Dr. Michelle J. Walker-Davis has served as executive director of the DC Public Charter School Board (DC PCSB) since 2020, bringing over 25 years of leadership experience spanning school administration, education policy, nonprofit management, and community engagement. She leads the sole charter authorizing agency in the nation’s capital, advancing strong governance, rigorous accountability, and educational equity for more than 100 public charter schools serving nearly half of Washington, DC’s public school students. Under her leadership, DC PCSB has deepened its focus on transparency, data-driven decision-making, and community engagement to ensure every student has access to a quality public education.

Prior to joining DC PCSB, Dr. Walker-Davis served as executive director of Generation Next, a cross-sector coalition of civic, business, and education leaders in Minneapolis–Saint Paul dedicated to closing achievement and opportunity gaps. During her tenure, the organization advanced rigorous, data-driven strategies and deep community partnership to identify, scale, and sustain what works for students.

She also spent nine years with Saint Paul Public Schools, a culturally diverse urban district, where she played a pivotal role in a transformative districtwide redesign aimed at advancing educational equity in the face of persistent racial and socioeconomic disparities.

Dr. Walker-Davis credits her early work in Washington, DC – serving as senior advisor on education to former Mayor Anthony Williams, chief of strategic planning and policy for DC Public Schools and education branch chief in the District’s Office of Budget and Planning – for catalyzing her commitment to public service focused on education reform.

Dr. Walker-Davis holds a Doctor of Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. She received her bachelor’s degree in government and Africana studies from Cornell University. She has served on several boards, including an international Montessori training center, a regional affordable housing organization, and a local place-based education reform initiative.