Kelly C. Davenport, Ed.D.

Freire Schools Network Founder

B.A. University of Pennsylvania
M.A.T. Indiana University
Ed.D. University of Pennsylvania

Kelly has been the heart of Freire Schools since day one. She co-founded Freire Charter High School in 1999 with the goal of engaging Philly kids directly in their education, nurturing leadership, citizenship, and creativity. After co-founding Freire High, Kelly expanded Freire’s network and reach, establishing two more campuses in Philadelphia and one in Wilmington. What began as one school is now a thriving network of four, serving 2,000 students. As the visionary behind the Freire Schools network and former CEO, Kelly has led with bold ideas and deep care, building a movement grounded in peace, equity, and love. 

Kelly is a service-first leader who leads with heart, humility, and an unwavering belief in people. She puts students, staff, and community at the center of every decision, creating a culture of trust, connection, and shared purpose. Whether she’s coaching school leaders, developing innovative educational programs, building strong partnerships, or cheering on students, Kelly brings heart to everything she does. She also founded the Freire Foundation to help ensure every student and school in our network has the resources they need to thrive. 

Before founding Freire, Kelly, who’s bilingual in both Spanish and Portuguese, was a Spanish teacher, where she advocated for an inclusive and democratic classroom environment. Her belief in education as a basic human right drives her tireless work ethic and her commitment to every student’s success.

Kelly’s contributions extend beyond Freire Schools through her involvement on various boards, including the Philadelphia Financial Scholars and the National Advisory Board for YONDR. Her leadership has earned her many honors, including Freire being named a CREDO Gap Busting Charter Network, receiving the WE Hatch Empowering Women in Innovation and Entrepreneurship Award, and an Eisenhower Zhi-Xing fellowship in China.