SHAKEATHA BUTLER, Ed.D
Atlanta,GA
Summary
Nationally recognized K-12 executive leader and former Chief Academic Officer with a proven track record in driving instructional transformation, districtwide academic improvement, and leadership development within large urban school systems. Expertise in collaborating with superintendents, cabinet leaders, and state education agencies to enhance instructional strategies, optimize assessment systems, and ensure organizational coherence. Committed to fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation in education while leveraging data-driven insights to elevate student outcomes. A strategic thinker dedicated to empowering educators and aligning resources for maximum impact.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Executive Coach
engage2learn
01.2025 - Current
- Provide executive-level advisory and coaching to state departments of education and public school districts.
- Partner with cabinet-level leaders to strengthen instructional leadership systems and districtwide improvement strategies.
Chief of Teaching & Learning / Assistant Superintendent
Atlanta Public Schools
01.2024 - 01.2025
- Led vision of Curriculum & Instruction, College & Career, Early Childhood, Multilingual Services, Exceptional Education, and Instructional Technology for 50,000 students.
- Achieved $1.7m in operational savings by implementing strategic division restructuring.
- Led districtwide literacy adoption aligned to Science of Reading and redesigned professional learning model.
- Spearheaded curriculum guide overhaul to improve instructional coherence through alignment of content to standards, clarification of pacing and expectations, and incorporation of exemplary materials and assessments supporting new instructional framework.
Chief Academic Officer
Cincinnati Public Schools
01.2022 - 01.2024
- Managed academic strategy for 36,000 students and provided guidance on effective use of $620M operating budget.
- Improved Algebra I scores by seven percent, alongside eight percent increase in Biology scores. Ranked first in 3rd grade English Language Arts across Ohio’s eight largest districts according to 2023 state testing.
- Redesigned district professional development, elevating employee satisfaction by 30%.
- Facilitated expansion of AP access while leading vision and cross-sector partnerships for college innovation pathway, enabling students to achieve associate degree in tandem with high school diploma.
Executive Director, Instructional Redesign & Innovation
Dallas ISD
01.2017 - 01.2022
- Oversaw launch of 60+ innovative schools, expanding educational choices significantly. Administered $10 million departmental budget, optimizing expenditures and financial planning.
- Developed Innovation Playbook; a blueprint for school innovation and transformation.
Director of Elementary Science
Duval County Public Schools
01.2013 - 01.2017
- Elevated achievement levels at historically underperforming schools by 14% in grade 5 science state assessment
- Orchestrated development of implementation tools and training for executive directors, directors, and specialists to align professional learning with curriculum standards, assessments, and virtual offerings
Region Lead, Instructional Specialist
Florida Department of Education
01.2011 - 01.2013
- Led school improvement initiatives across 70+ state-monitored schools in Southeast Florida (Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach).
Education
Master of Science - Educational Leadership
Southern Methodist University
Dallas, TX05-2024
Master of Science - Educational Leadership
Nova Southeastern University
Fort Lauderdale, FL08-2008
Bachelor of Science - Health Administration
University of North Florida
Jacksonville, FL08-2004
Certification
- Georgia Superintendent & Tier II Educational Leadership
- Florida Educational Leadership (K–12)
- Ohio Administrative Specialist (K–12)
- Texas Superintendent (EC–12)
Accomplishments
- Restructured Teaching & Learning division in a $1.5B district, generating $1.7M in cost savings while increasing equitable school-level supports.
- Achieved 2nd most improved math scores among major urban districts nationally (Harvard Education Recovery Scorecard, 2024).
- Led Superintendent’s Public School Choice Initiative, launching 60+ innovative schools across diverse instructional models.
- Led vision and cross-sector partnership for the College Innovation Pathway, enabling students to graduate with an associate degree and high school diploma.
Affiliations
- Chief Instructional Leaders Advisory Group Member, ISTE+ASCD, 2024–Present
- National Panelist on Instructional Audits with Hanover Research alongside nationally recognized instructional leaders; Doug Fisher and Nancy Frey
- Senior District Advisory Cohort Member, DA Leadership
- Authored "Our Greatest Resource"; focused on school return and COVID-19 - The Educator Collective
Timeline
Executive Coach
engage2learn
01.2025 - Current
Chief of Teaching & Learning / Assistant Superintendent
Atlanta Public Schools
01.2024 - 01.2025
Chief Academic Officer
Cincinnati Public Schools
01.2022 - 01.2024
Executive Director, Instructional Redesign & Innovation
Dallas ISD
01.2017 - 01.2022
Director of Elementary Science
Duval County Public Schools
01.2013 - 01.2017
Region Lead, Instructional Specialist
Florida Department of Education
01.2011 - 01.2013
Master of Science - Educational Leadership
Southern Methodist University
Master of Science - Educational Leadership
Nova Southeastern University
Bachelor of Science - Health Administration
University of North Florida