Workshop Sessions
When a crisis hits a charter school, the board rarely has the luxury of time to figure out its role, decide who should be involved, or determine what happens next. The best time to prepare is before the board faces a difficult call or high-stakes decision.Driven by a passionate belief that all children deserve a quality education, Mark leads our initiatives focused on measuring, supporting and helping people achieve breakthrough performance in the areas of leadership and learning.
Mark has been an advocate and leader in the charter and larger public education community for over 20 years. Before joining the Institute, Mark was charged with leading U.S. operations for an international educational management company, served as the Director of Improvement and Accountability for a Michigan-based management company, and launched a virtual school. Prior to that, Mark worked at The Governor John Engler Center for Charter Schools at Central Michigan University for 10 years, leading their academic performance and accountability team, and serving as a school leader and teacher, nationally and internationally, prior to becoming an authorizer. Mark brings a wealth of experience and a steadfast commitment to ensuring those children in greatest need receive the quality education they deserve.
Mark has played a key role in broadening the charter sector’s capacity to influence practice and advance public education, impacting the educational opportunities for students in Michigan and throughout the nation. Mark earned his Master of Arts in Educational Administration from Central Michigan University and Bachelor’s degrees from the University of Western Ontario and Brock University.
Committed to the core mission of ensuring students are prepared for success in college, work and life, Mary has dedicated her career to strengthening leaders, building capacity, growing networks and impacting students. Mary joined the Institute team in 2019 as the Chief Operating Officer.
Mary hails from Chicago Public Schools, where she served as Executive Director of Innovation and Incubation for nearly four years. In this role, Mary led a dynamic team that provided oversight and support for over 140 campuses across the district including charter, contract, and alternative schools and programs. In addition, the team led the incubation of new district and charter schools, oversaw the selection and development of programs in district schools, supported co-location campuses, and strengthened the sharing of innovative and promising practices across sectors.
Mary began her career as a high school special and general education teacher working to ensure that students experienced an educational environment that they could thrive in. Prior to her role at CPS, she served as Associate Director and eventually Deputy Director at The Governor John Engler Center for Charter Schools at Central Michigan University, a leading state-wide charter authorizer in Michigan. Mary holds a Bachelor of Science in Education, Masters in Business Administration, a Juris Doctorate with a focus in administrative law, and is pursuing an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership.
Combined with her rich experience in public education and the charter sector, Mary is recognized as an expert in the industry and has contributed much thought leadership through numerous roles and opportunities throughout the nation.