KANSAS CITY—SparkWheel is pleased to announce the appointment of Juan Rangel, Jr. as its new Vice President of Metro Expansion. In this role, Rangel will lead strategic growth efforts, engaging with the education and philanthropic community to advance SparkWheel’s work helping students and their families. 

Rangel brings more than 30 years of experience with nonprofits, education and community engagement.  He directed programs at Donnelly College and Metropolitan Community College, and served in board leadership roles with Rockhurst University, Swope Health and Kauffman Schools.   

Most recently, Rangel served as Chief Partnership Officer at SchoolSmartKC, a leading voice in education for Kansas City. SchoolSmartKC has been a consistent supporter of SparkWheel and Rangel’s tenure there boosted family engagement, expanded Real World Learning, and strengthened mental health systems in schools.   

“We are thrilled to welcome Juan to the SparkWheel team. He understands the challenges faced by local students and families, and his unwavering dedication to the community makes him the ideal leader to guide our expansion efforts,” said Malissa Martin, President and CEO.   

Juan holds a bachelor’s degree in international business, marketing and Spanish from Northwest Missouri State University, and a master’s in urban education from Kansas State University. A lifelong Kansas Citian, Juan and his wife, Denise, reside in Raymore.  

About SparkWheel

SparkWheel is a nonprofit organization dedicated to removing barriers, filling unmet needs, and helping students and families thrive. We serve more than 30,000 students in K-12, early childhood, and post-secondary schools in 60 schools across Kansas and Missouri. For more information, visit www.sparkwheel.org