Kathleen Padian is a partner at TenSquare, LLC, a national consulting firm specializing in support for Public School Districts, State Departments of Education and Charter Management Organizations. Kathleen specializes in the development of school facilities and developing policies related to charter school authorizing. Her experience in the public education sector spans from the classroom to the central office, as well as leadership roles at philanthropic organizations and nonprofit support entities. Prior to joining TenSquare she served as Deputy Superintendent for the Orleans Parish School Board where she created their first accountability framework for schools. In that role she also managed more than $400 million in school construction and renovation projects.

Kathleen founded the New Orleans School Facility Project in partnership with several national philanthropies. She previously served as Vice President of Building Hope (DC), National Director of Development for New Leaders (NY), as Strategic Investments Director for Fight for Children (DC) and was responsible for the multi-site expansion of St. Coletta of Greater Washington, a regional organization serving children and adults with developmental disabilities. Her educational background includes degrees from the University of Connecticut and Quinnipiac University, as well as advanced study in special education and educational leadership at the Curry School of Education at the University of Virginia. She serves on the Board of the Irish Channel Neighborhood Association in her current hometown of New Orleans, LA where she lives with her teenage daughter.