Orenda
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About Orenda

Every Student Deserves a Premium Education.

Since 1998, Orenda Education has worked alongside schools and districts to build stronger leaders, stronger systems, and greater opportunities for students.

Our story

Built on the Belief That Outcomes Can Change.

Orenda was founded on a simple but urgent belief: where students live, where they go to school, and their circumstances should never determine the quality of education they receive.

Our name reflects that belief. Orenda comes from the Iroquoian tradition and speaks to the power of human will to improve our lives and change the world. That spirit has guided our work ever since.

We believe inequitable outcomes are not inevitable. When educational leaders have the knowledge, systems, support, and collective will to improve, schools and districts can change the conditions surrounding students—and change what’s possible for them.

  1. 1998

    Orenda (formerly known as Principal’s Exchange) was founded by Dr. Robin Avelar La Salle, who went on to lead Orenda as CEO and President for over 25 years.

  2. 2014

    Orenda became an affiliate partner with Think Together, a statewide organization offering expanded learning, early learning, and afterschool programs. Think Together shared Dr. Avelar La Salle’s vision to improve academic outcomes in California, especially in underserved communities.

  3. 2022

    Orenda was fully acquired by Think Together.

  4. 2026

    Think Together changed its name to Think Education to reflect its growing suite of services for school systems. Today, Orenda is a division of Think Education, one of its innovative solutions to support the success of every single student.

Our founders

The people who started Orenda.

Dr. Robin Avelar La Salle
Founder

Dr. Robin Avelar La Salle

Dr. Robin Avelar La Salle founded Orenda Education (formerly Principal’s Exchange) and led it as CEO and President for more than 25 years. Under her leadership, Orenda became a thought partner to districts and schools working to transform their systems and practices to raise student achievement. An equity warrior and an advocate for justice within the educational system, her mission has been to change the odds for the twenty million kids in US schools for whom the current systems of instruction and improvement are not working — predominantly Latino, African American, and a host of students from under-resourced families.

She received her Ph.D. in Education from Stanford University and has served as a teacher, principal, district administrator, researcher, and university professor. She has written many articles on education equity and two books with Dr. Ruth S. Johnson: Shattering Inequities: Real World Wisdom for School and District Leaders and, most recently, Where Equity Lives: Eliminating Systemic Inequity Traps in Schools and Districts.

David La Salle
Founder

David La Salle

David La Salle is one of the founding members of Orenda Education (formerly Principal’s Exchange), where he served as Technology Director. He holds degrees in Computer Science and Technology Leadership. David supported Orenda with the integration of technology hardware and software and provided technical support to Orenda team members and partner schools.

What we believe

Educational Achievement Is Built by Design.

  • Every student is entitled to a premium education.

    Access to high-quality learning should never depend on a student’s zip code, school, background, or circumstances.

  • Systems shape opportunities.

    Student outcomes aren’t created by individual effort alone. Leadership, instruction, curriculum, guidance, data, and organizational systems all influence what students experience.

  • Improvement happens together.

    Sustainable change isn’t something we do to schools and districts. We work alongside educational leaders to strengthen their systems and build internal capacity.

  • Equity requires action.

    Equity is more than an aspiration. It requires intentionally examining and strengthening the systems that determine access and opportunity.

Our approach

Practitioners Working Alongside Practitioners

Our team understands schools because we’ve worked in them.

Orenda brings together professionals with experience across teaching, counseling, school leadership, district administration, curriculum and instruction, data, college and career readiness, and organizational improvement.

We combine that practitioner experience with research-based practices, continuous improvement, and systems thinking to help educational leaders turn priorities into sustainable practice.

Meet Our Team

Change the System. Change the Odds.

Our work has evolved over the decades, but our purpose remains constant: help educational leaders build the conditions that give every student access to achievement, opportunity, and every life option available to them.

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