Kecia L. Addison, Ph.D.

Kecia L. Addison is a distinguished educational leader and researcher whose career spans more than 25 years, including two decades of service with Montgomery County Public Schools. Currently serving as Director of the Office of Shared Accountability, she oversees the applied research, program evaluation, testing, and reporting functions of the district, supervising a team of supervisors and staff while acting as the district's primary data steward. Her passion for the field traces back to her high school years, when the opportunity to work alongside two female Ph.D. researchers at Johns Hopkins University on a study of neighborhood perspectives first sparked her curiosity about the forces that shape student achievement and community outcomes. That early exposure eventually led her toward a doctorate in academic psychology, setting the foundation for a career centered on accountability, data-informed leadership, and closing opportunity gaps for students.

Beyond her administrative leadership, Dr. Addison has built a parallel career in higher education and mentorship. She has taught graduate-level courses in research methodology, statistics and measurement, and multicultural psychology at institutions including McDaniel College and the University of Phoenix, and she has guided numerous doctoral candidates as a dissertation chair and committee member, with particular expertise in FERPA compliance. Her negotiation training through Harvard, completed during her tenure as Vice President of her union chapter, further reflects her commitment to developing well-rounded leadership skills. Among her most notable professional achievements is her role in co-developing a local equity accountability model that earned a Magna Award for national recognition, a milestone that stands alongside her Edie Miller Distinguished Service Award and Extended Leadership Award.

Dr. Addison remains deeply engaged with the broader research and policy community, serving as a board member and program director for the Maryland Assessment Group, contributing to the Assessment and Accountability Advisory Committee for the Maryland State Department of Education, and maintaining active membership in the American Educational Research Association. Grounded in a belief that integrity, persistence, and a commitment to excellence are essential to effective leadership, she continues to mentor rising professionals and advocate for equity-driven practices that improve outcomes for students and school systems nationwide.