Robert Runcie is the chief executive officer of Chiefs for Change. Under his leadership, the organization has increased its technical assistance for members and expanded leadership development initiatives to build the pipeline of talented educators ready to lead K-12 systems.
Runcie previously served as superintendent of Broward County Public Schools. The district is the sixth-largest in the United States. It has more than 260,000 students, 35,000 employees, and an annual budget of $4 billion.
Runcie was recognized as Superintendent of the Year by the Florida Association of District School Superintendents, the National Alliance of Black School Educators, the Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents, and the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools.
His professional experience also includes founding a management and technology consulting company and holding several strategic leadership positions with Chicago Public Schools. Runcie has blended his two decades of private sector technology, management consulting, and entrepreneurship experience with 18 years of leadership in urban public schools to deliver innovation, organizational and systems change, and improved student outcomes. He is nationally recognized for his expertise in various areas, including technology and innovation, enterprise risk management, and building effective leadership teams.
Runcie knows firsthand how a high-quality education can transform a person’s life. Born in Jamaica, he moved to the United States as a young boy. He became the first in his family to finish high school and graduate from college, earning his bachelor’s from Harvard College and MBA from Northwestern University.
He serves on boards for several national organizations, including Code.org, KnowledgeWorks, National Education Equity Lab, and The Center for Mind-Body Medicine.