Dr. Daena B. Adams is an educational leader with a proven track record of success that includes increasing academic rigor, improving graduation rates, enhancing culture and climate, increasing stakeholder involvement and leveraging community partners. She is dedicated to increasing the college readiness and access for underserved students. 

For the past 15 years, her passion for urban education led Dr. Adams to roles such as assistant principal, Network Operations Manager and school principal. Currently, Dr. Adams serves as the Chief of Schools for Intrinsic Schools, a charter network serving grades 7-12. Through these positions, she has led schools to record improvements in freshman on-track and completion of post-secondary planning, decreased school suspension rates, while annual attendance rates increased, ensured the implementation of restorative and SEL practices, helped to increase academic rigor by adding elective and core courses, including College Board Advanced Placement classes and a variety of Dual Credit course offerings. She is currently working to implement her network’s first instructional improvement support system designed to improve teacher practice and improve student learning and further success. 

Dr. Adams holds a BA in History from Hampton University, an MS in Teaching, an MSEd in both Education Administration and Special Education, and an earned EdD in Supervision and Leadership. She also holds an Illinois Superintendents Endorsement. Her passion for educating young minds and seeing them succeed is what drives her.