Dr. Ken Kemp brings a rare and powerful blend of education expertise, political strategy, and on-the-ground advocacy, making him uniquely positioned to advance the Center for Strong Public Schools’ policy and legislative agenda across Georgia.

A nationally recognized education leader, counselor educator, and advocate, Dr. Kemp has deep roots in Georgia’s public education system. His career spans both charter and district schools, where he has built and scaled comprehensive student support and counseling systems that have earned statewide recognition. He has advised education leaders on policy, practice, and equity, consistently centering the needs of students, educators, and communities.

Dr. Kemp is also a contributing faculty member at Walden University, where he prepares future counselors and education leaders while remaining deeply engaged in current research, ethics, and policy conversations shaping the field. His lived experience as a practitioner, combined with his scholarly and policy background, allows him to translate complex research and policy issues into actionable strategies that resonate with lawmakers, educators, and community stakeholders.

In addition to his education leadership, Dr. Kemp brings significant political experience that strengthens CSPS’s advocacy and Action Fund work. He has served as a campaign strategist, supporting candidates with messaging development, voter engagement strategy, and issue framing. He has played key roles in fundraising efforts, helping candidates and organizations cultivate donor relationships and secure critical resources. Dr. Kemp has also been instrumental in building political support and securing endorsements by leveraging trusted relationships with educators, community leaders, and stakeholders across the state.

This experience gives Dr. Kemp a sophisticated understanding of how policy, politics, and elections intersect—and how to responsibly build power in support of strong public schools.

As Georgia Policy & Advocacy Director, Dr. Kemp serves as CSPS’s liaison to state legislators, school board members, education leaders, and coalition partners. He brings a proven ability to build and sustain cross-sector coalitions, elevate practitioner voices, and represent organizations effectively at the Georgia State Capitol and in key external forums. He also brings experience designing and leading leadership development initiatives, positioning him to help build durable pipelines of education advocates and policy leaders across Georgia.

Dr. Kemp’s combination of policy expertise, political judgment, campaign experience, academic leadership, and deep commitment to Georgia’s students makes him uniquely suited to advance CSPS’s mission of strengthening public schools statewide.