| President's Office |
| For all media inquiries, please contact Kathy Christie
at 303.299.3613 or kchristie@ecs.org. |
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Roger Sampson
President
Roger Sampson has had a distinguished career for more than 20 years in Alaska while earning a reputation for quality, innovation and increased student achievement. The State Board of Education & Early Development appointed Sampson as Alaska Commissioner of Education & Early Development in 2003. He resigned effective August 17, 2007, to take the position of president of the Education Commission of the States. During Sampson’s tenure as Commissioner, the Alaska Department of Education & Early Development established a statewide full-release mentoring program for beginning teachers and administrators in partnership with the University of Alaska. The department also established, with the approval of the Legislature, an innovative public school performance incentive program. Sampson has served in a variety of roles and positions in public schools, including school administrator in both rural and urban Alaska.
Telephone Number: 303-299-3624
Fax Number: 303-296-8332
Email: rsampson@ecs.org
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Antionette Garcia
Executive Assistant to the President
Antionette Garcia, Executive Office Manager and State Relations Specialist, is a 16 year veteran of ECS. She manages the president’s activities and projects, and oversees the executive office work flow. She also serves as the point person for human resources functions and conducts key outreach as part of ECS’ state relations team. She has worked in nearly every ECS division over the years, including the finance administration unit and the Policy Studies and Program Area. Garcia also worked on special projects with the previous chief of staff. Her institutional knowledge about ECS’ history and her longstanding relationship with ECS commissioners are invaluable to the work of ECS today. She left ECS briefly in the 1990s to work as a project manager supporting the Chief Information Officer at Qwest Communications. Garcia returned to ECS because she wanted to share her extensive knowledge and expertise about ECS with ECS commissioners, corporate partners, foundation officials and other education leaders.
Telephone Number: 303-299-3610
Fax Number: 303-296-8332
Email: agarcia@ecs.org
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| Accounting Department |
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Tracy Vigil
Controller
Telephone Number: 303.299.3693
Fax Number: 303.296.8332
Email: tvigil@ecs.org
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Mary Guidotti
Accountant, Payroll
Telephone Number: 303-299-3661
Fax Number: 303-296-8332
Email: mguidotti@ecs.org
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| Administration |
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John Ivey
Publications Distribution Coordinator
John Ivey is the publications/distribution coordinator for ECS, and also the lead person in the Central Services department. Ivey attended the University of Colorado, the University of Colorado Denver, and holds a Bachelor degree in business with an emphasis in e-business from the University of Phoenix. Prior to ECS, Ivey worked for 15 years in the printing industry.
Telephone Number: 303-299-3692
Fax Number: 303-296-8332
Email: jivey@ecs.org
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| Communications |
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Kym Bloom
Print/Web Designer
Kym Bloom joined ECS in September 2005 as the print and web designer for the Communications Department. Kym has more than 14 years experience in graphic and web design and is also involved with the local art community. She holds a Master of Humanities degree from the University of Colorado Denver where she was an adjunct professor in the fine arts department, and a Bachelor of Arts from Brigham Young University.
Telephone Number: 303-299-3612
Fax Number: 303-296-8332
Email: kbloom@ecs.org
For all media inquiries, please contact ECS Chief of Staff Kathy Christie
at 303.299.3613 or kchristie@ecs.org.
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| ECS National Forum and Events |
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Karen Kepler
Associate National Forum and Event Manager
Karen Kepler is responsible for the planning and management of the ECS National Forum on Education Policy and other ECS-sponsored meetings and events. She leads the organizational planning activities for the National Forum and coordinates all the logistical arrangements. Kepler has over 13 years experience in the travel and hospitality industry. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in marketing communications and has received the industry's distinguished Certified Meeting Planner's certificate.
Telephone Number: 303-299-3621
Fax Number: 303-296-8332
Email: kkepler@ecs.org
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| Governance and Commissioner Relations |
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Heidi Normandin
Staff Associate
Heidi Normandin joined ECS in September 2008. She serves as the staff liaison to ECS officers and governance committees, helps plan and coordinate the annual commissioner meeting and National Forum on Education Policy, manages ECS commissioner appointments and oversees ECS press releases. Before joining ECS, Normandin worked at the UW-Madison Policy Institute for Family Impact Seminars, where she coordinated nonpartisan seminars for Wisconsin legislators and other policymakers on family issues. She has experience in program evaluation, public policy analysis, researching the information needs of state legislators and meeting coordination. She earned her Master's degree in public policy analysis from the UW-Madison La Follette School of Public Affairs.
