Zach Stumbo, Ph.D. is a lifelong Kentuckian and passionate advocate for educational equity. A former unaccompanied youth, Zach overcame housing instability during high school and went on to earn a B.A. in Elementary Education and an M.A. in Teacher Leadership from Morehead State University. He served at-risk students through AmeriCorps in Eastern Kentucky and taught first grade in Boyd County Schools for ten years. After teaching, Zach pursued a Ph.D. in Education at the University of Tennessee, focusing on Cultural Studies and Research Methodology. Zach has presented nationally and internationally on teacher education, trauma-informed practices and co-authored award-winning research. Since 2022, he has served as Kentucky’s Homeless State Coordinator for the McKinney-Vento program. He lives in Louisville with his husband and three year-old son.