Lesley Poole
2027 ALI Fellow

Lesley Poole brings to ALI decades of leadership in education reform, nonprofit management, and community-centered student development. Lesley most recently served as chief executive officer and president of The SEED Foundation, where she led a national network of public college-preparatory boarding schools supporting underserved students in Washington, D.C., Maryland, Florida, and California. Her work has focused on expanding access to high-quality education, strengthening college success outcomes, building sustainable public-private partnerships, and advancing innovative models for public boarding schools. Lesley also played a central role in launching and leading the nation’s first public charter boarding school and has guided expansion, policy advocacy, and organizational strategy efforts across multiple states. In addition to her leadership in education, Lesley serves on nonprofit and community boards, coaches emerging leaders, and supports initiatives focused on equity, youth development, and faith-based community engagement.