Telephone Number: 303.299.3629
Fax Number: 303.296.8332
Email: hnormandin@ecs.org
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| Information Management and ECS Clearinghouse |
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Kathy Christie
Vice President, Knowledge/Information Management & Dissemination
Kathy Christie is Vice President, Knowledge/Information Management & Dissemination. In addition, she co-directs the work of the ECS Clearinghouse, where staff work on matters relating to educational problems and how they are being met in different places throughout the nation, so that the executive and legislative branches of state government and of local communities may have ready access to the experience and record of the entire country, and so both lay and professional groups in the field may have additional avenues for sharing experience and the interchange of ideas. Clearinghouse staff respond to policy and research requests across the states and work to make information broadly available at "point of need" through www.ecs.org. Prior to working with ECS, Christie worked as a freelance writer, a secondary language arts teacher, juvenile detention center counselor and was employed with the National Conference of State Legislatures. She served three terms as a locally-elected school board member and one term on the board of directors for the Colorado Association of School Boards.
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Telephone Number: 303.299.3613
Fax Number: 303.296.8332
Email: kchristie@ecs.org |
Follow me on Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/KChristieatECS |
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Jennifer Dounay Zinth
Senior Policy Analyst
Jennifer Dounay Zinth joined the ECS staff in 1997. Since 2005, she has managed the ECS High School Policy Center, a project to provide state policy information, analysis and research findings on a number of high school reform issues, including graduation requirements and high school assessments, graduation rates, P-16 and dual credit. She currently co-directs the work of the ECS Clearinghouse. She has been cited by numerous media outlets nationwide, including the New York Times, National Public Radio, Newsweek and the Washington Post, as well as by academic publications. A writer, Dounay Zinth has served as the "Stateline" columnist for Phi Delta Kappan magazine, and has been published in Education Digest and the State Education Leader. She contributed a chapter to the book Promising Practices during High School, and an article to The Council of State Governments' 2009 Book of the States, both released in 2009.
Telephone Number: 303-299-3689
Fax Number: 303-296-8332
Email: jdounay@ecs.org
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Michael Griffith
Senior Policy Analyst
Mike Griffith serves as the Senior School Finance Analyst for the Education Commission of the States (ECS). He has worked in the field of school finance policy for the past 15 years with ECS, the consulting firm of Augenblick & Myers and the Michigan State Senate. His research has focused on the condition of state budgets, the adequacy and equity of state finance formulas and promising practices in funding programs for high-need students. Mike is an expert resource to national news media and has been quoted over 250 times by such outlets as: CNN, Education Week, NBC Nightly News, National Public Radio and The New York Times. Mike holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Michigan State University; a Master of Arts degree in Public Administration from The Ohio State University; and a Master of Arts degree in Education Management from Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland.
Telephone Number: 303.299.3619
Fax Number:
Email: mgriffith@ecs.org
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Carol Kreck
Document Scanner
Telephone Number: 303.299.6854
Fax Number:
Email: ckreck@ecs.org
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Stephanie Rose
Assistant Policy Analyst
Stephanie Rose serves as an Assistant Policy Analyst at ECS, dividing her time between early learning (P-3) related issues and general information clearinghouse tasks. Prior to joining ECS, Stephanie worked as an analyst in the field of climate and energy policy with ICF International, as well as an investment banking analyst at Peter J. Solomon Company. Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan, as well as a Master of Public Policy from the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan.
Telephone Number: 303.299.3673
Fax Number: 303.296.8332
Email: srose@ecs.org |
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Emily Workman
Researcher
Emily Workman serves as a researcher for the Information Clearinghouse. Prior to joining ECS, Emily worked as a senior clinical research coordinator for pharmaceutical trials. She also recently spent time volunteering and teaching in Kenya and Thailand. Emily holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Business from Duke University as well as a Masters of International and Comparative Social Policy from the University of York in England.
Telephone Number: 303.299.3631
Fax Number: 303.296.8332
Email: eworkman@ecs.org |
| ECS Policy Institutes |
| Early Learning Institute |
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Karen Schimke
Project Manager
Karen Schimke joined the Education Commission of the States as Early Learning Project Manager after a long career in government and the nonprofit sector in New York State. Most recently, she was the President and CEO of the Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy, a well respected policy organization with a long history of work to improve health and human services. While there Karen spearheaded the creation of the early learning coalition, Winning Beginning and was the convener of the statewide child advocacy coalition, New York Children’s Action Network. Prior to that she served in various executive capacities in state and local government including as Executive Deputy Commissioner of the New York Department of Health and the New York Department of Social Services as well as Commissioner of the Erie County Department of Social Services in Buffalo. A native of Nebraska, she graduated from the University of Nebraska and received a Masters degree in Social Work from Western Reserve University.
Telephone Number: 303.299.3646
Fax Number: 303.296.8332
Email: kschimke@ecs.org
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| National Center for Learning and Citizenship |
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Paul Baumann
Acting Director and Project Leader
Paul Baumann is a Project Leader in ECS’ National Center for Learning and Citizenship. Paul earned his Ph.D. in Education Policy from the University of Maryland (UMD) – College Park, where his research focused on issues of teacher quality, teacher education and teacher compensation. Prior to attending UMD, Paul taught vocal music for 10 years at a private high school in suburban Maryland and in the District of Columbia Public Schools. He was elected to two terms on the Board of Directors of the Organization of American Kodály Educators, a national professional association of music educators, and served as its Secretary from 2002-07.
