Achievements

Superintendent, Belvidere District 100

  • Doubled AP and dual-credit course and increased pass rate by 50%.

  • Increased immediate college attendance of graduates by 7%.

  • Increased graduation rate of minority subgroups by more than 5%.

  • Consistently beat the state achievement gap for high school SAT results by 5%.

  • Achieved National Great Place to Work Certification in 2018, 2019 & 2020 and increased teacher retention by 8% over 5 years.

  • Oversaw construction of Advanced Technology Center for local community college resulting in a $6M+ savings to taxpayers.

  • Successfully negotiated four collective bargaining agreements.

  • Rolled up two-way dual language program from K-4 to 10th grade.

  • Certified nationally as Marzano Research Level 1 High Reliability Schools District.

  • Instituted seven ISBE career endorsement pathway offerings in two high schools.

  • Completed multi-year 1:1 technology initiative in grades K-12.

  • Oversaw long-term demographic study and resulting boundary changes.

  • Implemented employee wellness clinic resulting in insurance savings.

  • Transitioned to a proficiency-based report card in six elementary schools, two middle schools, and two high schools.

  • Awarded ISBE high school competency waiver for two high schools.

Author

  • From 7 Superintendents: What 2020 Taught us About Leading (link)

  • Four Conversations to Have With Your Team: A School Leadership Fable about Engaging Employees and Harnessing the New Generation of Teachers and Educators (link)

  • Destructive Leadership Behaviors and Workplace Attitudes in Schools, 2015 (link)

Illinois Principal Association

  • Superintendent of the Year, Kishwaukee Region, 2020

National Carnegie Foundation Innovation in Education

  • Session Presenter: Scorecards and Frameworks for School Improvement, 2019

  • Session Presenter: Continuous Improvement for Early College Access, 2020, 2021

National What’s Right in Education Summit

  • Session Presenter: Employee Engagement and Retention, 2018

  • Session Presenter: Using Scorecards for Continuous Improvement, 2019

Marzano Research

  • High Reliability Schools District Level 1 Certified, 2019

Great Place to Work

  • National Great Place to Work Certification, 2018, 2019, 2020

National School Public Relations Association

  • National Superintendent to Watch, 2017 (link)

SMART Learning Systems

  • Certified SMART School Improvement Process Trainer, 2015

Joint Annual Conference of IASB/IASA/IASBO

  • Session Speaker: Framework for Technology Governance, 2015

  • Session Speaker: Strategic Planning, 2018

  • Session Speaker: Health Care in School Districts, 2019

Illinois National School Public Relations Association

  • Keynote Speaker: Presentations for 21st Century Leaders, 2012, 2014

IARSS Raising Student Achievement Conference

  • Spotlight District Presenter: 2019

  • Session Speaker: LEAN Education, 2013

  • Session Speaker: Response to Intervention in High Schools, 2010

Illinois IlPEX Baldrige Performance Excellence

  • Baldrige Examiner, 2013

Illinois Administrative Academy Presenter

  • LaSalle County ROE: Presentations for 21st Century Leaders, 2013

  • Kishwauke Intermediate District ROE: Presentations for 21st Century Leaders, 2012

  • Byron School District: Presentations for 21st Century Leaders, 2012

  • Rockton School District: Presentations for 21st Century Leaders, 2011

AdvancED Quality Assurance Reviews

  • Team Member, 2010

IPA Assistant Principals Conference

  • Session Speaker: Response to Intervention in High Schools, 2010

KIDSROE Global Education Conference

  • Session Speaker: Response to Intervention in High Schools, 2010

State of Illinois Those Who Excel

  • Excellent Early Career Educator Award Recipient, 2008

Brigham Young University

  • Student Teacher of the Year | English Teaching, 2006