Cara Stillings Candal is the Vice President of Policy for ExcelinEd, focusing on education policy strategy.

A former high school English teacher, Cara has worked in education for more than 25 years. She was formerly a research assistant professor at the Boston University School of Education, Director of Curriculum and Instruction at the National Academy of Advanced Teacher Education (NAATE), and a senior fellow at Pioneer Institute in Boston.

Cara has authored/edited four books and more than 25 papers on national and international education policy, with a focus on educational opportunity and accountability. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English literature from Indiana University, a Master of Arts in social science from the University of Chicago, and a Doctorate in Education Policy from Boston University. Cara lives in Newton, MA with her husband and three children.