michelle Obama
Jacqueline Okpala is currently in her first year with KIPP Texas and is honored and blessed to join the staff, students, and families within the community of Austin as the school leader of KIPP Austin Brave High School!
As a first-generation college graduate, her humble beginnings as an alternatively certified teacher allowed her to implement real-world challenges and critical thinking skills into her classroom to maximize students' problem-solving skills. She has an extensive educational background, previously teaching art to PK-8th grade students and math to 6-12th grade students. She spent seven years as a teacher, instructional coach, district trainer, and four years in administration.
Before joining KIPP Austin Brave, Jacqueline increased student achievement on the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, or PARCC, culture and diversity awareness with her staff as an assistant principal. She completed the rigorous New Leaders Principalship program to fully prepare her to lead turnaround settings focusing on restorative practice and social-emotional learning for all students.
Jacqueline has her master's degree in STEM Education from the University of South Florida. She later obtained her Principal Certification and Specialist in Administration & Supervision from Johns Hopkins University and has begun her doctoral program in Educational Management.
Jacqueline is truly dedicated to the mission and vision of KIP Austin Brave for Little and Big KIPPsters. Her commitment to KIPP Austin Brave is to build strong relationships and be reflective of our community, environment, and our Eagle core values for years to come! She believes in providing staff with the tools and resources they need to teach the whole child and build life-long partnerships with families.