AGENDA

Wednesday, October 29th

11:30 AM: Arrival and Lunch

12:00 PM: School Quality and Equity in DC

We’ll open the retreat by looking together at data about public school enrollment and performance in DC, and the implications for all students’ readiness for college.

1:30 PM: Citywide Advocacy

In both small and large groups, we will discuss the role of charter schools in providing high-quality education across Washington, DC, including common practices that can help ensure students are served equitably.

4:00 PM: Break

Take a walk or bike ride to check out the beautiful views at Ellenborough.  Enjoy lawn games and s’mores at the fire pit. Wifi will be available, but cell phone service is not reliable—let us know if you need access to a landline.

5:00 PM: Cocktail Hour

5:30 PM:  Conversation with Dr. Howard Fuller and Dr. Deborah McGriff

Dr. Howard Fuller, Distinguished Professor of Education at Marquette University and a longstanding education reform advocate, has worked for years as an educator, community organizer, political activist and driving force for change in communities of need. During dinner on Wednesday evening, Dr. Fuller will be join to share experiences detailed in his new memoir, No Struggle, No Progress, including his education activism, relevations about the current state of education and reflections about how we, as education leaders, can lead sustainable lives while effectively serving our students. Leading the conversation will be Dr. Deborah McGriff, NewSchools Managing Director, a longtime ed reformer and Dr. Fuller’s wife.

6:30 PM: Dinner

7:30 PM: Dessert

Thursday, October 30th

8:30 AM: Breakfast

8:45 AM: Citywide Advocacy

We will continue discussions on opportunities to collaborate on policy work that will maximize the success of students across the city, and will ask for input on the strategy and next steps for continuing the work.

10:45 AM: Break

11:00 AM: Growth of High Performing Charter Schools and the Implications for Teacher Hiring

David Malbin and Ava Millstone of Integral Ed will share an analysis of projected teacher hiring needs in DC over the next several years, for all schools and specifically for high performing charter schools.

12:15 PM: Closing / Lunch

We’ll make sure to wrap up no later than 1pm, but feel free to linger over lunch and enjoy time at Ellenborough on Thursday afternoon.

SPEAKER BIOS

Dr. Howard Fuller

Howard Fuller’s career includes many years in both public service positions and the field of education.  Dr. Fuller is a Distinguished Professor of Education, and Founder/Director of the Institute for the Transformation of Learning at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Immediately before his appointment at Marquette University, Dr. Fuller served as the Superintendent of Milwaukee Public Schools from 1991 – 1995. His prior positions included: Director of the Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services 1988 -1991; Dean of General Education at the Milwaukee Area Technical College 1986 – 1988; Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Employment Relations 1983 – 1986; and Associate Director of the Educational Opportunity Program at Marquette University 1979 – 1983.  He was also a Senior Fellow with the Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University 1995 – 1997. 

Dr. Fuller received his B.S. degree in Sociology from Carroll College in Waukesha, Wisconsin, in 1962; M.S.A. degree in Social Administration from Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1964, and his Ph.D. in Sociological Foundations of Education from Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1986. 

He is the Chair of the Board of:  The Black Alliance for Educational Options and Milwaukee Collegiate Academy. He also serves on the Board of Milwaukee Region Board of Teach for America, Milwaukee Charter School Advocates, and CEE-Trust. He is an Advisory Board member of the National Alliance of Public Charter Schools and the National Association for Charter School Authorizers.

Dr. Deborah McGriff

Deborah has been committed to transforming the lives of underserved urban school students for more than four decades. Deborah McGriff currently serves as a Managing Director at NewSchools Venture Fund.

In 1993, Deborah became the first public school superintendent to join EdisonLearning (formerly Edison Schools). There, she held numerous positions at the company, including President of Edison Teachers College, Executive Vice President of Charter Schools, and Executive Vice President of several external relations functions.

Prior to joining EdisonLearning, Deborah served as the first female General Superintendent of Detroit Public Schools. Crain’s Detroit Business named her Newsmaker of the Year for 1992. Before that, she was the first female Assistant Superintendent in Cambridge, Massachusetts and the first female Deputy Superintendent in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She was a teacher and administrator in the New York City Public Schools for more than a decade.

Deborah is former President of the Education Industry Association. In addition to serving on the boards of several high-performing charter management organizations, she is the Chair of the board of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools and Beyond 12. She serves on the executive committee of the Policy Innovators in Education Network, and is a founder and national board member of the Black Alliance for Educational Options. She also serves on the advisory board of the Program on Education Policy and Governanceat Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government and is a member of the Review Board for the Broad Prize in Urban Education.

Deborah holds a bachelor’s degree in education from Norfolk State University, a master’s degree in education with a specialization in reading pedagogy from Queens College of the City University of New York, and a doctorate in Administration, Policy and Urban Education from Fordham University.