Anthony Ruby

Background

About Anthony Ruby

I am a transformational leader and strategist who builds organizations, teams, and systems that deliver lasting impact. With two decades of experience spanning public education, nonprofit leadership, and community engagement, I specialize in turning vision into sustainable, equity-driven results. My work blends strategic foresight, operational excellence, and mission alignment to create high-performing organizations that thrive. As Director of Education at Oxbow Farm & Conservation Center, I am positioning Oxbow as a regional hub for environmental learning and conservation engagement. I lead a multidisciplinary team delivering innovative, place-based programs for schools, families, and the public—integrating food systems, native plants, and ecological stewardship into immersive learning experiences. By forging deep partnerships with school districts, community organizations, and volunteers, I am expanding Oxbow’s reach, strengthening our brand, and building capacity for long-term growth. In parallel, I serve as Founder & Principal Consultant of Cascadia School Improvement, partnering with schools, districts, and nonprofits nationwide to design equitable systems, leadership pipelines, and instructional excellence frameworks. My consulting work has guided organizations through strategic planning, curriculum redesign, and large-scale leadership development—always with a focus on closing opportunity gaps and developing diverse talent for leadership roles. My career includes executive-level roles in major urban districts, including Director of Schools for Seattle Public Schools and Network Superintendent & Director of Curriculum for St. Louis Public Schools. In these roles, I drove district-wide instructional reforms, strengthened leadership pipelines, and aligned systems to accelerate student achievement. Earlier, as Principal of Holabird Academy in Baltimore, I led rapid school transformation—boosting literacy outcomes, doubling enrollment, implementing Common Core across all grades, and transitioning to a community school model in partnership with the Family League of Baltimore. I am an alumnus of Teach For America, New Leaders for New Schools, and the National Institute for School Leadership, with a Master’s in Teaching from Johns Hopkins University and a doctorate (in progress) from Nova Southeastern University in instructional leadership. Vision matters, but execution transforms. I create the conditions for people, programs, and communities to thrive—ensuring neither zip code nor circumstance limits what’s possible.