Joris M. Ray is the superintendent of Shelby County Schools in Tennessee and an expert in K-12 education. Ray grew up in Memphis and attended Shelby County Schools, graduating from Whitehaven High School. He went on to earn his Ph.D. in educational leadership and policy studies from the University of Memphis.

Muhammad Khalifa is a professor of educational administration and executive director for urban education initiatives at the Ohio State University. He is the president and CEO of the Culturally Responsive School Leadership Academy, and has worked as a public school teacher and administrator in Detroit.

Anna Maria Chávez is the executive director and CEO of the National School Boards Association (NSBA). She is an expert on women’s leadership, youth development, and public policy. She serves on the board of the SCAN Foundation, a charity dedicated to improving eldercare. Chávez also created the Ban Bossy campaign to encourage young girls to lead.

Manley Begay is a professor in the Applied Indigenous Studies department and the department of politics and international affairs at the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences at Northern Arizona University. He is also director of the Tribal Leadership Initiative in the Office of Native American Initiative at NAU.