Welcome to my 2011 Cincinnati Board of Education candidate website. 

It shouldn't come as any surprise my Nine Point Plan for Accelerated Academic Achievement has attracted support from former White House Cabinet Secretary and two-time Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge, Massachusetts Governor Jane Swift, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and former U.S. Republican Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings over the past several years.  

In fact, the Cincinnati Enquirer mirrored my Plan in their Editorials ("CPS Teachers Contracts", October 25, 2009) and Opinions  (August 18, 20, 2010).  To learn how this Plan engages K-12 school children and increases academic achievement, read my Cincinnati Enquirer Guest Columns "Education's Best Weapon:  Generation Y" (March 2, 2011) and "Students Are Demanding Real-World Learning" (April 29, 2011).   I have bipartisan endorsements at the federal, state and regional levels because everyone agrees healthy education systems provide thriving communities!  

Listen to my WKRC-TV "Newsmakers" September 11, 2011 interview  or view my recent ICRC cable television interview to hear about ways innovation creates new opportunities for students, teachers and parents.

Called an "edupreneur" by the Cincinnati Enquirer (May 13, 2011) and Cincinnati Magazine ("Making the Grade" June 2011) , I offer experience as a committed "skin in the game" public school parent, business executive, university faculty and nonprofit CEO of  Partnership for Innovation in Education, a nonpartisan corporation facilitating educational innovation throughout the world.  In the "catbird" seat, I meet innovative leaders who provide dynamic education strategies that spark economic development and offer high value career options to our youngest generations.  In collaboration with the other Board Members, I want to help serve as a catalyst enabling schools to serve as "engines of growth" in our communities. 

Although I am a native of Pennsylvania, I've lived in Cincinnati for the past 20 years.   With a career that has taken me all over the world, I have authored textbooks on business entrepreneurship, and practiced education and policy implementation at Harvard Business School, the State Department and the US Senate.  As a public school graduate myself, I have successfully used my fiscal and business strengths to help define education quality as revenue efficiencies and academic achievement gain importance as key benchmarks. 

To be successful in this campaign, we need YOUR monetary and physical support.  Volunteer to host a fundraising party, distribute campaign material, plant a yard sign and help me knock on doors!   As an added bonus, our top 20 financial supporters and their children will "star" in our inspiring "Kids Dreams Count" television campaign commercial.    Donate via our secure PayPal link and join us now! 

Keep updated on my blogs and candidate forum meetings by subscribing to my website and connecting with me on Linkedin, Facebook, and Twitter.  I post to my social media sites at least 5 times per day, so feel free to give me a shout!

See you in the neighborhood,  

Mary

BOE: Does Teacher Know Best?

Several weeks ago, during a candidate's forum, one BOE challenger was asked why she -- as an educator and union leader -- would want to serve on the Board.  She simply stated that only "teachers knew best" the rigors of the Board and could accurately design curriculum and objectives for the district's needs.  

I felt like I was in school again; except, this time the teacher was misinformed.  If you look at any experts on corporate and non-profit board management, the most successful boards are those who have both a depth and breadth of professional involvement.  

Variety Spells S-U-C-C-E-S-S

 I was talking to Bob Dehner of the Charter Committee and reminded him of a statement from attorney George Vincent  (Dinsmore) noting the most "differentiated corporate boards" he had encountered were some of the "best performing entities" he had ever seen. Considering Mr. Vincent is a member of many national and regional boards, he has an informed opinion.

But why would someone want to elect a board with a variety of stakeholders? Who wants more argument and debate? Aren't collaborative, single dimension boards the most efficient or pushing through mandates -- and what's more collaborative than everyone working together representing the SAME background and career path?  

Defining Innovation: Palin's Maverick

 Whenever I speak at Candidate's neighborhood forums,  I bring up the "maverick" Issue.  in Sarah Palin's opinion, she was a "maverick" --  an independent woman who exemplified the Great Western Frontier.   But was she?  The term is relative to everyone's experience, and most of us don't tally our maverick moments every day.   The only way you define maverick is by using examples, only then can we determine if she fits our profile or not.  Some think she did, others not much.

The same "relativity" applies to the word innovation.  Everyone wants to use the sexy word, but few know how to give concrete examples of innovation, especially as it pertains to innovative educational policy, curriculum and objectives.