Taking the Leap: The Journey to Founding OptimizED Strategic Solutions

By Dr. Rupak Gandhi

For the past several years, I’ve had the incredible privilege of serving Fargo Public Schools as its Superintendent, working alongside passionate educators, dedicated families, and a supportive community. Leaving this role is one of the most challenging decisions of my life. My heart remains tethered to the district, the students, and the many colleagues I respect deeply across all roles. However, I am stepping away—not because of dissatisfaction, but because of a calling that is equally profound.

OptimizED Strategic Solutions was born out of my unwavering passion for educational justice and innovation. In founding this venture with my wife and best friend, Dr. Britney Gandhi, I see an opportunity to transform how mission-driven organizations—especially schools—navigate today’s complex challenges. Together, Britney and I have taken a bold leap into the unknown, leaving behind the stability of public education leadership to create something that fills a glaring need in our field.

Embracing Risk for a Worthy Purpose

As educators, we don’t often take risks. Public institutions, by design, are steeped in processes meant to avoid failure. We’ve all seen what happens when innovation doesn’t go as planned—the backlash can set organizations back years (remember the high-profile challenges at LA Unified when launching an AI chatbot?). This aversion to risk isn’t just organizational; it’s personal. For those of us in public service, there’s a deep-seated reliance on job stability and pensions—a luxury not always afforded in the private sector.

So why take this leap? Because I believe it’s worth it.

This decision allows me to embrace the most precious gifts of all: more time with my young children, the privilege of working side-by-side with Britney, and the freedom to choose projects that align with my values. Through OptimizED, we are creating a space where innovation can thrive without fear, where schools and mission-driven organizations can access solutions tailored to their unique challenges without bearing the risk themselves.

The Human Side of Technology

At OptimizED, we bridge the gap between cutting-edge technology and its practical adoption in schools, nonprofits, and other mission-focused organizations. Our work is not about selling a single product or offering general advice. Instead, we focus on delivering individualized, scalable solutions that empower our clients to achieve greater efficiency, accuracy, and impact—without overwhelming their already stretched resources.

For schools, this means providing tools and processes that align with their needs, enabling educators to focus on what they do best: teaching and nurturing our youth. For other mission-driven organizations, it means harnessing technology to streamline operations, amplify their reach, and achieve their goals with precision and speed.

Staying True to Educational Justice

At its core, OptimizED is about educational justice. Our world is changing rapidly, and schools are encountering students with increasingly diverse needs, preparing them for an unpredictable workforce shaped by technological evolution. Meeting these demands requires a shift in the educational paradigm—one that leans on technology but doesn’t add unreasonable burdens to teachers or staff.

That’s where we come in. We take on the risk of innovation, testing and iterating our solutions until they are ready for our clients to implement seamlessly. By ensuring each tool and strategy is field-tested and adaptable, we allow our clients to focus on their mission with confidence that they’re equipped for success.

A Leap Worth Taking

OptimizED represents the fulfillment of a dream I didn’t know I had until recently: to create a company that lives at the intersection of education, technology, and educational justice. While this leap from public service to private consulting is daunting, it’s also exhilarating. I believe deeply in the work Britney and I are doing, and I know the impact we can make together will far outweigh the uncertainty of this journey.

To the organizations seeking to innovate but hesitant to take the risk, let us do it for you. To the communities we serve, know that we remain committed to creating solutions that elevate everyone involved. And to my colleagues, past and present, across all roles at Fargo Public Schools: thank you for shaping me into the leader I am today. Your dedication, support, and belief in our shared mission inspire me to take this leap with confidence.

Here’s to taking the leap—and to building a future we can all be proud of.