Dr. Carol D. Birks is a catalytic and transformational educational thought leader with extensive experience in organizational leadership, community engagement and empowerment, executive coaching and change management. The leadership practices she implements are designed to enhance the systems, structures, and practices within organizations to accelerate academic progress and promote systems thinking.

Dr. Birks began her career as a teacher, quickly growing her administrative capacity by serving as a school, district, and state leader. These roles include Teacher, Assistant Principal & Principal for Bridgeport Public Schools, Assistant Superintendent, and Chief of Staff for Hartford Public Schools, and Superintendent of Schools for New Haven Public Schools, and Chester Upland School District. Currently Dr. Birks is the Superintendent for the Allentown School District located in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Dr. Birks holds a Doctoral Degree and Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Columbia University Teachers College. She also earned a Master’s Degree in education from the University of Bridgeport and a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Hampton University. She also attained a Superintendent’s Certification from the University of Connecticut’s NEAG School of Education.