Kelli Peterson

Kelli Peterson

2019 NACSA Leader

Chief Portfolio Innovation and Accountability Officer NOLA Public Schools

Dr. Kelli Peterson serves as the Chief Portfolio Innovation and Accountability Officer for NOLA Public Schools, the first all-charter school district. Dr. Peterson leads a team that is responsible for the accountability of 78 charter schools, building the capacity of 38 charter boards, development of new school strategy and the authorization process.

Dr. Peterson is deeply invested in charter schools. She has served as a teacher, Dean of Students, Dean of Curriculum and Instruction and School Leader, all within charter schools across various states.
Through educational pursuit, her efforts to alleviate inadequate educational opportunities for students of color is embedded at the core of her work.

Dr. Peterson earned her bachelor’s from Spelman College, Master of Education from the University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign, and Doctorate of Education from Tennessee State University.


Most Recent Posts
NACSA’s Charter Renewal Term Length Project
Charter renewal is one of the most consequential tools authorizers have. It is the formal moment when an authorizer evaluates whether a school has earned the right to continue operating and under what...
NACSA Transition Updates
Karega Rausch, NACSA’s President & CEO, has accepted an exciting new role as the Executive Director of the Indianapolis Public Education Corporation (IPEC). We are grateful for Karega’s contributions and strong leadership.  We are also...
NACSACon 2026: Learning in Community
Good authorizing doesn’t happen in isolation. It’s built through shared knowledge and, honest conversations. It’s buoyed by a professional field that holds itself to high standards. NACSACon brings that community...