jina + monique

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Jina immigrated from Korea to the US at age eight and experienced the K-12 education system in Los Angeles as a second language learner. The difficult experience of navigating an education system not designed to support her learning motivated her to pursue a career in education to improve it for others. 

She received her Doctorate from UCLA ELP and founded an innovative pilot school located in the RFK Community Schools complex. Her school was the first elementary school in the International Studies Schools Network and was a model for others striving to create an evolved learning space to meet the needs of our current generation. 

Jina went on to work for CORE Districts, a non-profit supporting six California school districts with the NCLB Waiver, to help the districts collaborate around the Community of Schools and School Pairing programs. 

Jina is a systems thinker. Her understanding of the educational landscape, background in supporting collaborative work, and drive to improve learning opportunities for Black youth will benefit SFNM. 

A graduate of Tuskegee University and Harvard Business School, Monique’s expertise lies in leading people, managing processes and solving problems. She spent much of her career-launching new initiatives at small or inside large organizations. She was often given the most difficult projects and asked to “make it happen” within seemingly impossible conditions, which often included shoestring budgets, limited time, and few people. As a result of these experiences, she has become adept at wearing many hats and juggling competing priorities; thinking and acting quickly with minimal information; and driving toward organizational goals and outcomes. 

Monique’s passion lies in helping people, especially disenfranchised communities. Following a successful career in healthcare, sports and public education, Monique launched Eleven-Eleven Consulting Group, a boutique strategy consulting firm helping minority- and women-led start-ups and small businesses position themselves for launch or growth. Monique has decided to press pause on her work with Eleven-Eleven and take the skills she honed working with management teams and CEO’s and apply them to help launch and grow SFNM.