Move FORWARD.

About

Dr. Stephen McClain has devoted his entire career to transforming educational outcomes for underserved communities.

Most recently, Stephen served as Partner of Education Equity Partnerships and Engagements at The Management Center (TMC), an organization providing intensive coaching and training services for education executives and their senior leadership teams. Stephen has trained and coached hundreds of executive leaders to build equitable and sustainable management systems and organizations.

Before joining TMC, Dr. McClain served as Chief of Schools at a portfolio charter management organization (CMO), supporting fourteen campuses, 8,600 students across 56 zip codes in Chicago, and leading innovation, community engagement, and policy teams. Additionally, Stephen managed a school incubator, which launched several micro-schools to create breakthroughs for students and the broader Chicago education ecosystem.

Previously, Stephen was a Principal and Assistant Principal in Chicago Public Schools, elevating each school to Level 1 or Level 1+ with impressive student academic growth and substantial improvement in attainment. As a Principal, Stephen and his school team were awarded The Madeleine Maraldi Award for Leadership and Teaching Excellence. Dr. McClain started his career teaching middle grades reading in the KIPP Chicago network. Each year of his teaching career, over 90% of students met and/or exceeded Illinois Reading state standards.

Dr. McClain has received numerous awards and recognition for his commitment to educational equity, leadership and service. Most notably, Stephen was named one of Chicago's 35 under 35 Young Leaders Making an Impact, a Chicago Urban League- University of Chicago Booth IMPACT Fellow and an Innovation For Equity (IFE) Senior Fellow.

When Dr. McClain is not working alongside clients, he is serving his community. Stephen serves on the Board of Directors of Cradles to Crayons Chicago, which provides children with essential items to thrive – at home, at school and at play, and AROSE Foundation, an organization bridging the opportunity gap for underserved youth through post-secondary scholarships, support services, and community outreach. Dr. McClain is an active member of Visible Man Review, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and 100 Black Men of Chicago.

Stephen earned a B.A in Elementary Education from Michigan State University, Ed. M from Harvard Graduate School of Education, and an Ed.D in Urban School Leadership from University of Illinois at Chicago.