Dana Chen

Dr. Dana Chen is a Virginia based educator and K-12 administrator, with a background as an assistant principal. Dana has over twenty years in public education. She graduated from Wake Forest University, earned a master’s in education with a K-12 administration endorsement, and completed a doctorate in leadership at Virginia Commonwealth University in 2024. Across school based and central roles, she advances student access and attendance by turning data into routines that teams can sustain.

Her primary focus is chronic absenteeism. She uses program evaluation, early warning indicators, and tiered intervention design to build clear processes for monitoring, outreach, and timely support. She designs professional learning for adult learners that is practical and measurable. She believes that consistent structures and respectful communication foster belonging and improved outcomes. Her mixed methods capstone studied attendance interventions at Caroline High School.

Through ThinkPlanChange.com and DanaChenEducator.com, she partners with districts and campuses to provide training and coaching.