Mike Cobb will be joining Mission & Data in June 2024 as our Senior Innovation and Organizational Excellence Strategist, supporting clients in strategic planning, organizational transformation and effectiveness projects, enrollment management and marketing engagements, and innovation initiatives.

Mike Cobb is a visionary and results-oriented educational leader with a track record of successfully steering schools towards organizational excellence. With over 34 years of experience, he has served as an accomplished classroom teacher, division head, enrollment management leader, and head of school. A sought-after international speaker on educational innovation, Mike is the co-founder of the Sandbox, a  collaborative futurist think tank where thought leaders share visions in a grown-up sandbox setting. Inspired by the unstructured nature of playground sandboxes, the Sandbox network emphasizes the value of unscripted dialogue between thought leaders and fosters the authentic exchange of innovative ideas in the realms of education and leadership.

Prior to joining Mission & Data, Mike served as the Interim Head of NEOM Community Schools and Senior Manager of NEOM Baccalaureate in Saudi Arabia. Mike led the NEOM Education, Research, and Innovation sector through strategic vision work, resulting in plans for the Baccalaureate program, Centers for Excellence, and future campuses. He created and implemented a professional development program for leadership, faculty, and staff, successfully launching programs for the Centers of Excellence, including AI & Robotics, Sustainability, NEOM X, Entrepreneurship & Leadership, Oceanographic Studies, and Teaching & Learning. 

Previously, Mike served as the Head of School at All Saints Episcopal School in Tyler, Texas. Under his leadership, the school underwent strategic vision work resulting in new North Star documents: Mission and Core Values. He led a successful Enrollment Management program, achieving unprecedented growth and sustainability. Mike also successfully spearheaded a capital campaign and led over 30 construction projects, including nationally recognized learning spaces such as the Center For Innovation, The Collaboratory, Outdoor Learning Center, Lower School Learning Villages, Learning Farm and more.

During his 20-year tenure at The Oakridge School in Arlington, Texas, Mike held various roles during his educational leadership journey, including Director of Admissions and Enrollment, Head of Middle School, and Director of Summer Programs. He led strategic initiatives in admissions, developed innovative admission assessments, and restructured admissions programs and the Oakridge Ambassador program. As Head of Middle School, he successfully launched a 1:1 laptop initiative (Learn 21), emphasized character education and wellness, and organized comprehensive programs for authentic learning and student agency.

In addition to his role as Senior Innovation and Organizational Excellence Strategist at Mission & Data, Mike will be joining Forsyth Country Day School near Winston-Salem, North Carolina, as Futurist in Residence, where he will contribute to the school's forward-thinking initiatives and innovative approaches. Pairing his consulting practice with an on-campus innovation thought leadership role is an exciting opportunity to leverage his insights and expertise to create transformative experiences for students and educators.

Mike’s career reflects a dedication to transformative education, organizational excellence, innovative leadership, and continuous learning with participation in programs such as Dare to Lead Trainer Certification, SAP Certified Associate in Design Thinking, the NAIS Aspiring Heads Fellowship, NAIS New Heads Institute, Vanderbilt University's Peabody Fellow in the Institute for Independent School Leadership, and more.