Jessica Tellez, Chief People Officer
Jessica joined Coaching4Change in 2021 and serves as the organization’s first Chief People Officer. In this role, she oversees people operations, technology systems, talent strategy, and organizational culture, ensuring alignment between C4C’s mission and its internal infrastructure. Formerly Chief Impact Officer and Program Director, Jessica led key efforts to operationalize the organization’s growth, including program expansion, strategic planning, and the implementation of data and technology solutions. Her work bridges strategy, execution, and impact across teams.
Jessica brings over 12 years of experience in education, youth, and workforce development. Her previous roles span local, state, and federal levels, including the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Educational Technology and YouthBuild USA, where she focused on advancing equity, expanding access for underrepresented communities, and driving systems-level change through cross-sector collaboration. She believes people are the cornerstone of every successful organization and is deeply committed to building inclusive, transparent, and collaborative workplace cultures.
A proud first-generation college graduate, Jessica holds an MA in Urban Education Policy from Brown University and a BA in Political Science and Chicano Studies from the University of Texas at El Paso. She is currently a participant in Leadership Rhode Island and a former fellow of the Massachusetts Education Policy Fellowship Program. Jessica previously served as Co-Chair of Education Pioneers’ New England Alumni Board and is an alumna of Latinos for Education’s Aspiring Latino Leaders Fellowship. Outside of work, she enjoys weekend road trips, fandom and geek culture, and is a voracious podcast listener.