Meet Our Founders

Hear their passion...

Our founders Karen and Shayne each have over 20 years of experience supporting students transition from middle school to high school. Hear their heart and passion for Why Girls Global!
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Karen Venable-Croft, Co-Founder

Co-Founder / Executive Director
Karen Venable-Croft is the Co-Founder and Founding Executive Director of Girls Global Academy, an all-girls public charter high school in Washington DC. Karen is a Prince Georges County native and started her career as a mathematics teacher at her high-school alma mater. During her 20-year career as an educator, Venable-Croft held different leadership roles including: Math Teacher Coordinator, Advanced Placement Coordinator, Curriculum Coordinator, School Planning and Management Team Chair, and Data Coach. As teacher coordinator, Venable-Croft managed teams of 20 - 25 mathematics teachers and facilitated departmental, and interdisciplinary planning and development. She is an experienced instructional coach for teachers of all skill levels and years of experience.
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Shayne Swift

Co-Founder / Director of Programs & Community Engagement
Shayne Swift has over 20 year’s experience in urban education in Washington DC and Prince George’s County. Swift began her career in DCPS at Shaw Junior High School, was formerly the Director at Huntington Learning Center, and taught 9th grade English for 10 years in Prince George’s County Public Schools. At Parkdale High, Shayne served in a variety of leadership roles including the 9th grade coordinator, PBIS Coach, and Co-Chair of the School Planning and Management Team. Most recently, Swift served as the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme Coordinator where she expanded the IB Program access by increasing course offerings, improving student driven service-learning and parent engagement which led to increased pass rates and the schools overall graduation rate. She has extensive experience in experiential learning, coaching a team of IB teachers, and coordinating IB Creativity, action, service projects.