# Ronald J. Packard

> Ronald J. Packard, commonly known as Ron Packard, founded K12, the online education company now called Stride, and later co-founded Pansophic Learning. He is founder and CEO of Global School Management and an author whose work centers on individualized learning, school operations and educational choice.

- **Role:** Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Global School Management
- **Organizations:** Global School Management, Pansophic Learning, ACCEL Schools, K12 Inc. (now Stride, Inc.), Knowledge Universe, Knowledge Schools, McKinsey & Company, Goldman Sachs
- **Education:** Undergraduate studies in economics and mechanical engineering; official biographies report B.A. and B.S. with honors, University of California, Berkeley, MBA with honors, University of Chicago Booth School of Business
- **Known for:** Founded K12 and led its December 2007 IPO., Co-founded Pansophic Learning in 2014 with Maria Szalay., Authored Education Transformation (2013).

## Career timeline

- **1986-1988** — Worked in mergers and acquisitions at Goldman Sachs.
- **1989** — Completed MBA at the University of Chicago.
- **1989-1993** — Worked at McKinsey & Company.
- **1994-1997** — Worked on government permitting for a forestry project in Chile, as described in his 2009 interview.
- **1997-2000** — Vice president at Knowledge Universe.
- **1998-2002** — CEO of Knowledge Schools, according to K12’s 2007 SEC filing.
- **2000** — Started K12; he dates its operating beginning to the first employee’s arrival in April.
- **2001** — K12 began serving students in Pennsylvania and Colorado.
- **2007** — Became CEO in May after serving as chairman; led K12 through its December public listing.
- **2008** — Received a Greater Washington Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award in IT services.
- **2013** — Published Education Transformation.
- **2014** — Stepped down as K12 CEO in January; launched Pansophic Learning with Safanad in June.
- **2025** — GSM announced strategic growth investment from BDT & MSD Partners on June 18.

## Achievements

- Founded K12 and led its December 2007 IPO.
- Co-founded Pansophic Learning in 2014 with Maria Szalay.
- Authored Education Transformation (2013).
- Received a 2008 Greater Washington Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award in the IT category.
- Received the Education Industry Association’s James P. Boyle leadership award.
- Recognized by Chicago Booth with a Distinguished Alumni Award.

## Latest updates

- **2025-06** — GSM announced investment from BDT & MSD Partners with continued Safanad backing; it reported more than 190 schools and approximately 55,000 K-12 students.
- **2025-07** — Banning Lewis Academy’s school news quoted Packard as ACCEL Schools CEO in coverage of its ALIVE25 awards.

## Links

- Website: https://gsmed.com/global-team/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ron-packard-24a1412

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/ronald-j-packard
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Last updated: 2026-10-20