Allegra Alessandri, Ed.D.
High School Innovations and Initiatives Office at the California Department of Education (CDE)
Allegra serves as the State Director of Advanced Academics. In this role, she leads statewide efforts to expand high school graduation pathways, dual enrollment, career technical education, and A–G completion. She played a key role on the Transfer Acceleration Task Force, contributing to the Governor’s Master Plan for Career Education.
Dr. Alessandri brings over 30 years of experience in education, including service as a high school English and Humanities teacher, college advisor, and principal in public, private, and international schools. She was the founding principal of the George Washington Carver School of Arts and Science, the first public Waldorf high school in the United States, where she led curriculum development integrating social and environmental justice themes and secured grant funding to support arts and sustainability initiatives.
Her leadership has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Principal of Art Leadership Award from the Sacramento County Office of Education and distinctions such as “Top 25 School with the Best Teachers” by the Sacramento Business Journal. She has chaired five WASC self-study teams and served as a Visiting Committee Chairperson for dozens of school accreditation visits across public, charter, private, and Catholic schools.
Dr. Alessandri has also contributed internationally, introducing Waldorf high school education in Chengdu, China, and advocating for holistic, student-centered learning models. She has served on advisory boards for multiple schools and organizations, including the Alliance for Public Waldorf Education, Credo High School, and Chico Green School.
She holds a BA from Pomona College, an MA from Georgetown University, and a doctorate in Educational Leadership from UC Davis. Her career reflects a deep commitment to equity, innovation, and excellence in education at every level.