Dr. Ruby Ababio-Fernandez is an author, established educator, speaker, and transformational leader with over two decades of experience in education and leadership development. She comes to the work with a wealth of experience in various roles, including teaching, school leadership, and district leadership. With an unyielding commitment to transforming the lives of adults, children, communities, and school systems, Dr. Ruby’s deep expertise in developing leaders who unapologetically lead a movement of educational equity.

Drawing from her life experiences, she co-developed the “Five Pillars of Practice” from her book Shifting Self and System, which are crucial for leadership innovation and the new ways of being essential in today’s complex landscape. Dr. Ruby is passionate about driving deep system-level calibrations that involve all stakeholders. Her focus is primarily on addressing problems schools aim to solve by examining their historical context and complexity. She leverages evidence-based decision-making to forge new paths that disrupt generational cycles of economic and educational insecurities from childhood into adulthood. Her contributions are rooted in reimagining the education system and building strategies that prioritize equitable outcomes and the full landscape of a high-quality education. She believes that true transformation begins with a deep understanding of personal strengths and experiences, coupled with a commitment to healing individual and collective wounds. This commitment fosters a psychologically safe and inclusive environment that promotes growth and resilience. Her unique qualifications, combining Western and African-centered perspectives-collaboration, systems thinking and emergence strategies- position Dr. Ruby as a vital force for leaders and organizations across sectors committed to creating positive, lasting change.

Dr. Ruby Ababio-Fernandez is a national consultant and currently serves as Superintendent in Residence for McGraw Hill Publishing. She has held senior leadership roles, including Executive Vice President at Courageous Conversation®, as well as Chief Strategy Officer, Senior Executive Officer of the Office of Equity and Access (OEA), and Deputy Superintendent for New York City’s Department of Education.

Prior to her tenure at NYCDOE, Dr. Ababio-Fernandez served as Associate Vice President for Equity and Leadership Development at the New York City Leadership Academy (NYCLA).