2025 ACSA Equity Institute

Dr. Kandace Forrester is a highly accomplished managing partner at Restorative Equity Partnership (REP). She is renowned for her expertise in education and dedication to improving students' lived experiences. Over the course of her career, she has held various impactful roles, including educational psychologist/school psychologist, director of student services, consultant, speaker, homeschool teacher, and curriculum developer.Previously, Dr. Forrester served as the CEO of the California Institute for Educational Progress (CALIEP) and worked as a CDE-approved Technical Assistance Facilitator. Her comprehensive knowledge encompasses a wide range of areas, including special education, restorative justice, psychosocial and cognitive development, qualitative and quantitative research methods and data analysis, and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.Drawing on her expertise, Dr. Forrester is committed to amplifying joy and eliminating oppression in the educational landscape. Her focus is on ensuring that students' experiences are enriched and their agency intentionally catalyzed in ways that help them thrive in their academic journeys and beyond. By promoting culturally affirming restorative practices and fostering a sense of belonging, Dr. Forrester aims to create an environment where every student can flourish.In addition to her professional accomplishments, Dr. Forrester is a Sacramento native who, as the first in her family to attend college, earned her B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. from UC Berkeley. Before moving to Los Angeles, where she and her family currently reside, they lived in the Bay Area for several years and spent over a year exploring the United States by living “on the road” full-time in their RV. Dr. Forrester’s personal interests include exploring the city's vibrant restaurant scene, hiking, playing pickleball, attending live performances, and finding solace at the ocean or in front of the pottery wheel.