Superintendents of Color Leading with Excellence

When it comes to school leadership, Black female superintendents are still under-represented in the educator workforce. And yet, they lead with excellence in the face of continuous racial barriers and constraints.

May 23, 2024 by Ed Trust

This month marks the 70th anniversary of Brown v. Board. When it comes to school leadership, Black female superintendents are still under-represented in the educator workforce. And yet, they lead with excellence in the face of continuous racial barriers and constraints. This is why EdTrust and The School Superintendents Association (AASA) are cohosting a virtual event, “Superintendents of Color Leading with Excellence,” to highlight the incredible work that Black female superintendents do on a daily basis to help students in their district succeed. This virtual event takes place Thursday, May 23, 2024, from 6-7:30 p.m. ET.

May is also Mental Health Awareness Month — a time to underscore how every student deserves to learn in an environment that supports their social and emotional well-being. This is especially crucial for students of color and students from low-income backgrounds, who are far too often denied access to the resources they need to reach their full potential. Black female superintendents are equipped to help students tackle these challenges, because as Black women, they know firsthand what it takes to thrive in environments fraught with racism, classism, and sexism. This lived experience fuels their work to meet their students’ social, emotional, and academic development (SEAD) needs and ensure that all students leave the P-12 school system with the tools to succeed in college and career.

Panelists

Adrienne Battle headshotDr. Adrienne Battle
Superintendent of Metro Nashville Public Schools

LaTanya McDade headshotDr. LaTanya D. McDade
Superintendent of Prince William County Public Schools, Virginia

Tiffany Anderson headshotDr. Tiffany Anderson
Superintendent of Topeka, Kansas Public Schools

Tahira Dupree Chase headshotDr. Tahira Dupree-Chase
Superintendent of Westbury Union Free School District, New York

Guest Speakers

Karen Pittman headshotKaren Pittman
Founding Partner
Knowledge to Power Catalysts

Dawn Brown headshotDawn Brown
Director, Cross Cultural Innovation & Engagement Task Force
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

Nyah Hamlett headshotNyah Hamlett
Superintendent for Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools (NC)

Trey Baker headshotTrey Baker
Author & Rising Voices mentor, special advisor to the Obama Foundation & MBK

Arthur Jones headshotModerator
Arthur Jones, II
ABC News producer/reporter

“Superintendents of Color Leading with Excellence” will uplift the progress that Black female superintendents have made, explore the challenges and opportunities in creating safe and nurturing school environments in today’s contentious political environment, and showcase how these leaders center equity and student mental health in their work. Register for “Leading with Excellence” today.

AASA logo

NAMI logo

Black Teacher Project logo

Campaign for Our Shared Future logo

Educators for Excellence logo

National Parents Union logo

National Equity Project logo

Education Leaders of Color

National Center for School Mental Health logo

Donors Choose logo

One Million Teachers of Color logo

Center for Black Educator Development logo

Supported by the Wallace Foundation