About me
Vanessa Fortney is an educational leader specializing in secondary education, with a strong commitment to advancing equity, inclusion, and opportunity for all scholars. She currently serves as Principal of Rancho Medanos Junior High in Pittsburg Unified School District, where she leads initiatives that strengthen both student outcomes and school culture. Vanessa’s instructional leadership focuses on fostering spaces of belonging and joy for all members of the school community while aligning policy, practice, and culturally responsive teaching to ensure rigorous, high-quality learning for every student. She leads with empathy, equity, and collaboration, striving to design sustainable systems that support the whole child and empower educators to do their best work. As a first-generation lifelong learner, Vanessa believes deeply in the transformative power of education and is committed to helping students and communities thrive.
