Matt Underwood

Matt Underwood

2019 NACSA Leader

Executive Director, Innovation Atlanta Public Schools

Matt Underwood serves as the Executive Director for Innovation for the Atlanta Public Schools, where he helps oversee the district’s authorization and performance management of all charter and partner school contracts. He also develops policies and practices that promote flexibility and innovation in support of improved educational outcomes.

Prior to joining APS in January 2019, Matt served for 12 years as the Executive Director of the Atlanta Neighborhood Charter School, a former Georgia Charter School of the Year. Matt began his career as a public school educator with teaching experience at schools in Atlanta, Chicago, New York City, and Boston. Matt holds a B.S. in Education from Northwestern University and a M.Ed. in School Leadership from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.


Most Recent Posts
How to Communicate about School Closures
Few conversations in authorizing are harder than the ones about a school that is changing form or closing its doors. Whether you’re merging, consolidating, or closing a school, you know...
Montessori Applications Are Coming. Is Your Authorizer Office Ready?
Does your charter authorizing team know what a strong Montessori school application looks like? Charter schools were created to try new ways of meeting students’ learning needs. But the more...
NACSA statement on recent decision in Oklahoma about religious charter schools
NACSA is disappointed in the recent decision by a federal judge in Oklahoma, allowing The Ben Gamla Jewish Charter School Foundation to continue with plans to open a religious charter...