Kai-ama Hamer

I am an educator and leader who has dedicated my life to supporting children, families, and the adults who love them, because I believe transformation in education begins with relationships rooted in love. My journey started outside of the classroom, working with families living in long-term shelters across New York City. That work taught me early on that schools cannot do this work alone — families are not the problem, they are the power.
In 2004, I became a special education teacher with the NYC Department of Education at P.S. 41 in the Bronx. Like so many educators, I wore many hats over the years, learning alongside my students and their families. In 2012, I stepped into the role of Dean, where I helped build school-wide systems of care, supported teachers, and often served as the first line of response during moments of crisis. It was in that role that I first facilitated ParentCorps with families — and it changed how I understood leadership, healing, and what’s possible when schools lead with humanity.
In 2015, I joined ParentCorps as a coach, and today I have the honor of leading the organization as Director. I lead with love — not as a slogan, but as a practice. I believe deeply in the power of strong home-school connections in the early years, and in what becomes possible when families and educators are truly seen, trusted, and supported. When we invest in relationships early, we can shift children’s educational trajectories and, just as importantly, sustain the adults who serve them.
I am a graduate of City College of New York and Fordham University, and a proud 2024 Aspen Ascend Fellow. I am also a mother, a children’s book author, and a self-proclaimed professional encourager. I am especially committed to lifting up Black women — honoring both our brilliance and our burdens — because I know firsthand the strength it takes to keep showing up in systems that weren’t built with us in mind.
My story is not about leaving the classroom behind, but about carrying it with me. Every step I’ve taken has been rooted in community, in love, and in the belief that we all deserve to thrive — not just survive — in our work and in our lives.