Dr. Bernadine Futrell is a results-driven education leader, advocate, and changemaker committed to ensuring that every community has well-resourced and supported schools.
Dr. Futrell served in the Biden-Harris Administration as Director of the Office of Head Start at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, where she led the nationwide reopening of Head Start programs during the pandemic and spearheaded policy changes to expand program eligibility. She later served as Deputy Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Department of Education, overseeing discretionary grants and championing efforts to create more inclusive and equitable learning environments.
Prior to her federal service, Dr. Futrell developed and led leadership programs at the National Head Start Association (NHSA) and AASA, The School Superintendents Association. She is the co-author of ConnectED Leaders and serves on the Board of Visitors for Howard University’s School of Education.
Deeply committed to community impact, Dr. Futrell and her husband, former Delegate Michael Futrell, co-founded Make the Future, an initiative focused on improving academic outcomes by mobilizing community resources. They have two children and serve as Young Adult Pastors.
Dr. Futrell holds a Ph.D. and a master’s degree in education policy and psychology from George Mason University and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University. She brings a powerful combination of expertise, vision, and heart to her work.