Leadership Highlights
Improving Student Outcomes
CHCCS – In 2+ years (in the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic) led the district to:
- The highest graduation rate (94.8%) in CHCCS history;
- District gains included a 71.1% passing rate on all state exams, the highest in the Triangle.
- 83.3% of CHCCS schools Exceeded or Met Growth expectations.
- The number of schools identified as Technical Support & Improvement (TSI) schools for low performing groups dropped from 12 in 2018-19 to 5 in 2021-22, and to 4 in 2022-23.
Improving Student Outcomes
CHCCS – In 2+ years (in the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic) led the district to:
- The highest graduation rate (94.8%) in CHCCS history;
- District gains included a 71.1% passing rate on all state exams, the highest in the Triangle.
- 83.3% of CHCCS schools Exceeded or Met Growth expectations.
- The number of schools identified as Technical Support & Improvement (TSI) schools for low performing groups dropped from 12 in 2018-19 to 5 in 2021-22, and to 4 in 2022-23.
Family + Community Engagement
- CHCCS – Issue a weekly community update that is intentionally personal and informational in hopes to engage and connect with the broadest community possible.
- Implemented the Superintendent’s Neighborhood Walk and Talks which allows for connections with parents/caregivers and children on their own “turf”– reaching out to families who might not have time, transportation or other resources to attend district and school-wide meetings.
Improving Student Attendance + Discipline
- HCPS – 1st Place Magna Award – led district efforts of a major overhaul of the Code of Student Conduct and developed and implemented behavior support programs.
- Led coordinated efforts and fostered collaboration among internal and external stakeholders resulting in disrupting the school to prison pipeline with a 37% reduction in out of school suspensions.
- Reallocated School Social Worker assignments and implemented Attendance Officers which resulted in a 32% reduction in truancy in one calendar year.
Addressing Opportunity Gaps
- Year-over-year (different cohort of students) 3rd grade reading increase of 11.1 percentage points for Black students and 3.9 percentage points for Latinx students.
- Same cohort – 4th grade Black reading increase of 3.8 percentage points from the previous year when they were 3rd graders.
- HCPS – Over 98% pass rate in reading and math SOL for students with disabilities who participated in CTE programs.
- Responsible for leading efforts that cut the risk ratio in half (in a three year period) for Black students with disabilities who were suspended ten or more days.
- Helped lead division efforts which increased the identification of underrepresented populations in gifted education by 34.8% for Black students and 18% for Latinx students.
Modeling Leadership that Supports Wellness and Growth for ALL Students
- CHCCS – Shifted the focus from “achievement gaps” to “opportunity gaps” which focus on growth to proficiency within student groups rather than comparing student group proficiency rates.
- Led and supported the development of a new Strategic Plan, an Equity and Engagement framework, and Profile of a Graduate.
- Led the development of the CHCCS Protocol for Responding to Racial Slurs and Hate Speech in Schools.
Ensuring Transparency and Engagement
- CHCCS – Developed new engagement and advisory groups (i.e. Student Equity and Empathy Ambassadors, Interfaith Community Leaders, Principal Advisory Council, Latinx Action Group, and Classified Employee Advisory Council).
- Vulnerable and Transparent Communication Examples
- Launched web-based school data profiles that both internal and external stakeholders have access to with several reports and data points all in one place.
- Led CHCCS to being named #5 on a list of the 250 most “envied” school districts across the country according to a 2024 survey of 3,000 parents who identified the school districts they would most like to send their children to school, if given the choice.