Caren Onanda is an educator with over 25 years of experience, driven by a passion for improving life outcomes for young people, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Her career spans from Widening Participation projects at the universities of Cambridge and York, to teaching English in international summer schools, before becoming an English teacher in secondary schools in England for the last 18 years.

Throughout her career, she has held various leadership roles including Head of Year, Head of Department and Lead Practitioner. She is currently an Assistant Headteacher. Caren co-authored ‘Black in School’ in 2024: a book that explores the journeys of black educators in the UK and beyond. She has written for various educational publications and volunteers as a Trustee for Southside Young Leaders Academy. She also serves on the advisory board for Penguin Lit in Colour and the Black Teacher Network.