Women’s Policy Leadership for K-12 Education

About the Presenters

Dr. Christina M. Kishimoto is the founder and CEO of Voice4Equity, LLC and a Professor of Clinical Education at the USC Rossier School of Education. A native of the South Bronx in New York City, she is a bold advocate for social justice and a national leader on education policy and equity matters. Prior to founding Voice4Equity, Dr. Kishimoto led education systems in Hartford, Connecticut; Gilbert, Arizona; and most recently as the State Superintendent of Education for the state of Hawaii. She has served on a number of boards including the Council of Chief State School Officers, the Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents, and the Nellie Mae Education Foundation. Dr. Kishimoto is a proud recipient of the Connecticut Collins Bennett-Marcus Garvey Service to Community Award, the Maria C. Sanchez Education Leadership Award, and the AZ Chamber of Commerce Leon Uhlhorn Chairman’s Award.

Dr. Julie Vitale is the School Superintendent of Oceanside Unified School District since 2018, and previously served in the top seat at Romoland School District. Ten years of executive-level leadership has emboldened Dr. Vitale to leverage her positional power to lead honest discourse about equity and inclusivity for students, staff and community. Under her leadership, the Oceanside school board instituted a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Department; raised the pride flag at district offices for the third year in a row; and partnered with the North County LGBTQ Resource Center for staff training. In addition, she was part of the inaugural “Lead with Pride Summit,” sponsored by the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA), where she served as conference chair. This conference is a first of its kind to focus on creating safe and affirming spaces for LGBTQIA+ students and staff. Dr. Vitale has a Ph.D. in urban education and leadership from Claremont Graduate University.

Dr. Anna Alvarado began serving as Superintendent of Schools in the Freeport School District on July 1st, 2019. She has been in education for 35 years, previously serving as the Chief Officer for Teaching and Learning at Chicago Public Schools and prior to that as the Deputy Chief of Teaching and Learning, Chief of Schools, and Deputy Chief of Schools at Chicago Public Schools. Since 2016, she has also been an adjunct professor at National Louis University. Dr. Alvarado holds a Doctor of Education degree from National Louis University (2017). She also holds a Master of Arts degree from Northeastern Illinois University (2004) and a Bachelor of Arts degree from College of the Holy Spirit (1982). Dr. Alvarado is a Certified Superintendent in Illinois.

Dr. Christina Grant is the Executive Director for the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University. Prior to her role with CEPR, she was the State Superintendent for the District of Columbia. Previous to D.C., she was Chief of Charters and Innovation for The School District of Philadelphia, where she worked to expand new school models and instructional methods designed to meet students’ diverse needs. Throughout her career, Dr. Grant has demonstrated a commitment to educational equity and access for all students—particularly those from marginalized communities. She is the past Superintendent of the Great Oaks Foundation, a charter management organization that opens schools in high-need communities. In that role, Dr. Grant supported and coached principals, managed professional development, monitored performance evaluations, and launched schools in New York, Connecticut, and Delaware. She got her start in education as a public school teacher in Harlem, N.Y., through Teach For America. Dr. Grant has a doctorate in education from the University of Pennsylvania, a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Teachers College of Columbia University, and degrees from Fordham University and Hofstra University.