Damen Lopez
Damen Lopez is available to help your school or district. Please email Damen directly at damen@turnaroundschools.com for more information.
Damen Lopez began his career as a long-term substitute in 1994 at Los Peñasquitos Elementary School in San Diego California. Seven years later, he was named the principal of that same school. Damen’s road to the principal’s office would include experience as a second grade teacher, fourth grade teacher, and assistant principal of the largest elementary school in the Poway Unified School District. Twice named as both Assistant Principal and Principal of the Year in his district, Damen’s success as a leader has helped to showcase Los Peñasquitos Elementary School as an exemplary model for others to follow. During five of the six years that Damen was principal, he and his staff earned the coveted 10-10 ranking by performing within the top ten percent of all schools within the state of California.
In 2004, Damen Lopez founded the No Excuses University Network of Schools. This endeavor helps to build a bridge for all students to attend college as it begins promoting a comprehensive college readiness model starting in kindergarten. After just two years of sharing this message with thousands of educators across the country, there are currently 71 schools participating as part of the No Excuses University revolution. To date this work, which is now influencing the lives of nearly 40,000 students in 13 different states, has received national attention and has been featured in numerous television and newspaper stories.
In 2006, Damen co-founded TurnAround Schools and now works with schools, districts, and educational organizations throughout the country in an effort to support the development of six exceptional systems that result in academic success for all. Damen’s enthusiasm for providing leadership so every student, especially those living in poverty, will be both academically successful and college ready is widely respected. He, along with his staff continue to be honored by the positive changes that schools have made as a result of the lessons learned from the Los Penasquitos Elementary School story. Damen is available to work with your staff and continues to be inspired by emails from educators from around the United States. Damen can be contacted by emailing him directly at damen@turnaroundschools.com.
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