Tracey Severns
Chief Academic Officer
Dr. Tracey Severns has served as a paraprofessional, special education teacher, vice principal, principal, director of student performance, superintendent and Chief Academic Officer for the NJDOE.
Dr. Severns is a nationally recognized presenter who has provided professional development on evidence-centered leadership, data analysis, systems thinking, PLCs, assessment literacy, student engagement, special education, educational equity, and school improvement. In 2009, she was selected as one of eight principals to represent the US in Brazil as part of an international leadership exchange program.
In 2011, Dr. Severns received the Middle Level Leadership Award and was selected as New Jersey’s Visionary Principal of the Year. In the same year, she was named a National Distinguished Principal. In 2012, while Principal of Mt. Olive Middle School, her school was named a National School of Change, one of only six schools in the US to receive this distinguished honor. In 2014, Dr. Severns was named Educator of the Year by the Peace Islands Institute and was awarded an honorary Doctorate in Public Service from Georgian Court University.
In 2024, Dr. Severns started taking comedy lessons. Since then, she has done stand-up for various educator audiences. Her presentation, “How to Make Schools Places of Learning, Love and Laughter” has become one of her most popular keynotes and sought-out sessions at professional conferences, and was the topic for two podcasts, Joy in the Classroom by AccuTrain and The Science Behind a Joyful Classroom on Beyond My Years! by Amplify. Her most recent podcast, Authentic Leadership: How Humor and Humanity Build Stronger Schools was recently released by Art Works for Teacher
Dr. Severns is a published author who has written articles about leadership and learning. Her first book, Mistakes, Missteps, Missed Opportunities: Lived Lessons from the Real World of Educational Leaders is available on Audible, Amazon and YouthLight Publishers. Her two master classes, Because it Matters, on effective leadership and The One Who’s Talking, on student-led discussion are available through AccuEd.