Telephone Number: 303.299.3608
Fax Number: 303.296.8332
Email: pbaumann@ecs.org
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Brady Delander
Assistant Editor
Brady Delander joined ECS in December 2011 as an assistant editor and administrative assistant. Previously, he spent 15 years as a writer and editor for various publications, including The Denver Post and several national and international magazines and newspapers. He received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Northern Colorado.
Telephone Number: 303.299.3622
Email: bdelander@ecs.org |
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Lisa Guilfoile
Project Leader, National Center for Learning and Citizenship
Lisa Guilfoile, ECS Project Leader, received a B.S. in Education from Illinois State University in May of 1983 and spent the next nine years teaching and coaching in central Illinois. From 2002-04, she served as a volunteer in the U.S. Peace Corps, working with subsistence farmers in sub-Saharan Africa and promoting HIV/AIDS prevention education. Most recently, she worked for three years in the Littleton Public School system, Colorado as a paraprofessional for Transition Services—a Life Skills-based program for developmentally disadvantaged young adults.
Telephone Number: 303.299.3690
Fax Number: 303.296.8332
Fax Number: 303.296.8332
Email: lguilfoile@ecs.org
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Molly Ryan
Assistant Policy Analyst
Molly Ryan serves as Assistant Policy Analyst for the National Center for Learning and Citizenship (NCLC). Prior to joining ECS, Molly worked for the North Carolina School Boards Association where she served as staff attorney. She has experience in governmental relations and school board policy drafting and analysis. Molly holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from North Carolina State University. She earned her Juris Doctor from the Campbell University School of Law, North Carolina.
Telephone Number: 303.299.3614
Fax Number: 303.296.8332
Email: mryan@ecs.org
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| Postsecondary and Workforce Development Institute |
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Bruce Vandal
Vice President for Development and Outreach
Director, Postsecondary Education and Workforce Development Institute
Bruce Vandal coordinates research and policy work as director of the Postsecondary and Workforce Development Institute at ECS. Currently, Bruce is the director of Getting Past Go, a three-year Lumina Foundation for Education project to more effectively leverage investments in remedial and developmental education to increase college attainment. He also is the co-director of the Tennessee Developmental Studies Redesign Initiative, which is a partnership with the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) to reform developmental education courses at TBR institutions funded by the U.S. Department of Education's Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education. Bruce also has directed projects on aligning education and workforce development policy, teacher preparation and college access. He earned his Ph.D in Education Policy and Administration from the University of Minnesota.
Telephone Number: 303-299-3611
Fax Number: 303-296-8332
Email: Bvandal@ecs.org
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Mary Fulton
Policy Analyst
Mary F. Fulton is a policy analyst in the Information Clearinghouse and has been with ECS since 1990. Ms. Fulton is a lead staff member for the organization's No Child Left Behind work, and has overseen the NCLB database and publications, including "ECS Report to the Nation: State Implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act" and "No State Left Behind: The Challenges and Opportunities of ESEA 2001." Ms. Fulton has served as a generalist in the Clearinghouse and has tracked, analyzed, and produced policy briefs on a variety of education issues. She also is responsible for ECS' e-Clips service that delivers relevant news articles to constituents on a daily basis. Throughout the 1990s, Ms. Fulton served as the organization's school finance expert, and provided technical assistance and testimony to policymakers regarding their education funding systems.
Telephone Number: 303-299-3679
Fax Number: 303-296-8332
Email: mfulton@ecs.org
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Matthew Smith
Associate Policy Analyst
Matthew Smith serves as an Associate Policy Analyst in ECS’ Postsecondary and Workforce Development institute. He is responsible for conducting policy research and data analyses for the institute. In his career, Matthew has worked for a state higher education agency office, in an institutional research department and with a longitudinal research study. He received his Master of Public Policy degree from Peabody College, Vanderbilt University and his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Georgia.
Telephone Number: 303.299.3698
Fax Number: 303.296.8332
Email: msmith@ecs.org
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| Teaching Quality and State Relations |
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Barbara Thompson
Vice President, Human Capital & Special Projects
Barbara Thompson joined ECS in September of 2008 and serves as the Director of Teaching Quality & Leadership and the Director of State Relations. Ms. Thompson brings with her more than 23 years of experience with the Alaska Department of Education & Early Development, where she served as the Director of the Division of Teaching and Learning Support, Deputy Commissioner of Education and Interim Commissioner of Education. She also worked in both urban and rural educational programs in the states of Alaska, Washington and Arizona. Throughout her educational career, she developed and implemented successful programs, policies and strategies related to adult education, teacher mentoring, principal leadership, state systems of support for schools and districts, and a variety of state and federal education programs. She holds a Masters in Adult & Community Education and secondary teaching certification.
Telephone Number: 303.299.3657
Fax Number: 303.296.8332
Email: bthompson@ecs.org
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