Baltimore, Maryland
Head of The Bryn Mawr Online School — ranked #2 in the nation — Founder of Educational Acumen LLC, and a career dedicated to shaping the future of independent school education through innovative online learning and strategic consulting.
Justin D. Curtis
Head of Bryn Mawr Online School · Founder, Educational Acumen LLC
I am a dedicated educational leader with over two decades at The Bryn Mawr School in Baltimore, MD. As founder and Head of Bryn Mawr Online — an all-girls national online high school — I oversee a team of 40+ employees, lead accreditation with WASC, and drive enrollment growth across the United States.
My career spans teaching, technology leadership, and senior administration. I have built K-12 STEM programs, launched Innovation Labs, developed data analytics strategies, and served on board-level financial and strategic planning committees.
Through Educational Acumen LLC, I bring this depth of experience to schools and organizations nationwide, offering strategic consulting on online program development, school leadership, and institutional innovation.
I am also an active voice in national education — a published author in NAIS, a presenter at international conferences, and a 2020 NAIS Fellow for Aspiring School Heads.
Career
What began as a vision for expanding access to Bryn Mawr's exceptional education has become one of the nation's most recognized online schools — ranked #2 in the nation within years of launch. Building and leading Bryn Mawr Online has meant constructing an institution from the ground up: assembling and mentoring a team of over 40 faculty and staff, driving a rigorous accreditation process with the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), and developing the financial models and long-range projections that guide the school's growth. As a member of the Board of Trustees' Finance Sub-Committee, strategic decisions are made at the highest level of the institution. Nationally, the work extends beyond campus — traveling to student communities across the country, presenting at major educational conferences, and championing the possibilities of girls' online education on a global stage.
Expertise
Founded and scaled an all-girls national online high school from the ground up, including accreditation, staffing, recruitment, and financial modeling.
Board-level committee leadership in financial sustainability, strategic planning, and institutional value proposition across a 20+ year career.
Built a full K-12 Computer Science curriculum , including Maker Ed, robotics, engineering principles, and AP-level coursework.
Led school-wide data strategy covering academic performance, student outcomes, parent satisfaction, faculty evaluation, and market analysis.
Launched a 4,000 sq ft Innovation Lab, a 1:1 device program K-12, Makerspaces across divisions, and pioneered one of the first high school iPhone programming courses.
Developed tuition-independent revenue streams including online summer programs, auxiliary programs, and external partnerships to advance financial sustainability.
LLC
Through Educational Acumen LLC, I bring decades of independent school leadership experience to bear for schools, organizations, and educators navigating complex challenges in today's evolving educational landscape.
Whether you're launching an online program, strengthening academic culture, or charting a new strategic direction, Educational Acumen provides the insight and expertise to move forward with confidence.
Work With MeDesigning and launching online schools or hybrid programs from the ground up — curriculum, technology, staffing, and accreditation strategy.
Executive coaching for heads of school, division directors, and department chairs navigating leadership transitions or institutional growth.
Reviewing and redesigning academic programs to ensure rigor, engagement, and alignment with institutional mission and accreditation standards.
Facilitating long-range planning processes that engage faculty, board, and community stakeholders around a shared vision for the future.
Thought Leadership
Virtual Learning is Here to Stay: How Girls Can Thrive
Inspire Session Presenter — International Coalition of Girls Schools
In Practice: Building an Online School for Girls ↗
Featured Author — NAIS (National Association of Independent Schools)
Building Better Online Markets and Communities
Presenter — United Nations Internet Governance Forum USA
Leading Schools in Times of Crisis: Examining Budgetary Priorities
Presenter — NAIS Annual Conference
Design and Implementation Considerations for Experiential Social Innovation Programs
Presenter — NCGS Annual Conference
Fostering Student Agency through Computer Science
Presenter — ATLIS Annual Conference
Evolution of Innovation: The Bryn Mawr School's Innovation Lab
Presenter — NCGS Annual Conference & NBOA Annual Conference
From Teaching Technology to Teaching Computer Science: A K-12 Curricular Transition
Presenter — ATLIS Annual Conference
Curriculum Driven Makerspace Development
Panelist — ATLIS Webinar
In a Competitive Job Market, One School Looks Outside the Box ↗
Co-Author — NAIS Featured Article
Charting a New Course: Reinventing High School Classes for the New Millennium
Featured — Chapter 3, Information Age Publishing
NAIS Publications
Both articles are available to read in full below — no NAIS login required.
NAIS Independent School Magazine, Spring 2024
NAIS Independent Ideas Blog, October 2017 — Co-authored with Elaine Swyryn
Get in Touch
Interested in online education, partnerships, consulting, or speaking engagements? Send a message below or connect on LinkedIn.
Consulting
educationalacumen.comBased In
Baltimore, Maryland
Available For
Consulting engagements & speaking at national conferences