A distinguished educational leader and author, Traci Buckner is executive director at Akron Children’s Museum, a vibrant, interactive space located in the heart of downtown Akron designed for children to learn through play.

Buckner joined Akron Children’s Museum after 18 years of service in the Akron Public School system and most recently as program officer at GAR Foundation, the largest private charitable foundation in Akron, Ohio where she worked to advance the foundation’s strategic funding priorities through grant-making and convening. She is the founding instructional leader of the National Inventors Hall of Fame School…Center for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Learning and most recently served as Director of Specialty Programs where she led the district’s efforts to expand STEM best practices throughout Akron Public schools and to develop and direct innovation efforts in the district’s non-traditional schools. She also authored the book STEM Leadership, a guide on creating a STEM culture in a school or district as well as a children’s book, We All Make Tracks. Previously, Buckner worked as a middle school
language arts classroom teacher, and served in several schools as dean of students, assistant principal, and principal. Prior to her educational career, she worked in corporate marketing and sales.

Buckner has gained broad recognition for educational leadership and civic engagement. She consults to help leaders think strategically and speaks locally and nationally on creativity and innovation in and has served as a guest panelist at several speaking engagements including the Greater Akron Chamber of Commerce, ATHENA Akron Leadership Forum, The Ashland University Leadership Academy Seminar, the Akron Roundtable, a guest podcaster on Apple
Growth Partners’ Slice broadcast, and the Proud Parent Series presented by the Children’s Museum of Evansville, Indiana. She is a past president of ATHENA Akron, Inc., a member of Leadership Akron, Kent Area (OH) Chapter of The Links Incorporated, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and currently serves on the Summit County Children’s Services, ATHENA Akron, Greater Akron Chamber, and Archbishop Hoban High School boards. She was featured in
Akron Life magazine as one of the city’s 2015 change makers and was a recipient of the Women of STEM Rising Amongst the Stars award from the Ohio Black Women’s Leadership Caucus, the Harold K. Stubbs Humanitarian Award, and Athena Akron Women’s Leadership Award.

Buckner received a Master’s in education from John Carroll University and Bachelor of Arts degree in communication from The Ohio State University. She also earned an instructional leadership administrative certificate from Ashland University. She resides in Akron with her husband, Tobin and their two sons.