Dr. Karen D’Avino

Dr. Karen D’Avino joined McPherson & Jacobson, L.L.C. in 2022.

Dr. D’Avino has served public education in New Jersey for twenty-eight years employed as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, and superintendent of schools. Dr. D’Avino was administratively raised by women and men who helped hone her instructional leadership craft, excelling in differentiated instruction, creating a school culture for learning, providing access for underserved students, supporting students’ social emotional needs, meeting community needs, trauma informed instruction, and diversity, equity and inclusion. Dr. D’Avino also led her districts post 9-11, through Superstorm Sandy, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. D’Avino earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Montclair State University, a Master’s Degree from New Jersey City University, and a Doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania in education leadership.

With fourteen years’ experience as a superintendent of schools, Dr. D’Avino continued to effectively use her collaborative leadership style to positively impact district level leadership and systems change with experience and emphasis on professional development, climate and culture, and fiscal responsibility, earning nearly $7 million dollars in state, federal, competitive, and non-competitive grants in one fiscal year when faced with significant reductions in state aid.

Dr. D’Avino also serves on the steering committee for the New Jersey Principals Association/Foundation for Education Administration New Jersey Leadership Academy where she and others create and deliver high quality professional development for thousands of school administrators and aspiring leaders. She is a consultant for GOMO Educational Services whose mission is to address social and cultural barriers to student achievement and is also a consultant with MacPherson & Jacobson, a national search firm specializing in recruitment of superintendents across the country. Her involvement with the Women’s Initiative Network at Montclair State University is also an affiliation for which Dr. D’Avino is proud.