Spotlight of the Week: Lisa Gray – Championing Education Equity in Ohio
Lisa A. Gray is a trailblazer in the fight for quality education for every Ohio student. As the founding president of Ohio Excels, a nonpartisan coalition of business leaders dedicated to transforming Ohio’s education system, Gray has devoted her career to closing achievement gaps and ensuring that every child in Ohio has access to exceptional learning opportunities.
Before launching Ohio Excels, Lisa Gray ran a consulting practice that specialized in public policy development, government relations, advocacy, strategic planning, and project management with a focus on public education. Her impressive client list includes esteemed organizations such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Achieve, Inc., Battelle for Kids, Ohio Business Roundtable, Teach for America, and Jobs for the Future, among others. Her work with these organizations has helped shape educational strategies and policies across the state.
Gray’s extensive background in education policy is complemented by her hands-on experience in various influential roles. She served as the Director of Policy and Communications at Battelle for Kids, and as Project Director for the Governor’s Commission for Student Success—a bipartisan effort under Governor Taft that developed recommendations to enhance Ohio’s K-12 public education system. Additionally, her work as Deputy Executive Assistant to Columbus Mayor Greg Lashutka and her earlier tenure at the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce have further cemented her reputation as a leader in educational reform.
A proud Ohioan, Lisa Gray began her career as an elementary school teacher after earning a BS in Elementary Education from Indiana University. Her passion for learning and dedication to public education is also a family affair; she and her husband are raising four sons, all of whom have experienced the benefits of Ohio’s public schools firsthand.
Ohio Excels is a nonpartisan coalition of business leaders committed to improving education for every Ohio student. Their mission is “to provide an informed business perspective to help improve and transform Ohio’s education system so that it better prepares students to meet the demands of our evolving economy.” With a vision that every student has access to and is supported in excelling at every educational level, Ohio Excels is at the forefront of efforts to build a brighter future for Ohio’s youth.
Lisa Gray’s leadership and unwavering commitment to education reform continue to pave the way for a more equitable and successful future for students across Ohio. Her work reminds us that transforming education is not just about policy, it is about ensuring every child has the opportunity to thrive
