Experience

Advance Illinois

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Project Director

  • May 2010 - Present

  --Overseeing organization’s statewide teacher and principal quality initiatives featured in TNTP’s "Getting to Better Prep" --Selected to present on education reform to multiple audiences totaling more than 2,000 people --Won grant funding for and led team that produced state-wide report on school turnaround that examined the reforms in 10 Illinois high schools that received $114M in federal grants --Assisted eight districts in crafting a strategy to improve their lowest performing schools resulting in three districts being awarded over $15M in School Improvement Grant funds --Selected by Illinois' Secretary of Education for 15-member state-level National Governor’s Association group and led Pathways Working Group that produced Improving Teacher Preparation Policy and Programs in 2017 --Chosen as member of Performance Evaluation Advisory Council, a 32-member body appointed by the Illinois State Board of Education to create a new way to evaluate teachers and principals that incorporates student growth measures --Led initial process that created a system of Illinois district and educator preparation program partnerships, the Continuous Improvement Community of Practice, one of the first of its kind in the nation --Oversaw production of five biennial reports on state of education in Illinois and organized 63 statewide events, attended by over 4,900 people, on time and on budget --Chosen by peers from 45 organizations that are part of the PIE Network as 1 of 10 nominees for Most Valuable Player, an award that recognizes leaders who advance reform nationally Show less



School District U-46

• United States
• Primary and Secondary Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Executive Director of Student Services

  • Jul 2009 - May 2010

  Lead architect of Supplemental Educational Services (SES), a $1.33M federally funded tutoring program delivered to more than 1,100 low-income and low-proficiency students; led strategic-planning process for Special Education Department with $70M annual budget Lead architect of Supplemental Educational Services (SES), a $1.33M federally funded tutoring program delivered to more than 1,100 low-income and low-proficiency students; led strategic-planning process for Special Education Department with $70M annual budget



KIPP Ascend Charter School

• Primary and Secondary Education
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Founding Principal

  • Jul 2002 - Jun 2009

  --Founded college prep middle school serving 320 students on Chicago’s West Side where 100% of alumni were accepted into college prep high schools and accepted more than $3.4M in scholarships --Hired and developed several award-winning teachers, including first Golden Apple winner at Chicago charter school and 6 teachers who earned positions as principals --Supervised development team that secured more than $1.8M in private funding 87% of KIPP Ascend graduates in first 3 classes graduated high school and of those 95% enrolled in postsecondary --Earned #1 ranking in CPS for 8th grade Illinois Standards Achievement Test math scores out of 463 schools in 2007 --Recognized by community with Outstanding Administrator Award for Illinois 7th Congressional District --Won the Community Renewal Society’s 35 Under 35 Leadership Award Show less



The Noble Network of Charter Schools

• Biology Teacher

  • Aug 2000 - Jun 2002

  --Created and led two expeditions to Peruvian Amazon and Andes for more than 30 students with partner teacher --Secured $75K in grants for Summer Reading Academy, Rainforest Advocacy Program, and Science Department --Cofounded after-school homework completion program still operating in the Noble Network schools --Created and led two expeditions to Peruvian Amazon and Andes for more than 30 students with partner teacher --Secured $75K in grants for Summer Reading Academy, Rainforest Advocacy Program, and Science Department --Cofounded after-school homework completion program still operating in the Noble Network schools



Teach For America

• United States
• Education Administration Programs
• 700 & Above Employee

• Math and Science Teacher

  • 1995 - 1997

  --Taught math and science and coached JV football --Selected as 1 of 490 Teach For America corps members from more than 2,900 applicants --Taught math and science and coached JV football --Selected as 1 of 490 Teach For America corps members from more than 2,900 applicants