DR. CASSANDRA ST. VIL

Dr. St. Vil is an accomplished education leader with more than 20 years of experience in charter school advocacy, policy, teaching, and community-based work.

Dr. Cassandra St. Vil serves as Chief Executive Officer of Philadelphia Charters for Excellence (PCE), the region’s leading charter school advocacy organization representing more than 80 charter operators and over 64,000 students across Philadelphia.

Dr. St. Vil brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in education, charter school advocacy, and nonprofit management. Since assuming leadership of PCE in March 2024, she has focused on strengthening sector-wide collaboration, advancing equitable policy and funding, expanding member services, and ensuring that charter schools are recognized as essential public education partners serving Philadelphia families.

Prior to joining PCE, Dr. St. Vil served as Director of Membership at the Maryland Alliance for Public Charter Schools, where she led advocacy, capacity-building, and member services efforts for 50 charter schools and networks serving more than 24,000 students. Her earlier career includes serving as the founding department chair and a history teacher at Bard Early College High School in Washington, DC, as well as holding program and leadership roles with community-based organizations supporting youth and families in Baltimore, Washington, DC, Boston, New York, and internationally. She is also certified as a K-12 public school principal in Philadelphia.

Dr. St. Vil’s academic background informs her equity-centered leadership approach. She holds a PhD in African Studies from Howard University, a Master of Social Work from the University of Michigan, and two Master’s degrees in Education from Harvard Graduate School of Education and Hunter College. Her additional experiences include serving as a Fulbright Scholar in South Africa, a Peace Corps Volunteer in Rwanda, and a Teach For America corps member with KIPP New York City in the Bronx.

As CEO of PCE, Dr. St. Vil is deeply committed to advancing high-quality public education opportunities, strengthening accountability and governance, and ensuring that families—regardless of zip code or income—have access to schools that meet their children’s needs. She leads PCE at a pivotal moment for Philadelphia’s education system, working with school leaders, policymakers, and community stakeholders to help position public schools as a cornerstone of the city’s future.