Educational Background Doctor of Philosophy: Education Policy, Planning, and Organization University of Southern California, degree awarded May 2002 Dissertation: A Study of Equity in Education Finance: An Analysis of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles Schools
Master of Education: Leadership University of Portland, degree awarded August 1995
Bachelor of Arts: English with Secondary Education State University of New York at Geneseo, degree awarded May 1992
Professional Licensure
New York State Permanent Certification: School Administrator/Supervisor
New York State Permanent Certification: English, Secondary Level Teacher
AwardFulbright Specialist Scholar Roster Candidate, March 2011
Professional Experience
Consultant.Coach.Presenter. August 2019-Present
Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston: independent consulting work for systemic growth
Archdiocese of New York: via Catapult Learning, leadership coaching
St. Labre Indian Schools: via FACTS Education Solutions, teacher coaching
Loyola Marymount University: part-time faculty, teaching course in organizational leadership
Archdiocese of Los Angeles, Associate Superintendent for Leadership, Innovation, and Growth (Los Angeles, CA), July 2017-July 2019 The Archdiocese of Los Angeles is the largest Catholic school system in the U.S. including Catholic 213 elementary and 51 secondary schools and serving just under 80,000 students. Our schools and parishes are located within the over 8,000 square miles that comprise Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara counties. Generally speaking, I was responsible for: overseeing the leadership recruitment, development and ongoing formation at both elementary and high schools; overseeing the creation and implementation of innovative programs in both elementary and high schools; and overseeing marketing and enrollment management professional development at both the elementary and high school level. Detailed responsibilities included: LEADERSHIP:
Design, coordinate and oversee of the Catholic Aspiring Principal Program (CAPP), new elementary principal training, new high school leadership team training and new teacher training, with some opportunities to present professional development.
Oversee with HR the recruitment, selection and hiring process for school leadership.
Collaborate in the design and delivery of ongoing professional development of the principals in the Archdiocese
Plan and deliver PD for continuing and new ES and HS LC committee members and assistant superintendents in order to facilitate the effective implementation of PLCs.
Explore the possibility of designing a protocol/system for intentional succession planning for principals.
Recognize and honor principals and schools for various achievements and honor them for years of service.
Participate as a member of the Professional Development Committee.
INNOVATION:
Plan and deliver sessions of Innovation PD for school leaders who desire to learn about and plan for the implementation of an innovation to grow their school in relation to faith, excellence, or stewardship.Track the I3 cohorts to ascertain progress on their innovation; assess the overall impact of the innovation for growth in student achievement and enrollment.
Oversight of the DLI Network implementation (TK-8) including: plan/deliver info sessions, calls/visits to potential schools, setting up and monitoring progress of feasibility studies, evaluating feasibility studies and holding several calls/meetings with schools, plan/deliver DLI PD (non-DLI teachers and admins), regular meetings with DLI principals (every 6-weeks), managing the Hilton Foundation grant, working with donors (Hilton, Specialty, Doheny) and with ACC groups (Digital Media and CEF)
Explore alternative 9-12 models that are outside of the college prep structure. Including but not limited to vocational education, technology, and core STEM subjects that do not necessarily lead to higher education.
TK-12: collaborate with DCS team to address the needs of critical schools and brainstorm, research, plan and implement potential innovative solutions; create metrics to measure success.
GROWTH:
Collaborate with Superintendent and Deputy Superintendents to facilitate tasks associated with the enrollment growth agenda and cooperate to ensure school accountability.
Collaborate with Superintendent and Deputy Superintendent of High Schools to ensure a quality program for international students in order that enrollment grows.
Collaborate with DCS staff to ensure the integration of the school accreditation process with all affected program areas.
Collaborate with members of the DCS staff and Digital Media to design and develop a marketing and enrollment management professional development plan.
Archdiocese of Los Angeles, Director of Leadership Formation (Los Angeles, CA), July 2013 – June 2017
Recruitment & Selection of Principals: Applicants are recruited and vetted involving documentation review and multi-part interview. Pastors are afforded the opportunity to be trained in the selection and hiring process.
On-Boarding 1st Year Principals: Coordinate, prepare, and deliver 4 days of professional development to prepare them in Leadership for their first year as an elementary school principal. On-boarding includes conducting audits in the areas of Faith, Excellence, and Stewardship prior to the start of the school year.
Year 1 Principals PD: Coordinate, prepare, and deliver 6 days of PD to support their first year in the areas of Leadership, Faith, Excellence, and Stewardship.
Year 2 Principals PD: Prepare and deliver 3 sessions that focus on growth of enrollment; principals engage in topics including: examining competition, consideration of their school’s product (faith and excellence) and value add, enrollment management (retention and recruitment), and creating an invitational environment.
