Dr. Katie McNamara gracefully guides superintendents, assistant superintendents and other senior and aspiring educational administrators through challenges that include strategic planning, political strategy, crisis management, budgetary issues, and working effectively with principals and boards. She is also available to assist school boards with training, governance, union negotiations and similar issues—all the while, remaining student centered.

Katie’s experience is one of her key differentiators. She came up through the ranks not as a CFO, but as a principal, and an assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction , which allows her to walk into classrooms and insightfully support both superintendents and principals in those efforts. Katie was a principal for 12 years, before transitioning into an executive cabinet role for another 18 years—both uniquely long tenures. She has also had the opportunity to work in a wide range of districts, each with extremely diverse income characteristics and demographics, which has significantly expanded her current coaching ‘toolkit.’

Katie has held leadership roles in several education-focused organizations, including the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA), where she served as President of the State Superintendency Council and Vice President of Legislative Action. These positions enabled her to advise government officials, propose policy, and stay closely informed about political developments. Through the University of California, San Diego’s Superintendents Network, she currently works collaboratively with other leaders in the educational space to analyze and develop solutions for problems of practice.

Katie speaks regularly—at the national, state, and local level—on topics that include board/superintendent relationships, equity, sponsorship and mentorship of women in leadership, student achievement and whole system reform, California state politics and the financial impact on school districts, instructional technology, and K-12 online professional development.