Valaida L. Wise, Ed.D

Dr. Valaida L. Wise (Val) is the principal consultant at her firm, Dr. Valaida Wise Consulting, LLC. The firm supports organizations in the area of diversity, equity and inclusion, governance and leadership. She is also a faculty member in the Graduate School of Education at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md where she teaches diversity, equity, inclusion and issues of social justice. An educator for more than 25 years, Dr. Wise has served as the Head of School of several independent schools in the Washington DC region. Her most recent headship was at the National Child Research Center, one of the oldest inclusion model preschools in Washington DC. During her tenure, NCRC was named one of the top preschools in the nation by Town and Country magazine.

Dr. Wise received a Bachelor’s degree in developmental psychology from Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York; a Masters of Art in Teaching in Early Childhood Education with a specialty in Montessori from Trinity College, Washington D.C., and earned a doctorate in Educational Leadership from George Washington University.

Dr. Wise is a sought after public speaker and has lectured nationally and internationally, most recently on the topics of governance, leadership and diversity, equity and inclusion. A qualitative researcher, Dr. Wise has written several articles on educational leadership, early childhood education and equity in education. Her current research interest lies in the area of diversity and inclusion in independent schools. Dr. Wise is the chair of the board at Creative Minds International Public Charter School, Chair of the board at McLean School in Potomac Maryland and also serves on the board of several professional organizations and independent schools.