Aug 14 2024 56 mins
Dr. Kendrah Underwood is a Global Education Consultant and the founder of Level Up Education Consultancy. Her education philosophy is grounded in the 6 E's—Equity and Excellence in Education for Every Child, Every Chance, Every Day. Her inspiration to start her own education business stemmed from a deep passion for equity in education and a desire to make a broader impact beyond the walls of a single institution. Throughout her career in education leadership, she consistently encountered systemic challenges—gaps in resources, disparities in student outcomes, and the need for more effective teacher support. These experiences fueled her determination to create solutions that could address these issues on a larger scale. Dr. Underwood has a certificate in School Management and Leadership from Harvard Business School and an Executive Leadership certificate from Cornell University. She holds a BA in Sociology and Anthropology with a minor in Africana Studies from Agnes Scott College, two MBAs, and an Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership and Development from Grand Canyon University. Her dissertation, titled "A Descriptive Phenomenological Reflective Study of Black Women who are First-Generation Doctorates," explored the theme of belongingness.
Dr. Underwood boasts a distinguished track record of achieving impressive student outcomes. Her extensive experience spans teaching and administrative roles across elementary, middle, and high schools in diverse settings, including inner-city, urban, and suburban neighborhoods. Her portfolio includes supervising, coaching, and training principals, as well as managing all facets of school-related operations in elementary, K-8, middle, high, virtual, and early college school environments. She has worked in schools across inner-city, urban, suburban, and rural communities, including both traditional public and charter schools. Dr. Underwood’s guiding principle is straightforward: “I prioritize what’s best for kids, not what’s easiest for adults.
She has served in traditional public, private, and charter schools in cities such as Atlanta, Chicago, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Tampa, St. Louis, and Houston. Dr. Underwood also taught college-level courses for four years and has held roles such as principal, assistant principal, grade team leader, content leader, and new teacher mentor. As a 12th-grade advisor, she guided all 23 of her advisees to college acceptance, with two achieving valedictorian and salutatorian honors.
In addition to her educational leadership, Dr. Underwood initiated "Bridging the Divide," a community outreach program in partnership with the Chicago Police Department, and created several viral videos showcasing her passion for learning and engagement. Dr. Underwood defines success as the positive impact one can make on others’ lives and believes that one’s story is not a fortress but a source of fuel.