Dr. Ray Ankrum Sr. exemplifies visionary leadership in education. As the superintendent of a prominent urban charter school district in New York, he's relentlessly pursued academic excellence and nurtured potential within underserved communities. His commitment has yielded tangible results: his district is the top-performing unionized charter school in student proficiency rates for ELA/Math (2022-2023). Dr. Ankrum's impact extends beyond academics. The district's third consecutive 5-year Charter Renewal, the maximum duration allowed in New York, signifies the exceptional quality of education provided under his leadership. This tenure has witnessed the district's expansion from K-8 to K-12, culminating in the momentous graduation of its first senior class in 2024. Dr. Ankrum's passion goes beyond administrative success. He vehemently advocates for inclusivity, particularly for Black male leadership in education. Recognizing their profound influence on student outcomes and community engagement, Dr. Ankrum has become a key figure in shaping policies that empower and support these leaders. His research agenda, grounded in his dissertation titled "BLACK MALE PRINCIPALS’ ENGAGING BLACK PARENTS IN URBAN CHARTER SCHOOLS: AN INTERVIEW STUDY” (defended at Manhattanville University, December 2023), tackles the dynamic role of school leaders in urban charter schools. His research centers on several key objectives: Understanding the Lived Experiences of Black Male School Leaders: Using qualitative methods, Dr. Ankrum delves into Black male school leaders’ unique challenges and triumphs. Black Parent Engagement in Urban Charter Schools: He examines Black parent engagement through Epstein's six types of parent involvement and assesses their contributions. Impact of Black Male Leadership on Parent Engagement: Dr. Ankrum investigates the specific influence Black male leadership has on parent engagement, aiming to inform interventions that strengthen this vital relationship. Black Male Care (BMC) Framework: He employs Bass's BMC framework to analyze Black male school leaders’ caregiving practices, emotional labor, and relational dynamics. Barriers and Facilitators to Black Male Leadership: This research arm identifies roadblocks and supports for Black male leadership in urban charter schools, aiming to improve recruitment, retention, and professional development strategies. Dr. Ankrum's dedication to amplifying Black male school leaders' voices, untangling the complexities of parent engagement, and informing practices that empower educators and parents in urban charter schools is unwavering. His vision is to create more equitable and prosperous educational environments for all stakeholders.

Christine Ferris is a veteran educator who has worked in public, private, and charter schools since 1989. She is the Executive Director of Highline Academy Charter Schools, a two school network serving a diverse community of students in Denver. Highline Academy Southeast was awarded as a national Blue Ribbon school in 2020. She founded and led Our Community School, a K-8 charter school in Los Angeles CA from 2005 to 2013. In 2009 the school was recognized as the charter school of the year in California for their progress toward narrowing the opportunity gap. She has been a consultant for multiple charters in Denver, Los Angeles, and nationally.

Amy Kiyota is the CEO of Impact Public Schools. With a background in education and non-profit management, Kiyota has devoted her professional life to promoting success and possibility for schools, organizations, and causes. Kiyota was a Philly Fellow with the Philadelphia Education Fund where she introduced data-driven analysis and calculated parameters for defining performance. She was also directly involved in the resource development of the organization. Kiyota then went on to work for the Asian Arts Initiative, where she focused on fundraising. Her success in these roles was recognized at the highest levels of local government and she was appointed as the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Governor's Advisory Commission on Asian American Affairs. Born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, Kiyota attended Columbia University’s Teachers College. During this time, she worked as a student consultant with the Center for Public Research and Leadership, helping districts across the country navigate transitional programs. Kiyota also earned a master’s degree in Economics and Education. For her undergraduate studies, she attended Ursinus College, graduating summa cum laude with a BA in East Asian Studies and minors in Secondary Education and Japanese. Her first job after completing her studies was as the Managing Director of Development at Educators 4 Excellence - Connecticut, a teacher voice and policy organization. Before joining Impact Public Schools, Kiyota was Director of Operations for the Brooklyn-based Uncommon Public Charter School - Leadership Prep Brownsville Middle Academy. In this role, she was responsible for the school’s administrative operations including finances, HR, admissions and enrollment, and student information.

Pablo Cesar Villavicencio is the CEO of Alliance College-Ready Public Schools, a nonprofit public charter school network in Los Angeles that serves over 12,500 scholars across 26 high-performing charter public schools and has over 20,000 alumni. Pablo is a first-generation college graduate and is a proud Los Angeles native. His deep experience in teaching and leading schools and school systems that serve underserved communities is grounded in his first-hand belief that all children, regardless of zip code deserve a high-quality education. Prior, Pablo served as Alliance’s President, where he oversaw the critical functions of school management, teaching & learning, and the work with diverse learners, school leadership development, counseling & college success, and Alliance’s focus on scholars, families and communities. Pablo joined Alliance in 2017 as Chief Schools Officer. He was responsible for setting the vision for coaching and development of Alliance’s school leaders. Pablo was integral in launching Alliance’s first Scholars, Families, and Communities team, which has focused on ensuring that Alliance schools address the whole child through social-emotional learning practices, and connections with families and the community. Pablo was integral in developing the School Instructional Support team, which was a school support model designed to improve teaching and learning. Pablo oversaw Alliance’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the pivot to distance learning, and enacting comprehensive health and safety protocols, in addition to Alliance’s return to in-person learning in August 2021. Prior to returning to Los Angeles, Pablo served as a Deputy Chief for the Oakland Unified School District where he focused on innovation for low-performing schools. He was also the Director of Principal Leadership and Support for High Schools in San Francisco Unified School District supervising principals. Before he dedicated time in Northern California, he served families in the Bronx, New York as a teacher and Academic Dean before becoming the Founding Principal of a New York City public school. Like many children of immigrants, Pablo was underserved in low-performing urban schools in El Sereno. Pablo was the first in his family to graduate from college -- the University of California, Berkeley. Pablo holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Economy of Industrialized Societies from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Master of Education in Dual Language/Bilingual General Education from the Bank Street College of Education. He is a Teach for America, New Leaders, New York City Leadership Academy, and Cambiar Catalyst Fellowship Alum.

Jen Davis Wickens has led the launch of over a dozen high performing Pre-K-12 schools across various states throughout her career. She is the innovative founder of Impact Public Schools, the largest network of public charter schools in Washington State. A graduate of Willamette University, Davis Wickens earned her Master’s Degree in education from Seattle University. She then trained as a school administrator with New Leaders for New Schools, and was selected as a Stanford Principal fellow. Prior to founding Impact Public Schools, Davis Wickens co-founded the Washington state charter sector, and served as the Chief Regional Officer for Summit Public Schools. Under her leadership, Summit Public Schools grew its first out of state region into Washington state. Davis Wickens held the position of Vice President of Teaching and Learning at Envision Schools, and she served as the founding principal of Impact Academy. Davis Wickens has long been a champion of the public charter school movement, advising and consulting with non-profits and school districts across the country in efforts to provide every child access to excellent academic opportunities. Jen Davis Wickens is a member of the board of Othello Square and an active volunteer for the National Charity League. She is a member of the the Young President’s Organization - Seattle Chapter.