Meria Joel Carstarphen

As the superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools, Meria Joel Carstarphen leads a district with nearly 52,000 students, 6,000 full-time employees, and 87 schools, and oversees the system’s $1 billion annual budget. Formerly, she was superintendent in diverse, major metropolitan public school districts including Austin, Texas, and Saint Paul, Minnesota. Since coming to APS in 2014, she has worked to restore organizational integrity and create a student-focused culture not driven by adult agendas. Education: Tulane University, Auburn University (EdM), Harvard University (EdM, EdD)