Presence Announces Leadership Transition, Naming Jess Wang Chief Executive Officer and Kate Eberle Walker Executive Chair

Wang brings proven leadership to accelerate Presence's growth and technology innovation as schools face increasing need for trusted special education support

NEW YORK, Nov. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Presence, a leading provider of K–12 special education technology and teletherapy services, today announced Jess Wang has been appointed Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Kate Eberle Walker, who has transitioned to Executive Chair of the company's Board of Directors. The transition marks the next chapter for Presence as the company builds on its national scale, strengthens its technology offerings, and expands its ability to help more schools meet the evolving needs of students with special needs.

Wang, who has served as Presence's Chief Operating Officer since 2024, steps into the CEO role with deep knowledge of the business, strong relationships with customers and clinicians, and a proven track record of strengthening operational performance. Her appointment is a leadership transition designed to provide continuity, accelerate innovation, and position Presence for sustainable long-term growth.

The transition comes as schools face persistent staffing shortages, growing administrative demands, and increasing pressure to deliver effective special education services. More than ever, districts need trusted partners that combine experienced clinicians, purposeful technology, and dependable support.

Experienced Leadership for a Critical Moment in Special Education

Wang brings decades of experience spanning education, technology, and workforce development, with a proven track record of building and scaling national education organizations. She began her career as a public high school social studies teacher and Master Teacher, mentoring the next generation of educators. She later held senior leadership roles at education technology company 2U, Inc., where she built and led large, distributed teams, developed graduate programs for speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, and counseling professionals, and launched and scaled technology-enabled education services. Her experience driving enterprise-wide operational transformation, combined with her firsthand understanding of the classroom and the challenges of developing a qualified workforce, gives her a unique perspective on the evolving needs of schools, educators, and clinicians.

"Schools are being asked to do more than ever to support students with diverse learning needs, often with fewer resources," Wang said. "They need partners they can trust, technology that solves real problems, and services they can depend on. Presence is uniquely positioned to deliver on those needs. We have an exceptional team, innovative technology, and a clear vision for making special education more connected, efficient, and effective. I'm excited to lead our next chapter with a focus on delivering for the schools, clinicians, and students who count on us."

Building on a Strong Foundation of Growth and Innovation

Wang succeeds Walker following eight years of significant growth that transformed Presence into a national leader in special education technology and services. Under Walker's leadership, the company expanded its reach, invested in technology innovation, and completed strategic acquisitions that broadened its capabilities and strengthened its position in the market.

Today, Presence partners with more than 11,000 schools across 47 states, supports a network of more than 2,000 licensed clinicians, and has delivered over 8 million remote evaluations and teletherapy sessions. Strategic milestones, including the acquisition of Global Teletherapy and Education Modified, have expanded Presence's ability to deliver critical student services, streamline special education workflows, and give schools greater visibility into student supports.

"Leading Presence through eight years of growth and transformation has been one of the greatest privileges of my career," Walker said. "I'm incredibly proud of the company we've built, the talented team behind it, and the millions of students we've helped support. We've established a strong foundation and tremendous momentum, and I couldn't be more confident in Jess as the leader to take Presence forward."

Walker will remain actively involved in supporting Presence's long-term strategy and mission in partnership with Wang and the Board.

Accelerating Purposeful Technology Innovation and Customer Impact

Under Wang's leadership, Presence will continue advancing its technology strategy while maintaining a strong focus on serving more students and schools.

Through its expanding technology offerings, Presence is helping schools reduce administrative burden, improve coordination, and gain greater visibility into student services. The company is also advancing responsible applications of artificial intelligence that support educator and clinician expertise while keeping qualified professionals at the center of student engagement.

Presence recently promoted Felipe Murillo to Chief Technology Officer, reinforcing its commitment to secure, scalable, and intelligent technology. Murillo oversees engineering, cybersecurity, and AI strategy as Presence builds a more integrated technology experience for schools and clinicians.

With an experienced leadership team, established customer partnerships, and continued support from investors including Spectrum Equity, TPG Rise Fund, and Bain Capital Double Impact, Presence is positioned to accelerate growth and help schools deliver more effective, connected special education services.

About Presence

Presence is a leading provider of teletherapy services and technology for K–12 schools. Since 2009, Presence has helped schools address students' special education-related and mental health needs by connecting them with a nationwide network of licensed clinicians, award-winning technology, and end-to-end clinical support. Presence is helping schools, students, and clinicians succeed, wherever they are.

SOURCE Presence