CHICAGO – The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) today announced two significant leadership appointments as the organization enters its next phase of growth and impact. Starting July 1, 2026, Dr. Joshua P. Starr will become the new Chief Executive Officer and Dr. Kimberly A. Schonert-Reichl will be the new Chair of the CASEL Board of Directors.
Outgoing Board Chair, Dr. Tim Shriver announced, “All of us on the CASEL Board and in our larger collaborative are delighted to be welcoming Dr. Josh Starr as our new CEO, and Dr. Kim Schonert-Reichl as our new Board Chair. Josh is the ideal leader for this moment when educators the world over are looking to CASEL for cutting-edge research, rigorous implementation support, and evidence-based SEL policies. Josh’s commitment to social and emotional learning (SEL) is second to none. We’re excited that he will be joined by our new Board Chair, Dr. Kim Schonert-Reichl, who is a global expert on SEL, the editor of the leading SEL journal, and a global teacher and thought leader on the evidence and practice of SEL. In Josh and Kim, CASEL has a dream team.”
“I applaud CASEL and its new leadership team of Dr. Joshua Starr and Dr. Kim Schonert-Reichl. Our educators need great SEL and our country needs CASEL to lead us in implementing it,” added Arne Duncan, former U.S. Secretary of Education.
The CASEL Board selected Dr. Starr as the next chief executive officer following a national search led by executive search firm Isaacson, Miller. Dr. Starr has brought decades of leadership to public education, a national non-profit, and private sector organizations. He has served as a classroom teacher, a system leader, and superintendent of schools in Stamford, Connecticut, and Montgomery County, Maryland. Dr. Starr was the CEO of PDK International, where he built on the storied legacy of the organization and led the launch of Educators Rising.
For the past four years Dr. Starr has held executive leadership roles in the private sector, including as a managing partner for the Center of Model Schools at HMH, and as superintendent in residence at Right at School. He is a prolific author, sought-after keynote speaker and presenter, as well as an executive coach and a facilitator. His skill set and experience across sectors uniquely position him to lead CASEL at a time when schools and educators seek evidence-based, integrated approaches to student success and well-being.
Dr. Starr said, “I could not be more thrilled to be the next CEO of CASEL. Social and emotional learning has been at the core of my work since I was a classroom teacher in Brooklyn. I have been a long-time advocate of SEL and have supported CASEL’s work for many years. The opportunity to lead the organization at this critical juncture is a dream come true. The challenge that schools face today in addressing the complex needs of our kids makes it essential that every educator has a high-quality, evidence-based approach to SEL. The organization’s leadership in the field and position as the authority on SEL make it a privilege to be the next CEO.”
In addition to naming its next CEO, CASEL also announced a change in board leadership. Dr. Kimberly A. Schonert-Reichl succeeds Dr. Timothy P. Shriver, who is a co-founder and has served as the CASEL Board Chair since its inception, and has been integral to CASEL’s vision and growth. Dr. Schonert-Reichl brings extensive experience as a researcher and recognized leader in the field of social and emotional learning. She is NoVo Foundation Endowed Chair in Social and Emotional Learning and a Professor of Psychology at the University of Illinois-Chicago and has served as the chief knowledge officer at CASEL prior to becoming Board Chair.
“The CASEL Board is deeply grateful to Tim for his many years of service to the field of social and emotional learning,” said Dr. Schonert-Reichl. “As a co-founder of the field, he helped establish CASEL as the leading voice, both nationally and internationally, advancing social and emotional learning as an essential component of education and whole-child development. Throughout his career, Tim has been a tireless advocate for the healthy development and well-being of all children. We are profoundly grateful for his unwavering commitment and steadfast dedication to creating a better world for children and youth.”
Since February, 2026, CASEL has been led by Interim CEO Dr. Sheldon Berman, who will be succeeded by Dr. Starr. As a longtime leader in the field and a participant in the founding of CASEL, Dr. Berman has guided CASEL through a period of transition, providing stability and advancing the launch of new professional development programs for educators, school leaders and administrators, and offering new technical assistance services for schools and districts, particularly for addressing chronic absenteeism. Dr. Berman said, “Having worked with Josh Starr as a colleague, superintendent, and organizational executive, I can attest that CASEL is in very good hands going forward, leading toward even greater impact for the field.”
About CASEL
For more than 30 years, CASEL has been at the forefront of advancing social and emotional learning (SEL). Through its collaborative approach to research, policy, and practice, CASEL supports K–12 educators, amplifies research, and advocates for comprehensive, systemic approaches to SEL in schools across the United States and around the world.
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For more information or questions, please contact Cynthia Coleman at 312.226-3767 or ccoleman@casel.org.
