HBSCC Invitation: Paul Vallas -- SOLD OUT
The Future of Education in Public Schools
Paul G. Vallas
is a nationally recognized education and finance expert who has served
the public interest for four decades. He currently serves as the
founding CEO of the School Construction Fund, a new national nonprofit
organization dedicated to supporting K-12 schools finance and
operationalize their buildings. Paul also consults to underperforming
school districts to help them more effectively leverage their finances
to gain stability while increasing classroom resources that strengthen
educational delivery, improve academic outcomes, and narrow the
achievement gap.
Paul previously spent nearly 20 years successfully managing urban school
districts facing educational and budgetary challenges, developing a
reputation as one of the country’s premier turnaround specialists. As
superintendent of school districts in Chicago, Philadelphia, New
Orleans, and Bridgeport, Conn., Paul improved student academic
performance while navigating financial crises, rebuilding crumbling
building facilities, and reconstructing an entire system of schools in
the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Paul’s expertise in budgetary and organizational oversight can be traced
to his tenure as Mayor Richard M. Daley’s Revenue Director (1990-1993)
and then Budget Director (1993-1995). Appointed Chicago’s first CEO of
Chicago Public Schools in 1995, Paul led the transformation of a
district called in 1987 “the worst in the nation” into “a model for the
nation” by 1998, delivering sound fiscal management of the district’s
$4.2 billion budget and leaving Chicago Public Schools with $300 million
in cash reserves. As CEO of Philadelphia’s schools (2003-2007), Paul
directed the district’s largest ever (at the time) construction program.
His education policies in Philadelphia moreover prompted an increase in
the number of schools meeting Adequate Yearly Progress from 26 to 166.
Brought in to manage New Orleans’ failing schools after Hurricane
Katrina, Paul headed the Louisiana Recovery School District (RSD) from
2007 to 2011. Paul’s stewardship of the district resulted in
African-American student achievement in New Orleans rising by 75 percent
and the percentage of high school student drop-outs reduced by half.
Paul also guided the development of the master plan to build and
renovate New Orleans schools after securing the largest FEMA settlement
in U.S. history ($1.8 billion). Paul’s turnaround expertise prompted
international aid agencies to recruit him to post-earthquake Haiti and
then Chile where he advised those countries’ respective Ministries of
Education.
Since serving a tenure as Superintendent of Bridgeport Public Schools,
Paul has acted as a consultant to several governments in support of
various education objectives. He is a firm believer in partnering with
outside entities including nonprofits, foundations, public and private
universities, and commercial organizations to encourage the flow of
resources into school systems. His skill at developing funding where it
had not existed before is based has been instrumental in bringing deeply
needed resources into classrooms.
EVENT DETAILS:
DATE: Tuesday, April 12, 2016
TIME: 5:30 pm Registration/Networking, 6:00 pm Start
LOCATION: McDermott, Will & Emery
227 W. Monroe St, 45th Floor, Chicago 60606
DUE TO SECURITY MEASURES, ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED, NO WALK-INS.
Reservations will be held at the door. You must have Photo ID upon entering the building for security purposes.
COST:
HCC members at HBSCC Regular members and their guests price: $20/person
CANCELLATION POLICY: All cancellations must be received two (2) business days BEFORE the event or the attendee who made the reservation may not receive a refund, regardless of participation, due to costs associated with the reservation.