Background & Early Career

Tysie McDowell is a lifelong educator and fierce advocate for equity in public education. With over 25 years of experience in Kansas City and beyond, she began her journey as a teacher, principal, and educational consultant, always focused on improving outcomes for underserved students. She holds a B.A. in Elementary Education from the University of Iowa, an M.S. in School Administration from Baker University, and an Educational Specialist Degree in K-12 Superintendency from Northwest Missouri State University.

Leadership at Crossroads Charter Schools

In 2012, McDowell co-founded Crossroads Academy, the first downtown Kansas City charter school, with a vision of providing academically rigorous, real-world learning experiences for a diverse student body. Under her leadership, the Crossroads network has grown into three schools serving students from Pre-K through 12th grade.
Her leadership has made Crossroads a standout in Missouri’s education landscape and a national model of public charter school excellence.

Key Achievements & Awards

2015: Honored with the Urban Hero Award by the Downtown Council of Kansas City for her transformative impact on education and community development in the urban core.

2016: Crossroads earned a 98.6% Annual Performance Report (APR) score, ranking among Missouri’s top-performing charter schools.

2017: Crossroads was named Missouri Charter School of the Year.

2019: McDowell received the National Charter School Leadership Award from the National Alliance of Public Charter Schools in Washington, D.C.—a prestigious national recognition for outstanding charter leadership.

2022: Secured a 10-year High-Quality Charter Renewal from Missouri DESE—a rare designation awarded only to the most effective, sustainable schools in the state.

2025: Played a pivotal leadership role in helping pass a historic Kansas City school bond—the first passed in over 60 years—uniting public district and charter schools for the benefit of thousands of students citywide.