Antoine Hickman

About Antoine Hickman

Strategic Advisor & Executive Leader helping organizations navigate complexity through resilient leadership, inclusive systems, and mission-driven transformation. With more than three decades of experience strengthening PreK–Adult education systems, I specialize in advancing organizational excellence across state agencies, school districts, and nonprofits.Currently, I leverage my expertise through high-level strategic partnerships designed to scale equity and improve outcomes for students with disabilities:Senior Advisor, System Partnerships (Achieving the Promise): Partnering with Founder Rachel Stafford to strengthen K-12 systems and address fragmented structures so children with disabilities and their communities can thrive.Faculty Partner (Conflict Resolution Training Inc.): Collaborating with Susan Deveney to scale mediation and IEP Facilitation capacity nationally, fostering collaborative dispute resolution between districts and families.National PD Specialist (Catapult Learning): Designing and delivering high-impact professional development to drive instructional excellence and systemic growth across the country.My career has spanned large, complex systems in Virginia, Florida, and Maryland—including serving as the Assistant State Superintendent for Special Education in Maryland. I have stewarded billion-dollar budgets and led systemwide improvements during crisis leadership, pandemic recovery, and large-scale organizational transformation.I am a proud native of Roanoke, Virginia, a graduate of Norfolk State University, and earned my Doctorate in Educational Policy, Planning, and Leadership from the College of William and Mary. I remain a dedicated member of The Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc, committed to manhood, scholarship, perseverance, and uplift.My focus remains clear: advancing equity, strengthening communities, and building resilient systems where every child and family can thrive.

Experience

1. Faculty Partner

   Conflict Resolution Training Inc

   Apr 2026 — Present · Washington, DC, US

   Serving as a Faculty Partner to provide specialized expertise in conflict resolution, focusing on the intersection of special education law, mediation, and collaborative dispute resolution for school districts nationwide.Lead the development and delivery of specialized training modules focused on Special Education Mediation and IEP Facilitation, equipping educators and administrators with the tools to resolve complex disputes.Provide strategic consultation to school district leadership on building internal capacity for mediation, reducing litigation risks, and fostering collaborative relationships between parents and school teams.Advise on the implementation of systemic mediation programs at the state and local levels, leveraging extensive experience with compliance and equitable educational structures.Collaborate with a national team of experts to promote best practices in special education advocacy and professional talent development through accredited certification programs.

Education

• Old Dominion University

  Education Specialist, Educational Leadership and Administration, General

  2003

• Old Dominion University

  Master of Science, Special Education and Teaching

  1997

• Norfolk State University

  Bachelor of Science - BS, Business Administration and Management, General

• William & Mary

  Doctor of Education, Educational Policy, Planning, & Leadership

  2014