Kristen McDonald
Vice President, Program and Policy, The Skillman Foundation
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Kristen McDonald is vice president of program and policy for The Skillman Foundation. In this role, she guides the overall strategy for all of the Foundation’s program work through citywide education reform strategy, place-based neighborhood strategy, and public policy agendas addressing institutional inequality issues.
Previously, McDonald served as program director of education, leading the Foundation’s education grant making, primarily targeted at schools in Detroit. Prior to her work at the Foundation, McDonald served as the chief of staff to State Superintendent of Schools Mike Flanagan. She has worked extensively in early childhood education policy and was one of the chief architects of the Early Childhood Investment Corporation (ECIC) and Great Start, Michigan’s system of education and care for children from birth to kindergarten.