Opportunity 180 has named Tamara Shear as Chief Executive Officer. Shear succeeds Jana Wilcox Lavin, who led the organization since 2017.
Shear brings decades of experience in the education sector. Since joining Opportunity 180 in 2020, she has served as Chief Program Officer and Senior Director of the Great Schools Portfolio. In both roles, she led efforts to improve instructional outcomes for underserved students. She has been instrumental in developing initiatives that garner school support, leadership development, and partnership work, helping to launch 16 schools and build a network of over 300 aspiring school leaders.
As CEO, Shear is leading and implementing strategic opportunities that ensure every child has a pathway to success. She will work closely with the Board, dedicated team members, donors, partners, and other local and national stakeholders to advance Opportunity 180’s mission of 100,000 more students attending high-quality schools by 2030.
Tamara’s work reflects a deep belief in unlocking the potential of those closest to students to drive lasting, systemic change in education. Prior to joining Opportunity 180, Shear worked with Achievement Network, TNTP, and Teach for America, where she collaborated to bolster leadership development and encourage innovative approaches to teaching and learning. Shear began her education career through Teach For America as a middle school math teacher in Washington D.C. She earned her Master of Arts in Secondary Education and Teaching from American University and Bachelor of Business Administration, Economics from the University of California, Riverside.
