Executive Director

With a vision for building something meaningful, our founder brings a blend of big-picture thinking and hands-on experience.
They set the tone for everything we do.

Board Member & Vice President, Marketing and Communications

As a Board Member and VP of Marketing and Communications, Hilary Ritt brings a blend of strategic leadership, educational expertise, and deep community commitment to supporting the mission of the Albemarle Foundation for Education. Hilary’s career spans instructional technology, curriculum design, and product strategy, with roles at Teachstone, Child Care Aware of America, and the University of Florida’s Lastinger Center.

Board President

Randy Tripp, Jr. is a founding board member of AFE and currently serves as Board President. Professionally, he is the Director of Scholarship and Alumni Services for the Ron Brown Scholar Program, a national nonprofit dedicated to nurturing the next generation of African American leaders through scholarship, education, mentorship, and community engagement.

Ex-Officio Board Member

Kate Acuff brings deep experience in law, policy, public health, education, nonprofit leadership, and public service to her role with the Albemarle Foundation for Education (AFE). She was recently re-elected to the Albemarle County Public Schools (ACPS) Board for her fourth term and also serves as the Executive Director of Partner for Mental Health, a local nonprofit dedicated to ensuring a mental health safety net for some of the most vulnerable members of the community.

Vice President for Finance and Governance

Joining the Albemarle Foundation for Education (AFE) Board in August 2025, Susan (Sue) Bell Friedman serves as Vice President for Finance and Governance. Sue is currently a substitute teacher for Albemarle County Public Schools (ACPS) and serves as an election official.

Secretary

Ricki spent her career as a television producer at various networks and retired from Turner Broadcasting, having worked for TNT, tbs, and Turner Classic Movies for over 18 years.  Among other roles there, she served as a Production Executive for live events and specials, including the Screen Actors Guild Awards, the annual Christmas in Washington concert, which benefitted the Children’s National Hospital, and the Just for Laughs Chicago Comedy Festival. 

Superintendent, Albemarle County Public Schools

Dr. Haas brings more than thirty-five years of experience in public education, with expertise in instructional leadership, organizational improvement, and strategic planning. During his tenure, ACPS adopted a community-driven strategic plan, strengthened instructional practices through an independent audit and ongoing progress monitoring, and expanded innovative college and career readiness programs.