Uplift Education, one of the nation’s largest and highest-performing charter school networks, today announced that longtime CEO Yasmin Bhatia will retire from her role at the end of December 2025.
Bhatia has served as CEO since 2009, leading Uplift Education through a period of rapid growth and national recognition. During her tenure, Uplift has expanded to serve over 23,000 students across 45 schools in North Texas, with a 100% college acceptance rate for graduating seniors for over 20 years.
After a robust succession planning process led by the Uplift board and in partnership with executive search and leadership advisory firm, Russell Reynolds, Dr. Remy Washington was selected to be Uplift’s next CEO beginning in January 2026. Dr. Washington, currently President of Uplift, was chosen for her proven leadership, deep connection to Uplift’s mission and people, and her outstanding track record in advancing academic results and postsecondary outcomes for scholars. She will continue building on Uplift’s legacy of innovation and achievement.
Following her retirement, Bhatia will continue her work with Uplift Education, as a volunteer and support Uplift Education leading the organization’s first ever endowment campaign to celebrate Uplift’s 30th anniversary.
“Uplift is more than a school network—we are a catalyst for regional and statewide change,” said Bhatia. “With this endowment, we will ensure that every scholar continues to benefit from the programs that set Uplift apart — and protect those programs from future funding shortfalls. Despite the exceptional results our scholars are delivering, Uplift is not funded at a level that reflects the scale or impact of that success.”
Board Chair Dr. Lael Melville added: “This transition reflects Uplift’s commitment to thoughtful leadership succession and long-term mission stability. We’re grateful for Yasmin’s visionary service—and confident that Dr. Washington will lead Uplift boldly into its next era.”
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