Encantos, the storyteaching platform connecting creators with kids to inspire them to learn 21st-century skills, today announced the appointment of Anna María Chávez to the newly created position of Chief Impact Officer (CIO). As CIO, Anna María will develop, lead and implement Encantos’ impact strategy and initiatives including strategic partnerships, corporate and public affairs, and community impact activities. In addition, Anna María will become the President of Encantos.org, a new non-profit focused on advancing the understanding of the importance of 21st-century learning, literacy, and life skills for children through the development of research, programs, and fellowships.

“Anna María is a trailblazer, a storyteacher, and one of the most distinguished public service and non-profit leaders in the world”

The CIO will oversee the portfolio of programs, partners, and related products and services, engaging with the community, educators, government, and business leaders to ensure the continuous evaluation, learning, and effectiveness of Encantos’ storyteaching platform and impact initiatives. Anna María will report to Encantos’ CEO and Co-Founder Steven Wolfe Pereira and become a member of the Encantos Executive Team.

Chávez brings over 25 years of extensive experience in education, government and non-profit organizational leadership and management, including growing businesses, building corporate and non-profit partnerships, and advocating for children and under-served populations with federal and state legislators. Chávez was most recently the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National School Boards

Association (NSBA), the leading advocate for public education supporting equity and excellence in public education through school board leadership. Previously, she was the Interim President and CEO for the National Council on Aging (NCOA) and for five years Chávez served as Chief Executive Officer of Girl Scouts of the USA.

“Anna María is a trailblazer, a storyteacher, and one of the most distinguished public service and non-profit leaders in the world,” said Steven Wolfe Pereira, Chief Executive Officer, Encantos. “Throughout her career, Anna María has been inspiring kids to learn collaboration, critical thinking, STEM, resiliency, leadership, and other 21st-century skills. A true champion of diversity, equality, and inclusion, Anna María understands our purpose and embodies our values, and we could not be more proud to have her join the Encantos familia.”

“After a year and half of leading through COVID-19 Pandemic, I have witnessed the great need to reimagine both what and how kids learn,” said Anna María Chávez. “Through their innovative storyteaching platform, Encantos is democratizing and diversifying learning for kids around the world. With their commitment to creating a curated, personalized, and safe environment, Encantos is extending the learning experience from the classroom into the living room. I’m so excited to join the incredible Encantos team and help drive real impact so kids can learn the 21st-century skills they need to thrive.”

In addition to her role as Chief Impact Officer, Chávez will also serve as President of the newly-formed Encantos.org. Encantos.org is being created as the philanthropic arm of Encantos to raise awareness and understanding of the importance of 21st-century skills in education and to provide assistance to families and underserved communities who will benefit from the impact of the Encantos storyteaching methodology and curriculum. With the establishment of Encantos.org, the company seeks to close the gaps in educational equity, provide supplemental and enrichment opportunities for children outside of the classroom, and help school districts redefine their curricula to include the important 21st-century skills that will define success for this next generation of students.

In 2015, the World Economic Forum released a seminal report called “New Vision for Education: Unlocking the Potential of Technology” which provided a detailed analysis of the research literature to define the 16 most critical “21st-century skills” organized into three main areas. The competencies for how students approach complex challenges are the “learning skills” such as creativity, critical thinking, and communication; the foundational literacies for how students apply core skills to everyday tasks are the “literacy skills” such as civics, financial literacy, and STEM; and the character qualities for how students approach their changing environment are the “life skills” such as adaptability, leadership, and social and cultural awareness. In her new role as President of Encantos.org, Chávez will collaborate with major research institutions and universities to advance the understanding of the importance of these skills and advocate for their inclusion in both the classroom and the living room.

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