For nearly 20 years, Zakiya (she/her) has been working to ensure that students of color and those living in poverty are in schools where they are affirmed and allowed to discover their gifts.  Prior to joining Kindred, Zakiya served as Managing Director with Leading Educators where she partnered at the system level across Chicago and the greater Grand Rapids region to build teacher capacity in an effort to ensure equitable instruction across classrooms.  She also played a pivotal role in launching the inaugural cohort of the Aspen Young Leaders Fellowship at the Aspen Institute. She has also worked as a School Partnerships Coach with the Flamboyan Foundation, a school leader at Bancroft Elementary School and Maya Angelou Public Charter School, and teacher throughout the D.C. and Maryland. 

Zakiya has earned leadership training certificates from Harvard Extension School and Georgetown University, a master’s degree in administration from Trinity College, a master’s degree in teaching from Johns Hopkins University, and a master’s degree in survey methodology from the University of Maryland, College Park. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Tuskegee University. She currently lives in Maryland with her three children.