For Immediate Release
Monday, March 16, 2009
America’s Promise Alliance Appoints Former Chicago Public Schools Official As Chief Strategy Officer
Carmita P. Vaughan Will Spearhead Alliance Efforts to Combat Nation’s High School Dropout and College-Readiness Crisis
Washington, DC – America’s Promise Alliance (the Alliance) today announced that Carmita P. Vaughan, former Chief of Staff of Chicago Public Schools’ Office of High Schools and High School Programs, has been named Chief Strategy Officer beginning April 1.
“Having helped lead one of the nation’s largest public school systems makes Carmita the perfect candidate to shape our efforts to ensure that all children have access to the highest quality education and receive the key supports they need to succeed,” said Alma Powell, Chair of the Board of America’s Promise Alliance. “We are thrilled to have such a talented and experienced individual help us advance this critical agenda.”
Founded by General Colin Powell, America’s Promise Alliance is the nation’s largest cross-sector partnership dedicated to improving the lives of America’s children. With more than 270 partner organizations, the Alliance mobilizes Americans to make children’s well-being a national priority.
As Chief Strategy Officer, Vaughan will help lead Alliance efforts to drastically improve the lives of young people by securing for them the Five Promises: Caring Adults, Safe Places, a Healthy Start, an Effective Education, and Opportunities to Help Others.
Vaughan will oversee the Alliance’s major new initiative, the Dropout Prevention Summits, hosted by Governors, Mayors, and Superintendents in all 50 states and 55 additional cities. She will also lead “Grad Nation,” following the summits, to help communities increase high school graduation rates and ensure that the long-term metric of all students graduating high school college- and work-ready is achieved. Through all of her work the focus will be on disadvantaged youth.
While at Chicago Public Schools, Vaughan worked closely with Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education, and former Chief Executive Officer of Chicago Public Schools, to develop a comprehensive strategy to increase Chicago’s graduation rate to 70 percent by 2010.
“We are pleased and honored to have Carmita join our team,” said Marguerite Kondracke, President and Chief Executive Officer, America’s Promise Alliance. “With our nation’s struggling economy and challenging job market, it is more important than ever that young people graduate from high school with the skills, resilience, and confidence they need to be successful in life.”
Vaughan worked to align the necessary staff and resources toward developing and implementing a systematic approach to address at-risk students, as well as those who already dropped out of school. She also managed all central high school operations and administrative services supporting 120 schools in areas including budget, human resources, data systems, and communications.
In addition to putting into place programs directed at Chicago’s students, Vaughan also led efforts to support principals and teachers. This included spearheading an initiative to provide additional faculty support and compensation in 40 of the district’s highest-need schools through execution of a district-wide performance-based pay initiative for teachers and principals. This proposal led to CPS being awarded a $27.5M grant for the Department of Education – the largest competitive federal grant it has ever received.
Vaughan began her tenure with the Chicago public school system through the Broad Residency in Urban Education, a two-year, national program that seeks to provide a pipeline of talent to build leadership in urban public school districts. Her previous experience includes positions with the Danaher Corporation, Pepsico Beverages and Food, and Procter & Gamble.
Vaughan holds a master’s degree in Business Administration from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. She received her undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Michigan.
“I strongly believe that America will only thrive in the future if everyone works together – both inside and outside of the classroom – to keep children in school and provide them with a quality education and holistic supports,” said Vaughan. “My passion for drastically impacting outcomes for all children is at the forefront of all the work I do. I look forward to drawing upon that passion, coupled with professional experiences and expertise, to bring all stakeholders together on this issue. That means working with educators, business and community leaders, government officials, parents, and students themselves to advance this very important agenda.”
Nationwide, nearly one in three U.S. high school students drops out before graduating. In total, approximately 1.2 million students drop out each year – about 7,000 every school day, or one every 26 seconds. Experts say that dropping out of high school affects not just students and their families, but the country overall – including businesses, government, and communities.
The Alliance for Excellent Education estimates that high school dropouts from the Class of 2006-07 will cost the U.S. more than $329 billion in lost wages, taxes, and productivity over their lifetimes. Young people of color are most affected; nearly half of all African-American and Native-American students will not graduate with their class, while less than six in 10 Hispanic students will. Experts say that those who drop out are more likely to be incarcerated, rely on public programs and social services, and go without health insurance than those who graduate from high school.
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About the America’s Promise Alliance
America’s Promise Alliance is the nation’s largest partnership alliance comprised of corporations, nonprofit organizations, foundations, policymakers, advocacy and faith groups committed to ensuring that children receive the fundamental resources – the Five Promises – they need to lead successful, healthy and productive lives and build a stronger society. Building on the legacy of our founder General Colin Powell, the Alliance believes a child’s success is grounded in experiencing the Five Promises – caring adults; safe place; a healthy start; an effective education; and opportunities to help others – at home, in school and in the community. For more information visit: www.americaspromise.org.