Six Priorities, One Foundation: Building the Future Through Educator Empowerment

December 15, 2:00 pm ET

Strong schools build strong economies — and it all starts with educators. SREB's six bold priorities offer a comprehensive roadmap for transforming education and fueling long-term economic growth across the South. From literacy to AI, expanded career pathways and student supports, every priority hinges on one factor: a well-prepared and well-supported educator workforce. Join us for an engaging discussion on how strategic investments in teacher preparation, support, and empowerment can unlock the full potential of our education system.

This event is open to 2025 conference registrants and Grantmakers for Education members.

There is no cost to attend this Grantmakers for Education program. Registration closes 15 minutes prior to the program time. Thank you for your patience; we review each registration in advance.

About the Speakers

Megan Boren
SREB
Director, Educator Workforce

Megan leads SREB’s work on educator workforce policy and co-chairs the related steering committee. Her team publishes data and recommendations to help states attract, prepare and retain great teachers. She also manages policy roundtables and state-level technical assistance. Since 2010, Megan has contributed across the organization, including management of the postsecondary office, policy and research on early childhood, college readiness and completion, development of the SREB Readiness Courses, and state technical assistance grants, progress monitoring and community of practice projects for educator effectiveness in 12 states.

Prior to joining SREB, Megan served as education and workforce development policy advisor to former governor of Virginia Timothy M. Kaine. She holds a bachelor’s in political science and master’s in public administration and policy from Virginia Tech.

Amanda Merritt
Division Director, Development & Innovation
SREB

Amanda leads a team of researchers, writers and coaches who develop grant proposals and provide support to teachers, local instructional coaches and school and district leaders on school improvement processes. She co-chairs the SREB steering committee on the educator workforce and currently leads the organizations work on teacher and leader early career support. Previously, she has served as a senior leadership coach and mathematics instructional coach at SREB.

Before joining SREB in 2012, Amanda was a high school math teacher in Georgia. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Auburn University, a master’s in middle grades education (math and science) from Columbus State University and a doctorate in educational leadership from Georgia State University.