Responsibilities

Coordinated a $6 million statewide initiative funded by The Wallace Foundation on transforming principal preparation, certification, professional development, and evaluation. Responsible for conceptualization and passage of a six-part leadership reform legislation (Public Act 094-1039) - that has since included $7 million in legislative funding - and legislation (P.A. 096-0903) that led to the redesign of all principal preparation programs in the state. Responsible for additional projects, including directing:

• A 5-year U.S. DOE funded School Leadership Project to test principal preparation innovations through four district/university partnerships in Illinois,
• A sustainability contract for i3 Child Parent Center Midwest Expansion validation grant,
• A technical assistance contract for the state training on the new Teacher and Principal Performance Evaluation,
• Four related McCormick Foundation-funded grants looking at the role of early   childhood and K-12 school leaders with aligning the early learning continuum,
• A validation study of the Danielson Framework for Teaching (FfT) for PreK-grade 3 teachers
• A state-funded Grow Your Own Teacher evaluation project,
• A state funded student college migration study.

Responsible for grant writing, which has resulted in over $15 million in external funds brought into Center over tenure.