Annual Principals PD: Coordinate 3 principals' meetings. Each meeting concludes with a celebration of principals/schools for various achievements; e.g. honoring principals whose schools earned accreditation that school year; honoring principals and schools celebrating milestone anniversaries; and, honoring principals who are retiring or leaving the system.
Investigate & Innovate Institute: I3 offers Catholic elementary school principals and teacher leaders the opportunity to participate in stimulating and challenging learning experiences emphasizing intellectual exchange in a cohort-based model including for growth of their schools in enrollment, faith, excellence.
Catapult Learning, Senior Advisor for Private and Religious PD (Los Angeles, CA), April 2012 – Present Summary of Professional Development, Designed and Delivered: Systemic Professional Learning Communities
Arch/Dioceses: Galveston-Houston, Gaylord (Grand Traverse Catholic Schools), New Orleans (St. Catherine of Siena School), Portland, San Francisco, Sacramento, Seattle, Stockton
Builders of Jewish Education, Los Angeles
Leading for Academic Excellence
Builders of Jewish Education, Los Angeles
Dioceses: Dallas, Oakland, Palm Beach, Sacramento, Stockton, Tucson
Invitational Education: What if Disney ran your School (or Classroom)?
Arch/Dioceses: Dallas, Galveston-Houston, San Francisco, Sacramento
Common Core ELA
Arch/Dioceses: Los Angeles (HS), Monterey, New Orleans, Oakland, Phoenix, San Bernadino, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, Seattle, Stockton, Tucson
Common Core Math
Arch/Dioceses: New Orleans, San Francisco, Sacramento, Seattle, Stockton, Tucson
Supervision: Walkthroughs, Observations, Feedback
Arch/Dioceses: Bridgeport, Brooklyn, Gaylord (Traverse City Schools), Newark, Oakland, Philadelphia, Portland, San Francisco, Seattle
Builders of Jewish Education, Los Angeles
Goal-Setting
Dioceses: Orlando, San Bernadino
Special Consulting Projects
Archbishop Riordan HS (Curriculum Development)
Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston (Organizational Leadership)
Archdiocese of Miami (Operational Vitality Review)
Archdiocese of Seattle (Organizational Leadership)
Cathedral Catholic HS (Freshmen Skills Planning)
Diocese of Denver (Organizational Leadership)
Diocese of San Diego (Organizational Leadership)
Diocese of San Jose (Organizational Leadership)
Yula Girls HS (Leadership)
Speaking Engagements:
Common Core from 30,000’: National Catholic Education Association Leadership Summit
Dual Language Immersion: Diocese of Orange (CA), California Superintendents Conference, National Catholic Education Association
Finding God in All Things: Diocese of San Jose (CA), Joint Dioceses Meeting (LA,MS)
Associate Superintendent, Leadership and Recruitment (New York, NY), August 2009 – July 2011 The Archdiocese of New York is one of the largest school systems in the U.S. including Catholic elementary and secondary, archdiocesan, parish and private schools in the boroughs of the Bronx, Manhattan, Staten Island and counties of Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, Orange, Rockland, Ulster and Sullivan.
Responsible for the recruitment, selection, on-boarding, evaluation, professional development, and succession planning for principals; created and sustained all aspects of the Principal Personnel Process ensuring a comprehensive and streamlined human resources approach, from accessing aspiring principals to ensuring an efficient exit and transition process for outgoing principals.
Designed and delivered professional development for first-year principals, topics included, but are not limited to: invitational education, developing positive student and parent relationships, and conducting effective faculty meetings.
Mentored first-year principals, activities included: conducting multiple school site visits, modeling walkthroughs, developing reflective capacity among teachers, and reviewing and discussing teacher lesson plans and student assessments.
Designed and implemented a new principal evaluation system for first-year principals, including: the development of performance goals and objectives, engaging principals in reflective practice exercises, creating stakeholder evaluation forms for the pastor and teachers, as well as, question guides for conversations with parents and students, developed the evaluation visit timeline and process, created the evaluation report.
Designed and implemented SMART goal setting tools and process, and conducted professional development sessions for second-year principals.
Led professional learning communities for first- and second-year principals, conducting book studies using Lead, Follow, or Get Out of the Way by Robert Ramsey, Be Our Guest: Perfecting the Art of Customer Service by Disney Institute, The New Principal’s Fieldbook: Strategies for Success by Pam Robbins and Harvey Alvy, and Teach Like a Champion by Doug Lemov.
Designed and implemented the Principal Action Plan tool and process and conducted multiple sessions with principals, pastors, and district superintendents to improve principal performance.
