Monarch School for Children Impacted by Homelessness Names Retired Navy Admiral as New CEO

July 7, 2011 - PRLog -- Monarch School, a San Diego public K-12 school for children impacted by homelessness, is announcing the selection of retired Navy admiral Ronne Froman as the new CEO.  Froman joins the school, a unique partnership between the San Diego County Department of Education and a non-profit 501(c)3 organization, as it prepares to break ground on a new campus this fall in East Village-Barrio Logan. Froman will work alongside Principal Joel Garcia, who has been with Monarch School for four years.

Froman has a long background in military service, as well as civic and community leadership in the public, private and non-profit sectors. This includes previous positions as the chief of business operations for the San Diego Unified School District and as the interim vice president at Monarch School last year.

“We are thrilled to welcome Ronne Froman as the new CEO,” said Jim McMillan, president of the Monarch School Board of Directors. “Her extensive leadership background will help the school thrive as it continues its Capital Campaign and expands to the new campus, which will allow it to serve more than double its current student population.”

Froman served in the United States Navy for 31 years, including being the first woman admiral to command
Navy Region Southwest and taking that model to Washington to use Navy-wide. After retiring, Froman managed business operations for San Diego city schools and then as CEO of the San Diego and Imperial Counties Chapter of the American Red Cross. In 2005, she became the first COO for the City of San Diego under Mayor Jerry Sanders.

Froman has also been an active committee member on the Ending Homelessness Leadership Team, established by the San Diego Downtown Partnership for the purpose of implementing innovative programs to end homelessness. In 2010, she stepped in as interim vice president at Monarch School where she furthered this dedication to fighting homelessness in support of the school’s mission: to educate students impacted by homelessness and to help them develop hope for a future with the necessary skills and experiences for personal success.

“Homelessness is at epidemic numbers in our country and we need to find solutions that work,” said Froman. “The program Monarch School has established, offering the highest academic standards while also providing basic needs like clothing, food and emotional support services, is vital to countering the rise in homelessness and giving these children the tools they need to prosper. Higher test scores and rising student achievements show that this program not only works in San Diego, but can also work in other parts of the country.”  

Monarch School, the only K-12 school of its kind in the United States, is a public school exclusively for children impacted by homelessness. Through a unique partnership with the public school system and its non-profit arm, the school provides resources, programs and opportunities that eliminate the barriers to a quality education and supplement homeless students’ basic needs, including food, hygiene kits, clothing, school supplies and more. For more information about Monarch School, and opportunities to donate and volunteer, visit http://monarchschools.org or call (619) 685-8242, ext. 226.

About Monarch School:
Founded in 1988, Monarch School, located in downtown San Diego, is a public K-12 school exclusively for students who are at-risk and impacted by homelessness. Monarch School represents a unique public-private partnership between the San Diego County Office of Education and the Monarch School Project, a non-profit 501(c)3 organization. Today, more than 175 students between the ages of four and 19 are enrolled. Monarch School’s committed team of educators, support staff and volunteers is dedicated to providing homeless and at-risk children with an accredited education while caring for their basic needs. Monarch School will break ground on its new campus in downtown San Diego in fall 2011. For more information, visit http://monarchschools.org or call (619) 685-8242, ext. 226.

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