Kashani Stokley is a proud Brooklyn native, seasoned senior executive, educator, and creative visionary whose life’s work bridges the power of artistic expression with strategic leadership in education.

His artistic journey began at age 9 with the New Experience Dance Ensemble (N.E.D.E.). By 12, he was already sharing what he was learning with other youth, and by 14, he became an assistant teacher at N.E.D.E. His training includes the Broadway Dance Center, Alvin Ailey School, Martha Graham School, and Djoniba Dance and Drum Centre.

In 1988, at just 12 years old, Kashani founded the K.S. J.A.M.M. Dance Troupe, where he continues to serve as Founder & Executive Director. Over the past three decades, the troupe has served more than 1,000 students and produced over 35 recitals, cultivating young dancers’ talent while fostering leadership, teamwork, cultural pride, and community transformation through dance, choreography, and costume design.

Kashani brings over 20 years of operations leadership experience across various K–12 charter school networks, supporting schools through every stage of development—from start-up, to growth, to established institutions. He currently serves as Executive Director of Network Operations for Capital Preparatory Schools, a network of charter schools in Connecticut, New York City, and Upstate New York. In this role, he oversees multi-million-dollar operational budgets and drives strategic initiatives across campuses. His unique dual perspective as both an arts educator and an executive operations leader positions him to build sustainable, creative, and equitable systems that empower youth and strengthen communities. 

A committed lifelong learner, Kashani holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from The College of New Rochelle, a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Columbia Business School, and a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from Mercy University and has been inducted into Delta Mu Delta International Honor Society in Business. He is currently pursuing his Doctorate in Education (Ed.D.) in Community-Based Leadership at the City University of New York, College of Staten Island, School of Education.

In 2025, Kashani expanded his vision with the founding of Stokley Creative Groundz: Arts & EDStrategy LLC, a consultancy and incubator rooted in culturally responsive arts programming and operational excellence in charter schools. Through this venture, he provides strategic guidance to schools, arts organizations, and community programs, leveraging more than three decades of experience leading high-performing teams in the nonprofit and education sectors.

Whether in the dance studio, in schools, or in the boardroom, Kashani’s mission remains the same: to empower youth through creativity, discipline and opportunity.