Worked collaboratively with five Catholic colleges and universities and other vendors to bring professional development opportunities to aspiring and current principals; for example, worked closely with St. John’s University (NY) to further develop The Curran Principal Academy training program for aspiring school leaders.
Directed recruitment associate in cultivating relationships with colleges and universities to increase the number of qualified teachers and substitute teachers; collaborated to create a new web-based database of all qualified tenured, non-tenured, and new applicant teachers for the 250 Catholic schools seeking to fill teaching positions.
Led the development of the Catholic School Leadership Portrait, collaborating with principals, assistant and associate superintendents, and college and university professors to translate the secular, national standards for school leadership, through a Catholic lens.
Collaborated with Catapult consultant, Dr. Mari Pearlman, in the development of a standards- and evidence-based assessment instrument; and, collaborated with Archdiocesan staff and ImageTrend technology to create the electronic version of the new principal assessment instrument.
Led the pilot the principal assessment with 23 principals, led all workshops to inform and train all principals in use of the instrument and explanation of the evaluation process, and wrote the Principal Assessment Tool Manual.
Prepared summer professional development opportunities aligned with the Catholic School Leadership Portrait and the new principal assessment instrument.
Modified the original text by Karen L. Hanson and published A Casebook for Catholic School Leaders and Aspiring Leaders: Linking the Archdiocese of New York Catholic School Leader Portrait to Reflective Practice.
Head of School, St. Aloysius (New York, NY), July 2008 – June 2009 St. Aloysius, a Pre-K-8 school in Harlem, NY dedicated to serving at-risk students through comprehensive, arts- and literature-integrated programming.
Responsible for 3.4M budget of which 2.5M was raised through development efforts.
Worked collaboratively with the Board of Advisors and Child, LLC; advised the board on mission effectiveness, programs, jointly coordinated the annual event, and cultivated fundraising prospects.
Worked collaboratively with development staff, foundations, and individual donors to secure funding for various programs: art, music, language arts, technology, health and wellness, after school, summer school, summer camp, staff development, and scholarships.
Managed leadership team to create a conservative budget, ensured effective business and development office procedures, and ensured sound fiscal management.
Collaborated with faculty to ensure effective teaching and engaging and successful learning experiences, as well as, provided professional development in vertical curriculum alignment, formative and summative assessments, differentiated instruction, and fostering resiliency in children.
Principal, Verbum Dei High School (Watts, CA), July 2004 – June 2008 Principal of Verbum Dei, a Cristo Rey Network, Catholic, Jesuit, college and career preparatory high school, serving young men of Watts and the surrounding communities who are economically and academically underserved.
Led, collaborated with, and supervised the administrative team, including the dean of academics and dean of students, as well as, the directors of: corporate work study, college guidance, Christian service, campus ministry, admissions, athletics, and student activities.
Worked collaboratively with development director and other key staff to successfully cultivate foundations and individual donors to secure funding for various programs: literacy, remediation, class size reduction, after school programs, summer school, staff development, and need-based scholarships.
Worked with faculty and staff to ensure effective teaching and college and career preparatory learning experiences, as well as, delivered professional development, including: creating a college preparatory campus culture, college preparatory curriculum mapping, writing across the curriculum, and fostering resiliency in students; supervised faculty, conducted informal and formal observations, and, annual performance evaluations.
Partnered with Loyola Marymount University’s teacher internship program and successfully mentored nine first- and second-year teachers.
Led faculty in professional learning communities, conducting book studies using Tools for Teaching by Fred Jones and College Knowledge by David Conley.
Organized curriculum and programs and led academic departments to ensure at-risk students’ growth and development in literacy, comprehension, vocabulary, writing, and math skills.
Designated a Student Success Teams coordinator and co-designed the model to proactively identify and address students’ academic and behavioral needs, including designing the protocols for student identification, process for engaging students and parents, engaging faculty advisory teams, and implementing peer tutoring; remodeled the traditional library setting to a space for a multiple study and learning centers.
Planned and implemented the Verbum Dei Speakers Bureau in which successful African-American and Latino role models presented to our students; speakers included, but were not limited to: Colin Powell, William Bratton, Adam Rodriguez, Spike Lee, Sinbad, and Dr. Terrance Roberts.
Successfully maintained Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) accreditation which included ensuring action plan goals were met; successfully managed the Cristo Rey Network Collegial Visit process to remain in good standing as a member of the Network.
Taught: Modern Art History, UC/CSU-approved fine arts course to juniors and seniors and Business math elective course to seniors.
Principal, St. Paul of the Cross Elementary School (La Mirada, CA), August 1999 – June 2004 St. Paul of the Cross Elementary School is dedicated to meeting the spiritual, academic, and social needs of boys and girls from low- to middle-income families.
