Grant Involvement

Kern Family Foundation Character Education Grant

North Central College       

Assisted in Grant Writing & Final Presentation to the Board/ Grant Team Implementation

$3.2 million grant— the largest private grant in North Central’s 157-year history—from the Kern Family Foundation to develop principals and teachers who foster “cultures of character” in their schools. A framework for building cultures of character in schools is infused in the College’s Master of Education in Educational Leadership degree with eligibility for principal endorsement and through the creation of a Character Education Institute—anchored by North Central’s long-established campus wide Leadership, Ethics and Values (LEV) program and the recently launched Center for Social Impact.

SEED/ EIR Grant Partnership Assistance, North Central College/ Partner Team Member

         Illinois State University’s Center for the Study of Education Policy.

Federally funded through $16M multi-year federal grant programs including Supporting Effective Educator Development (SEED) and Education Innovation Research (EIR); project impacts roughly 150 principals in high needs urban, rural, and suburban schools in IL and related school districts.

The Illinois Partnerships Advancing Rigorous Training  (IL-PART) project

directed by the Center for the Study of Education Policy at Illinois State University

North Central College

Partner Team Member

 represents a collaborative effort between high-need districts and universities that have come together in formal partnerships aimed at transforming leadership preparation and development using a collaborative model. IL-PART is comprised of 3 qualifying high-need district/university partnerships:

1. Aurora (East) District 131/North Central College;

2. Bloomington District 87/Illinois State University; and

3. Quincy District 172/Western Illinois University.

Worked on grant-funded projects through the University of Colorado ProSocial Leader Lab, specifically Soul of Leadership & Learning To Breath projects.

Have co-written successful grant for non-for-profit organization with a mission to empower young people to live each day with good character. 

Volunteer Grant Writer, Interfaith Community Partners, LaGrange, IL

Have written successful grants annually for non-for-profit organization that arranges free assisted transport for elder community members to medical appointments, groceries, and community events to support their independence and community connection.