Cathy Owens-Oliver
Charlotte,NC
Summary
Forward-thinking leadership strategist, able to assist education agencies with school leader training/coaching, curriculum alignment, faculty/teacher performance, and student outcomes. 25 years of expertise in the education field. Cultivates rapport with individuals to optimize project goals and output, resolve complex problems and deliver innovative improvement strategies.
Overview
30
30
years of professional experience
Work History
Chief Consultant
Educational Effectiveness Group, LLC
03.2020 - Current
- Helps school district leaders, principals, and college faculty solve problems related to leadership development, professional learning, teacher induction, teacher evaluation, and school improvement planning.
- Developed customized solutions for clients, resulting in improved business performance and increased revenue.
- Established reputation as trusted advisor among clients by providing expert guidance on industry trends and best practices.
Senior Client Relations Director
Educational Testing Service (ETS)
01.2009 - 01.2020
- Supported 100+ teacher preparation and educational leadership programs.
- Provided guidance for program implementation aligned with licensure policy
- Led faculty trainings for performance-based portfolio design and support
- Helped improve standards of practice for education leadership departments who prepare school administrators
Instructional Specialist
MI Association for Intermediate School Administrators
01.2008 - 01.2009
- Built a coaching model to assist K-8 Title I schools not meeting ELA and Math proficiency to scale-up the MI Department of Education’s statewide system of support for high need schools.
- Assisted in the analysis of school-wide assessment data, informing programmatic decisions aimed at improving overall performance.
- Provided constructive feedback to teachers based on classroom observations, supporting continued professional growth.
Senior Director of Learning
Learning Forward
01.2006 - 01.2008
- Directed content management and delivery for national conferences serving 6,000+ school administrators and instructional coaches.
- Optimized project timelines by effectively delegating tasks and prioritizing workload among team members.
- Developed strong relationships with key industry partners, fostering collaboration and mutual growth opportunities.
Senior Director of Teacher Leadership Initiatives
National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
01.2000 - 01.2006
- Designed and directed regional candidate support institutes and trained the NBCT faculty
- Developed initiatives and materials to recruit and retain minority teacher candidates
- Directed the annual conference
- Served as editor-in-chief of Accomplished Teacher magazine.
Coach-to-Coach Regional Facilitator
NC Department of Public Instruction
01.1998 - 01.2000
- Designed regional training programs for mentor teachers across six school districts
- Assisted colleges of education with NCATE accreditation
- Conducted licensure test prep seminars and support networks for student teachers.
English Teacher
Guilford County Schools
01.1994 - 08.1998
- Taught 9th and 11th grade English Language, Literature, and Composition
- Served as yearbook advisor, professional development chair, and instructional coach
- Created a “Saturday School” program to combat absenteeism and grade retention among boys of color.
Education
Ed. D. - Education Leadership, Management, and Policy
Seton Hall University
New Jersey01.2014
M.S. - English and Secondary Education
NC A&T State University
North Carolina01.1998
B.A. - English Education
University of NC At Greensboro
North Carolina01.1994
Skills
- Problem-Solving
- Team Leadership & Development
- Analytical Thinking
- Client Relationships
- Strategic Planning
- Performance Assessments
Adjunct Faculty Experience
- 2021, Claflin University
- 2016-2021, Wilmington University
- 1997-2000, UNC - Greensboro
- 1996, Guilford Technical Community College
- 1996, NC A&T State University
Professional Learning
- National Board Certification, Early Adolescence/English Language Arts
- Leadership Breakthrough Coaching
- Guilford County Schools Academy for Prospective School Administrators
- Dale Carnegie Leadership Training
- Improving Real-Time Decision Making, Institute for Management Studies
- Jack McDowell School for Leadership Development
- Achievement Gap Symposium, Educating Young Black Males
- Principals’ Leadership Academy, Learning Forward
- Parker Palmer Center for Courage and Renewal
Publications
- Why Schools Fumble: Applying the End Zone Mindset to School Improvement, Amazon Bestseller. 2021.
- Educators Who Know What to Do, Ingram Spark. Amazon Bestseller. 2021.
- Emerging School Leaders are the Real MVPs, Educational Effectiveness Group, 2021.
- Teacher Leaders, Open Your Door, Educational Effectiveness Group, Charlotte, NC, 2021.
- Church Girl, Get Your Life. Create Space. Princeton, NJ. 2016.
- Everything but Satisfied, Authorhouse, Southfield, MI. 2004.
- Dissertation: The Relationship Between Praxis I and Praxis II Performance in NJ and Its Impact on the Minority Candidate Teaching Pool. Seton Hall University, 2014.
- Contributing Author, Black Star: An Introduction to African American Studies, Kendall Hunt Publishing Company, 2013.
- Columnist, Closing the Implementation Gap, What Works in Schools Newsletter, The Hope Foundation for Professional Educators, 2008-10.
- Writer, Leading Without Leaving, JSD, National Staff Development Council, 2008.
- Co-Editor, An Evidence-Centered Approach to Accomplished Teaching, National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, 2005.
Timeline
Chief Consultant
Educational Effectiveness Group, LLC
03.2020 - Current
Senior Client Relations Director
Educational Testing Service (ETS)
01.2009 - 01.2020
Instructional Specialist
MI Association for Intermediate School Administrators
01.2008 - 01.2009
Senior Director of Learning
Learning Forward
01.2006 - 01.2008
Senior Director of Teacher Leadership Initiatives
National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
01.2000 - 01.2006
Coach-to-Coach Regional Facilitator
NC Department of Public Instruction
01.1998 - 01.2000
English Teacher
Guilford County Schools
01.1994 - 08.1998
Ed. D. - Education Leadership, Management, and Policy
Seton Hall University
M.S. - English and Secondary Education
NC A&T State University
B.A. - English Education
University of NC At Greensboro
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