ClauDean ChiNaka Kizart

ClauDean ChiNaka Kizart

ClauDean ChiNaka Kizart, EdD, is a distinguished diversity, equity, and inclusion-certified leader with over 25 years of experience in K–12 and higher education. She is known for her ability to inspire positive change within diverse communities. Currently, she is the institutional director of diversity, equity, and inclusion at a community college. As a professional development facilitator, she provides data-informed solutions that result in positive impacts.

Dr. Kizart is an educational consultant and strategic thought partner who supports teams in cultivating environments where all students feel supported, respected, and motivated to succeed. Her workshops and trainings are data-informed, practical, and tailored to the unique goals of each school or district. Key areas of support include healing-centered classrooms, culturally responsive communication, student-centered discipline, and data-driven equity. She also offers leadership coaching to help navigate change, as well as training in differentiated instruction, behavior support, and strengthening student-teacher relationships. Each session equips educators with actionable tools to build trust, promote belonging, and drive meaningful outcomes.

Having worked with both urban and rural communities, she believes education is a pathway to empowerment and that unity strengthens ALL communities. As an educator, administrator, and facilitator of equity-driven professional development, Dr. Kizart regularly leads training focused on honoring diversity, cultivating inclusive communities, creating equitable environments, and other topics at conferences including Write to Learn, Learning Forward, YMCA R.E.S.T Conference, and GlobalMindED.

Her dissertation, The Challenges of Persisting First Generation College Students, has been widely cited and contributed to the Pell Institute for the Study of Opportunity in Higher Education. She is also a member of several state and national organizations, including the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education, Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities (VCIC), Virginia Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education, and Virginia Organization for Inclusive Concepts and Equitable Solutions (VOICES). She has been awarded the Outstanding Faculty and Service Award at St. Louis Community College and the Betts Outstanding Teacher Award. She received her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Harris-Stowe State University, lifetime reading certification from Fontbonne University, master’s degree in educational administration from Saint Louis University, and a doctorate in educational leadership from Lindenwood University.

Dr. Kizart’s career spans roles as a special education teacher, literacy coach, middle school educator, and statewide equity trainer. As a lover of African-Caribbean traditions, she brings a rich cultural perspective rooted in love to her work in DEI.

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Presentations by ClauDean ChiNaka Kizart

• Don’t Throw the Baby Out with the Bathwater: Inclusive Access for All Students
• Bridging the Gap: Healing Relationships with Parents to Strengthen Inclusive Access
• Culture of Care: Leading with Accountability and Compassion
• Beyond Implicit and Explicit: Healing Achievement Gaps at the Root
• Healing-Centered Classrooms: Building Belonging Without Burnout
• Bridging Differences: Tools for Inclusive Communication and Collaboration
• From Compliance to Connection: Reimagining Student Discipline and Decision-Making
• Data-Driven Equity: Identifying Opportunity Gaps Without Dividing Your Team
• Leading Through Change: Empowering School Leaders to Build Trust and Navigate Pushback
• Creating Safe and Inclusive Classrooms for All Students
• Differentiated Learning
• Strengthening Student-Teacher Relationships
• Addressing Behavior and Discipline Through a Student-Centered Lens
• Building Cultural Awareness and Communication Skills