Dr. Marcy Burroughs has served as Superintendent of Sumter County School District since 2023. Her path there ran through school improvement work at the Alabama State Department of Education, a Curriculum and Instruction Director role in Bessemer City Schools, and assistant principal positions in Tuscaloosa and Dallas County. She holds degrees from Stillman College, the University of Alabama, the University of West Alabama, and a doctorate from Samford University.

Katina Smith Keener is Associate Director of Student Services for Gloucester County Public Schools, where her entire career in education has taken place. She previously served as principal of Achilles Elementary School. She holds a degree from William & Mary.

Anthony Da Marto has served in public education for more than 24 years, with a steadfast commitment to advancing equity and access in underserved communities. He spent 17 years as a school psychologist before transitioning to an administrative role in the Natomas Unified School District. In his current capacity, Mr. Da Marto provides leadership and oversight for student health and wellness services, attendance and truancy initiatives, foster and unhoused youth education programs, and the coordination of district and community-based supports.

Brittany Baker is a Program Specialist with Natomas Unified School District, where she has spent the past four years leading attendance initiatives, with a special focus on supporting foster and unhoused students and families. Before joining Natomas Unified, Brittany worked in community advocacy, specializing in anti-racism and reconciliation. She also spent more than a year traveling internationally and participating in humanitarian work after earning her degree in Liberal Studies. Passionate, relational, and strategic, Brittany is a community connector and builder. Known as “Ms. Attendance,” she brings creativity and heart to her work through student interviews, attendance celebrations in supportive housing complexes, and district-wide efforts that inspire students, families, and staff to prioritize being present and connected.

Meredith Powell is a San Antonio, Texas native and a graduate of UT San Antonio, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology with a focus on students with disabilities. She later received her master’s degree in educational administration from Texas A&M University–San Antonio. Meredith has spent most of her career in East Central ISD as a teacher, instructional coach, program facilitator, and now serves as the project manager for the AWARE grant in partnership with Communities in Schools- San Antonio. She is passionate about supporting the whole child and using data to guide small, intentional actions that improve student attendance. As a wife and mom of three young children, her own kids continually reinforce the importance of the work schools do to support students and families.

Dr. Kara Stern has seen school from just about every angle: high school English teacher, middle school principal, fellowship director for math and science teachers across New York City, and head of school at a rural N-12 school. That breadth is what she brings to her work at SchoolStatus, where she writes, speaks, and challenges educators to build the kinds of school communities where every student thrives. She holds a Master’s in Education Leadership from Teachers College and a Ph.D. in Teaching and Learning from NYU.