Jake began his education career in Spanish Harlem, transitioning from a role in the financial industry to teaching math at the East Harlem School (EHS). At EHS, students began each day with movement, practiced silent meditation and shared vegetarian lunches. The school’s impact on students’ minds, bodies and hearts continues to shape Jake’s core educational values. Following his time in Harlem, Jake taught math at Breakthrough Schools in Cleveland, worked on policy initiatives at the Ohio Department of Education, supported the expansion of computer science programs in northeast Ohio and most recently served as the Middle School Director at Urban Community School (UCS). He holds a deep belief that rigor, joy and curiosity belong in all classrooms, a stance that fueled the academic gains and cultural improvements he led at UCS and which now inform his design of City River High School, scheduled to open fall 2027. Jake holds a BS in finance from Penn State University and a MA in public policy from the Harvard Kennedy School.