Sharlonda Buckman-Davis

Author, The Ardent Advocate and Assistant Superintendent of Family and Community Engagement, Detroit Public Schools

Sharlonda Marie Buckman is an expert consultant for national and local organizations on family engagement and youth development. A published author, she recently released ‘The Ardent Advocate”, a practical guide for those of us who love children, work with children and have their best interest at heart. She currently serves as the Assistant Superintendent of Family and Community Engagement for the largest public school district in Michigan, Detroit Public Schools Community District.

Formerly, she served as the Chief Executive, of Detroit Parent Network, an independent nonprofit organization, engaging parents as Champions for children. Mrs. Buckman, born and raised in Detroit, earned her Master’s Degree in Community Economic Development from the University of New Hampshire. With more than 30 years of experience, locally and nationally, Mrs. Buckman contributions to the field include: the creative development and implementation of youth and family prevention and intervention programs; leading community outreach and advocacy efforts on behalf of families and youth; agency / program compliance, monitoring, and quality assurance; and strategic management and service delivery.

Mrs. Buckman has been the recipient of several awards including the Judge Wade McCree Jr. Friend of Children Award, Spirit of Detroit, Crain’s Detroit Business 40 Under 40, Citizen of the Week, Michigan Chronicle Community Leader, Woman of Excellence, Detroit News Michiganian of the Year, Leader to Learn from, EdWeek, and others for her personal and professional accomplishments.

In her leadership role she has serves on multiple boards for education reform and human service agencies including a prior appointment by Michigan’s Governor to the Education Achievement Authority Board, which supports the redesign of public education in Michigan’s lowest performing schools.

Mrs. Buckman has discussed her parent engagement work both in local and national media, having been a featured panelist and regular guest during MSNBC’s “Making the Grade” series of televised town hall meetings as well as the cable network’s “Education Nation” broadcast series. Most recently, she joined a panel including Secretary Arne Duncan, Governor Rick Snyder, and State Superintendent Mike Flanagan on the U.S. Department of Education’s Back-to-School Tour.