Instituted an organizational structure that included teaming teachers by grade level and assembling a leadership team of teachers to represent the grade level teams.
Facilitated community building among teachers, parents, parish, and the community with efforts including: starting a home and school association and executive committee, rewarding parents for service to the school, engaging parents in various school activities and service projects in the community, serving on the parish and finance councils, and joining and actively participating in the Chamber of Commerce.
Led professional learning communities by conducting book studies using The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey and The First Days of School by Harry Wong.
Successfully planned and executed Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) six-year re- accreditation; ensured action plan goals from former accreditation visit were met.
Taught: Algebra as an accelerated math course to 8th grade students.
Teacher, St. Bernard Elementary School (Bellflower, CA), August 1995 - June 1999
6th – 8th grades: English, math, and science.
Teacher, St. John’s (Tumon, Guam), August 1992 - June 1995
8th grade: English; 9th grade: world mythology.
Higher Education Experience Part-Time Faculty, Loyola Marymount University, School of Education (Los Angeles, CA), Spring 2020 Currently teaching the course, Organizational Leadership in Catholic Education, which is a requirement for Catholic school employees seeking the Certificate in Catholic School Administration from the School of Education at Loyola Marymount University. Worked with aspiring administrators to understand the concepts inherent in systemic professional learning communities and process that those concepts might look like in a high functioning diocese; engaged in unpacking of the NSBECS Leadership and Operational Vitality Standards as they applied to our study of school finance, marketing and enrollment management, and development.
Visiting Professor, Marian University (Indianapolis, IN), Fall 2012 Taught the course, History and Mission of Catholic Education, which is a requirement for teachers seeking Catechetical certification in the dioceses of the state of Montana. Worked with Catholic school teachers and administrators to appreciate the history and mission of Catholic education in the United States and the development of Catholic education in Montana; shared Archbishop Miller’s Five Essential Marks of Catholic Schools; and, discussed their role as educators as models of the faith and value to the legacy of the faith.
Adjunct Faculty, Fordham University, School of Education (New York, NY), Summer 2011 Taught the course, Leading in a Diverse Society, which was a requirement for students in the graduate school of education leadership program. Worked with aspiring administrators to read and discuss leading authors’ views related to diversity and education in America; examined concepts, issues, and dilemmas related to a multicultural, diverse society from both an historical and contemporary perspective; discussed and debated current data related to diversity and social issues impacting education, particularly race, gender, sexual orientation, wealth; explored the hip hop generation; and discussed potential solutions to specific issues occurring in our schools today.
Adjunct Faculty, St. John’s University, School of Education (New York, NY), Spring 2011 Taught the course, Communications and Community Relations in Education, which was a requirement for students in The Curran Principal Academy program. Worked with aspiring principals to understand the principal’s role in internal and external community relations; developed an understanding of organizational theory and practice, as well as, organizational politics; discussed the roles, responsibilities, and reporting relationships of stakeholders; and, shared and practiced problem-solving and change strategies.
Part-Time Faculty, Loyola Marymount University, School of Education (Los Angeles, CA), Semesters 2005 – 2008 Taught graduate courses over multiple fall, spring, and summer semesters in the. Curriculum and Instruction Leadership, is required for students in teaching, administration, and counseling degree programs; exposed students to educational philosophies, encouraged mission-driven education, ensured students understood and could apply state and national standards to their discipline, taught curriculum alignment, backwards design unit and lesson planning, and built awareness and practice of strategic curriculum reform. Introduction to Teaching and Learning, is required for aspiring teachers in the PLACE Corps graduate teacher training program; worked with students to expose them to theory and practice related to: classroom management, unpacking standards, planning, and instructional strategies.
Visiting Instructor, University of Notre Dame, ACE Program (South Bend, IN), Summers 1995 – 1997 A TA and Visiting Instructor for the University of Portland, mentored, offered workshops, and taught a graduate course in the Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) graduate teacher training program; in the first summer, assisted teaching faculty and mentored students; in the second summer, continued mentoring students and conducted a portfolio assessment workshop; and, in the third summer, was hired as a visiting instructor to teach an elementary level assessment and evaluation course.
Service Volunteer, Many Hopes, UK and US, 2011-Present Volunteer, Habitat for Humanity, New York, 2011 Member, Board of Directors, America Magazine, New York, 2010-2014 Member, Board of Trustees, ADNY Department of Education, New York, 2009-2011 Member, Board of Directors, The Curran Principal Academy, New York, 2009-2011 Member, Board of Regents, Loyola High School, Los Angeles, 2006-2008 Member, Board of Directors, Urban Compass, Los Angeles, 2005-2008