Dr. Kimberly Watson is currently the Chief of Staff to the Chief Operating Officer of Chicago Public Schools. In this pivotal role, she supports the Chief Operating Officer by transforming complex data into actionable strategies that drive operational excellence across the third largest district in the country. Her responsibilities include optimizing processes, enhancing efficiency, and fostering collaborative environments to deliver high-quality services for students.

Kimberly's extensive career within public education began in the classroom as a Special Education Classroom Assistant and Elementary School Teacher. She then moved into school leadership as an Assistant Principal and Principal, subsequently serving as an Instructional Support Leader. These foundational experiences provided her with a deep understanding of educational needs at every level before she transitioned to various capacities in operations, where she honed her expertise in implementing systemic improvements. These roles have consistently involved strategic planning, resource management, and cross-departmental coordination to ensure the effective delivery of essential services to schools and students.

Kimberly's academic achievements include a Ph.D. in Educational Policy, Organization, and Leadership and a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communication from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She also earned a Master of Arts in School Leadership with Illinois Administrator Certification from Concordia University of Chicago, and a Master of Education in Elementary Education & Instructional Leadership with Teacher Certification from the University of Illinois at Chicago. A distinguished Bill & Melinda Gates Millennium Scholar, her leadership skills have been further cultivated through executive programs at the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, Harvard University, Brené Brown's Dare to Lead Cohort for Women in Leadership, and the University of Chicago Booth College of Business and Chicago Urban League’s IMPACT Leadership Development Program.