Shakira Petit

Shakira Petit is a seasoned executive and organizational leader with more than 20 years of experience driving strategy, operational excellence, leadership development, and organizational growth across the education and nonprofit sectors.

As the CEO and Founder of SKP Consultants, LLC, Shakira partners with nonprofit and for-profit organizations to strengthen leadership, align teams around strategic priorities, and build sustainable pathways for growth. Her work focuses on executive coaching, C-suite development, organizational design, team effectiveness, and operational improvement.

Prior to founding SKP Consultants, Shakira served as Chief of Staff to the CEO at the KIPP Foundation, where she provided strategic counsel to the CEO and executive leadership team while helping advance organizational priorities, streamline operations, and oversee key initiatives, including college partnerships and alumni impact efforts.

Earlier in her career, Shakira spent nine years at the Harlem Children’s Zone, serving as a science teacher, assistant principal, principal, and member of the executive leadership team. Working closely with students, families, and communities in historically underserved neighborhoods shaped her understanding of the intersection between poverty, opportunity, and student success. These experiences continue to inform her commitment to advancing equity and expanding opportunities for Black and Brown students.

Shakira later served as Principal and later Deputy Superintendent of Greenburgh Graham Union Free School District, where she led district-wide planning, human resources, operations, crisis management, and labor relations. During her tenure, she helped improve academic outcomes and graduation rates for historically underserved students while strengthening organizational systems and effectiveness.

Her leadership experience also includes serving as Interim CEO and Chief Operating Officer/President of Democrats for Education Reform (DFER), where she guided the organization through significant transitions, led strategic planning efforts, secured millions of dollars in funding, and helped advance key education policy priorities.

Shakira holds an MBA from New York University, an M.A. in School District Leadership from Mercy College, and a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Biology from Hofstra University. She is a certified New York State Biology Teacher and School District Leader and holds additional certifications in educational leadership and crisis management.

Her work has been recognized by publications including Ebony Magazine and The New York Times. Across every stage of her career, Shakira has remained committed to developing leaders, strengthening organizations, and creating systems that enable individuals and communities to thrive.

Shakira is especially excited to join Educators for Excellence because the organization’s mission aligns closely with the values that have guided her career. Having witnessed firsthand how poverty can limit access to opportunity, she is deeply committed to removing the barriers that too often shape a child’s educational experience and future prospects. The opportunity to partner with educators in advancing policies that expand opportunity and improve outcomes for students makes E4E a natural and meaningful next chapter in her leadership journey.