Lisa Kingsley is an equity-centered education leader with over 15 years of experience as a teacher, curriculum and program development, and family and community partner. Beginning her career as a special education teacher in New York City, she has since taught students ages 5 - 22. With deep expertise in schools, classrooms, and the instructional core, Lisa has prioritized serving students from marginalized, vulnerable, and traditionally underserved communities. She has elevated and responded to student and family voices at the classroom, school, and district level. 

Lisa began her administrative career serving as special education director of a K-12 charter school in the Boston area. Here, she created specialized programs in response to individual needs, defined a vision of co-teaching aligned across campuses, and designed the schedule to support the model. Lisa next stepped into the role of Principal of a struggling alternative high school where she designed a reimagined high school, including new master schedules, course offerings, and school-wide systems of support that centered students needs. Before going back to school to pursue her doctorate, Lisa served as District Program Manager and Alternative High School Director for the most diverse school district in Massachusetts. She crafted a vision, allocated and adjusted staffing models, and secured the resources for a wide continuum of social emotional services as the students returned from Covid-19 related closures. 

Lisa has facilitated strategic planning sessions and leadership development institutes through the Public Education Leadership Project, the Data Wise Project, and Principal’s Center. She was the recipient of the Krinsky Fellowship for Innovation and Entrepreneurship for her creation of the School Design Switchboard, a tool that identifies specific moves from research school leaders can make to shift the design of their schools. She completed a Leadership Fellowship with the Deputy Commissioner of Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, working on a small team to rewrite the IEP forms for the Commonwealth. 

Lisa holds the MA licenses for Superintendent, Principal, and Special Education Administrator. In addition, she is the board chairperson of the Medford Family Network, a non-profit that supports children and families from birth to age eight, and is a proud Brownie troop leader for her middle child.