MPS Innovation and Improvement Advisory Council Appointees
Governor Jim Doyle, Mayor Tom Barrett and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Elizabeth Burmaster today named members to the Milwaukee Public Schools Innovation and Improvement Advisory Council.
The appointees, jointly selected by Governor Doyle, Mayor Barrett, Superintendent Burmaster and State Superintendent-Elect Anthony Evers, are:
Ricardo Diaz is executive director for the United Community Center and has more than 20 years of non-profit management experience. Mr. Diaz previously served as Milwaukee Commissioner of City Development and the Executive Director of the Milwaukee Housing Authority. Mr. Diaz recently provided consulting services to Milwaukee Public Schools and the City of Milwaukee, during which he helped to secure an unprecedented $28 million federal grant to build a residential Job Corps Center which will provide vocational training to 300 low-income youths and young adults.
Willie L. Jude Jr. has an extensive background in education, highlighted by his 32 years in the Milwaukee Public School System fulfilling several roles, ranging from teacher to administrative specialist. Numerous awards and honors ensued following his tenure at MPS, including the Milwaukee Times/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Black Excellence Award and The Milwaukee IDEA Award. Mr. Jude belongs to the Metropolitan Milwaukee Alliance of Black School Educators and the Economics Wisconsin Board of Directors and served on the Governor’s Task Force on Educational Excellence and the United States Department of Education Think Tank, among several others. His involvement also spans into higher education, where he taught at collegiate institutions such as University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee and University of St. Thomas. Mr. Jude attended the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee for his MS in Administration and Supervision.
Brenda Martinez is the lead teacher at Academia de Lenguaje y Bellas Artes, (ALBA School) an instrumentality MPS charter school. Ms. Martinez is a founding member of the school and teaches a bilingual 4th grade classroom. In addition to teaching her co-curricular responsibilities include: overseeing the daily operations of the school, monitoring the budget, charter contract compliance, as well as empowering parents as partners within the school. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin Madison with a BA in Spanish and Latin American/Iberian studies. Ms. Martinez earned her MS in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She is the first teacher in Wisconsin to have earned National Board Certification in English as a New Language. She is a member of the National Education Association, the Wisconsin Education Association Council and the MTEA.
Dr. Joan Prince, a nationally known policy strategist, was named Vice Chancellor for Partnerships and Innovation at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee in September, 2000. As the Chief External Officer, she is charged with the global responsibilities of managing external relations for the University. This encompasses the building of innovative and entrepreneurial bridges between academics and the broader private and public sectors of the community through engagement of entities such as international organizations, corporations, NGO’s, higher education associations, non-profits and other social and civic organizations.
Paul W. Sweeney is a founding partner of PS Capital Partners, LLC, a private equity-investment firm. Before forming PS Capital, Sweeney was one of three partners for Horizon Partners Ltd., where he was involved in all aspects of its operation including investment decisions and portfolio management. Sweeney has served on the Milwaukee Metropolitan Association of Commerce Education Committee for the last four years. Sweeney also serves on the boards of Milwaukee Composites, Nekoosa Coated Products, Waukesha Tool & Stamping, Cardinal Packaging Products, Superior Health Linens, Community Bank and Trust in Sheboygan, Trustway Homes and Sharp Packaging Systems. He is a former director and president of the Milwaukee Athletic Club and serves on the boards for the Center for Blind and Visually Impaired Children, Children Service Society of Wisconsin, Children’s Health Education Center and Skylight Opera Theatre. Sweeney earned his degree in finance from Georgetown University’s School of Business Administration.
Mayor Barrett will also serve on the Council as chairman.
“Teachers, parents and others work very hard to make sure that kids at Milwaukee schools get the best education possible,” Governor Doyle said. “While MPS is facing tremendous academic and financial challenges, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has given us an historic opportunity to work together to reform and improve academic achievement in the state’s largest school district. Mayor Barrett will be a great leader in the reform effort.”
“While MPS currently faces both academic and financial difficulties, I believe these challenges can be met through comprehensive and innovation reforms,” Mayor Barrett said. “The newly appointed members of the MPS Innovation and Improvement Advisory Council will provide the direction and guidance needed to implement such positive change.”
“By working together, we can drive innovation, school improvement, and fiscal responsibility in MPS, which will have a profound effect on student achievement,” said State Superintendent Burmaster.
Barrett and the Council members will work toward driving innovation, school improvement and fiscal responsibility in MPS. Specifically, the Council will be charged with the following:
Overseeing, coordinating and implementing an MPS Innovation and Improvement Plan
The Council will work with the state Department of Public Instruction to create a plan for the 2009-2010 school year that will promote research-based educational reforms, accountability and academic results. It will also identify opportunities to leverage state and federal funds, including stimulus funds, to assist in the plan’s implementation.
Improving fiscal accountability, transparency and performance management
The Council will seek to develop strategies to utilize MPS’ existing resources more efficiently, contain costs and increase revenues. The Council will also work with DPI to provide oversight and transparency regarding the district’s use of federal funds and ARRA funding. In addition, the Council is tasked with improving performance management systems in the district, which have been ineffective in monitoring fiscal and academic reforms in the past.
Competing for American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) funding
The Council will investigate and pursue all opportunities for competitive federal grant funding available through ARRA, including incentive grants available to state and districts that are making major efforts to close achievement gaps and improve student performance.
Work in collaboration with a broad base of community stakeholders
The Council will work with parents, educators, MPS leadership and staff, labor unions, community organizations, the business community, the philanthropic community and all other interested parties. The Council may do so by establishing task forces, subcommittees and other mechanisms for feedback from the community.
The Council will hold its first meeting on Wednesday, June 3rd.