Rhonda Lauer has served as the President and Chief Executive Officer since 1997, guiding Foundations’ rapid growth from a regional program provider to an organization that has earned national recognition for its success in transforming the world of teaching and learning by strengthening the skills of educators.
Rhonda is a lifelong Philadelphian who has worn many hats for the School District of Philadelphia: teacher, principal, administrator, management negotiator, and associate superintendent. Rhonda also served as Superintendent of Schools in Delaware County, Pennsylvania and currently sits on several boards of directors, including the Urban Affairs Coalition and Say Yes to Education. She earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Temple University and holds a Pennsylvania Principal’s Certification and Superintendent’s Letter of Eligibility from the University of Pennsylvania.
Despite her many professional accomplishments and awards, Rhonda remains proudest of the fact that every single one of her students left her classroom able to read, write, and do math. Rhonda believes that all children can learn, that relationships matter, that those who choose to be educators can be great teachers and afterschool professionals, and that strong, shared and mindful leadership is essential to a child’s success.
Rhonda is a proud mother to her children David, Rachel, Jessica, and Seth, and is an adoring grandmother (known as “Rah-Rah”) to grandchildren Alexandra, Liam, Miles, and Daniel, and grand-dogs Kippur and Juno. In her free time, she loves to sing, dance, read, and cook – some even say she makes the best mac and cheese this side of the Mississippi!