Dr. Anne Spear is the CEO and Founder of Plan Forward, a platform empowering K-12 school leaders to give voice, track progress, and share impact stories on strategic initiatives such as mental health support. Analysis of perception data identifies root-cause and provides evidence-based action steps to inform administrators throughout the school year. Her work with Plan Forward is anchored in the belief that continuous improvement only happens with continuous support, driven to help leaders meet students' and communities' evolving needs.

With 15 years of experience in the educational field, Dr. Spear is an educator and research expert with a deep understanding of working with diverse groups. She began her career as a middle school teacher in Miami-Dade County Public Schools, where her students achieved the highest growth in reading across the school. Motivated to link evidence-based practices to the decisions that impact student academic growth, Dr. Spear pursued a doctorate in educational policy.

Trained as an in-depth qualitative and survey researcher, Dr. Spear conducts field studies to evaluate phenomena in educational settings, particularly focusing on positional leadership, gender-based violence, and teachers as change agents. Drawing on her research and analytical skills, she is adept at using research to drive decision-making and strategic planning.

Dr. Spear earned a Ph.D. in International Education Policy from the University of Maryland, where she also served as an instructor in the Leadership Studies Minor Program. She continues to teach as adjunct faculty in the College of Education. A lifelong learner, she holds an M.S.Ed. in Education and Social Change from the University of Miami and an M.A. in International Studies from the University of Wyoming, completed as part of the U.S. Peace Corps Master’s International Program.

Outside of her professional work, Dr. Spear raises awareness for women leaders in Burkina Faso by participating in endurance running and triathlon events. When she’s not training, you can find her climbing mountains or immersed in a nonfiction book.