My Story
Dr. Cheryl Pruitt is a nationally recognized education leader with nearly 40 years of experience transforming schools through courageous, data-driven leadership. As Superintendent of the Gary Community School Corporation, she led major fiscal recovery, boosted graduation rates from 51% to 86%, and restored community trust.
Now a consultant, TEDx speaker, and Vice President of Pathways to College, she advises organizations on leadership, literacy, and AI integration. Co-founder of the National African American Literacy Institute and co-author of UNSHAKEN: Lessons & Stories, Dr. Pruitt continues to inspire transformation through innovation and impact.
Personal Mission
To create educational systems where every student has access to excellence, every educator feels empowered to innovate, and every community has the tools to thrive. Through authentic leadership and strategic partnerships, we can build a future where equity isn't just an aspiration—it's reality.
Professional Experience
Independent Consultant | Education Systems Strategy, AI Integration & Fiscal Innovation
(2020 – Present)
Dr. Pruitt is a strategic education consultant who partners with school districts and organizations to strengthen fiscal stability, workforce efficiency, and leadership capacity. She designs data-driven frameworks for personnel optimization, compliance alignment, and AI-integrated systems that enhance decision-making across departments.
She has secured multi-year grants from major foundations, including the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Turrell Fund, and the Hallelujah Fund. Her work supports superintendents and boards through fiscal recovery, organizational redesign, and executive coaching—especially during leadership or policy transitions.
As Superintendent of an Indiana urban district (2012–2018), she led a $100M turnaround—cutting $85M in costs, increasing graduation rates from 51% to 86%, and improving literacy by nearly 19%. She later served as CEO of Chicago Virtual Charter School, restoring governance integrity and fiscal transparency. Her earlier roles include Assistant Superintendent and Principal at Proviso Township High Schools and consultant for Learning Point Associates, leading audits and reforms in underperforming districts nationwide.
Selected Publications
-
Leadership Under Siege (IGI Global, 2025) – International analysis of state takeovers and crisis leadership.
-
Unshaken: Lessons & Stories (2025) – Co-authored leadership workbook on resilience and transformation.
-
Human Dignity Literacy™ (in development) – Research-based framework on equity-centered leadership.
Education
-
Ed.D., Instructional Design, Technology & Curriculum Leadership – University of Memphis
-
M.A.T., Curriculum & Instruction – University of Memphis
-
B.S., Biology (Minor in Chemistry) – Rust College
-
Indiana Professional Educator & Superintendent License