Kelly is a Partner of School Design with Transcend. In this role, she champions a community-based design process alongside district and school leaders, and their teams. The goal of this work is to increase extraordinary and equitable learning experiences for all students.
Previously, Kelly spent nearly two decades working within Boston Public Schools. Most recently, she was an Assistant Superintendent in the Division of Accountability, and four years as an Instructional Superintendent, supporting a network of school leaders. This work centered on school transformation, while identifying and addressing systemic inequities and barriers to change.
Prior to her work in central office administration, Kelly was the Principal of the Phineas Bates Elementary school in Roslindale for seven years. Together with an amazing school staff, they led the school from underperforming state accountability status to meeting targets by narrowing proficiency gaps and launched a full-inclusion model. She also worked as a City Connects coordinator, centering the non-academic supports for the whole child, and as a third-grade inclusion teacher.
Kelly holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership, with a focus on trust in teams from Boston College. She previously earned a Certificate of Advanced Educational Specialization (C.A.E.S.) in Educational Administration and a M.A. in Counseling Psychology, from Boston College, building on a B.S. in Psychology and Human Development from the University of Utah.
Kelly lives in Massachusetts with her husband, two children and their dog Izzy. She can be found at various kid-sporting events (hockey rink, soccer field, karate dojo), hiking, walking, listening to podcasts and undertaking projects to rehab and organize the house.
Continue Your Journey
Leaps for Equitable, 21st-Century Learning
Transcend’s Leaps for Equitable, 21st-Century Learning describes the key ways we believe the student experience must change so that schools can prepare all young people to thrive in and transform the world.
Transform Learning with Community-Based Design
Community-based design is a collaborative and local process that brings together young people, educators, administrators, caregivers, and experts to redesign learning. It goes beyond traditional school improvement initiatives by involving the entire community in reshaping...
