Darko N. Šimunović serves as Chief Campus Operations Officer at IDEA Public Schools, bringing more than a decade of experience driving operational excellence in public education. In his role, he will provide strategic leadership across the systems and functions that support IDEA campuses, including campus operations, facilities and construction, capital planning, real estate, information technology, safety and security, food services, and student enrollment.
Prior to joining IDEA, Darko served as Chief Operating Officer at Noble Schools, where he provided strategic leadership for operational functions across 18 campuses serving more than 12,000 students and 1,700 staff. He is a systems thinker who specializes in transforming complex operational challenges into sustainable, organization-wide solutions. His approach combines strategic vision with disciplined execution, using data to inform decisions, strengthen cross-functional collaboration, and build scalable and efficient systems centered on the needs of students, staff, and families.
Darko began his career as a Teach For America corps member before becoming a school leader and founding and leading a high-performing high school as principal. His experience on the campus and in the classroom has shaped his belief that operational excellence is not an end in itself, but a means of creating the conditions for students and educators to thrive.
He is committed to ensuring strong operations serve as a foundation for student success and believes every operational decision should ultimately create better experiences and greater opportunities for students, staff, and families.
