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Agora Welcomes New Leader

July 15, 2020 5:12 pm

PHILADELPHIA (July 15, 2020)—Agora Cyber Charter School (Agora)—a full-time online public charter school serving Pennsylvania residents in grades K-12—recently announced the retirement of Michael Conti, Ed.D., who concluded four years of leadership as Chief Executive Officer in June. Dr. Conti’s replacement as CEO, Rich Jensen, Ed.D., has served as Agora’s Chief Academic Officer for nearly four years, working with Dr. Conti on developing the school’s academic vision and strategies, as well as implementing tactics and quality control regimens for achieving long- and short-term goals.

“I’ve been primed for this position by the best in the industry. So, while I am extremely humbled the board selected me to be CEO, I am also very excited to build upon Dr. Conti’s legacy and confident that continued opportunities and achievements are on the horizon for Agora,” said Dr. Jensen. “Along with Agora’s ongoing involvement with PA’s Public Cyber Charter School Association (PCCSA), we can continue to evolve and meet the changing educational needs of families across the state.”

Over the course of his nine years at Agora, Dr. Jensen has held various positions, each of which properly equipping him for his new role as a CEO. Starting as a social studies teacher in 2011, Dr. Jensen was able to gain firsthand experience of how Agora’s method of developing a curriculum and training teachers trickled down to the virtual classroom.

Dr. Jensen then brought his experience gained as a teacher to help him in his new position as an academic coach, where he ensured teachers were using effecting teaching methods. From there Jensen became an academic administrator, during which time he led the efforts to restructure Agora’s “outside the classroom” initiatives such as the Student Assistance Program and the high school advisory program.

During his years as high school principal and assistant high school principal, Dr. Jensen provided educational leadership to over 150 faculty/staff and a student body of 3,000. He raised the bar for student engagement and established a growth mindset in an effort to meet the specific needs of each student. In his most recent role as Chief Academic Officer, Dr. Jensen implemented both short- and long-term strategic planning to ensure curriculum alignment, increase retention rates and improve communication.

With nearly a decade of experience in the “Agora way,” Dr. Jensen is ready to use what he has learned at each level of the organization to inform his decisions as CEO. Surrounded by a dedicated staff and passionate families, Dr. Jensen is excited to continue playing an important role in helping thousands of students reach their highest potential.

ABOUT AGORA CYBER CHARTER SCHOOL

Agora Cyber Charter School, established in 2005, is an online public school for Pennsylvania students in kindergarten through 12th grade. Agora’s engaging curriculum is delivered by Pennsylvania-certified teachers, committed to an individualized learning approach. Faculty and staff work together to provide a system of support, so every student has what they need to succeed. An extensive variety of extracurricular online and in-person activities guarantee an enriching assortment of social opportunities. Agora is focused on providing all students the skills and knowledge to be successful lifelong learners in whatever career or vocation they pursue. Help your child achieve their highest potential by visiting https://agora.org/.