School Director

CASSIE BARBER

* ******** *****

Columbia, South Carolina 29212

Telephone: 803-***-**** (H) 803-***-**** (W)

E-Mail: abppw4@r.postjobfree.com

PROFILE:

Background encompasses extensive professional experience in the following key positions of responsibility:

Executive Director (SC School Improvement Council, University of South Carolina); Program Consultant

(SC Healthy Schools, SC Department of Education); Interim Executive Director/Senior Program Coordinator

(Alliance for South Carolina s Children); Owner/Operator (Birth and Wellness Associates).

Strengths: Excellent communication/advocacy skills (verbal and written); group facilitator and consensus

builder; proven managerial/leadership abilities; self-motivated; team player (works well with others).

AREAS OF EXPERTISE:

Advocacy Policy Analysis/Research

State Level Collaborations/Coalitions Interfacing with State Legislature

Grassroots Activism/Organizing Public Speaking

Conflict Management Developing/Serving on Boards

Program Development/Oversight Strategic Planning

Organization Management/Administration Working with Volunteers

Training/Facilitation/Presentations Creating/Directing Educational Campaigns/

Fundraising /Grantwriting Written Communications

SELECTED ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

Convened coalition of 40+ non-profits that successfully advocated children s issues in the SC General

Assembly.

Headed collaboration and oversight of public awareness campaign with key role in improving the statewide

childhood immunization compliance rate from less than 50% to over 90% in four years.

Developed and disseminated in-depth analysis of proposed tuition tax-credit legislation and presentation

materials used statewide for successful citizen education and involvement.

Coordinated forums for candidates for statewide office; moderated school board candidate forum.

Produced news conferences and media events featuring state and national leaders.

Facilitator for Hewlett Foundation education study conducted by Riley Institute at Furman University

Directed statewide non-profit organization with staff of five and $750,000 budget ($250,000 Operating -

$500,000 Flow-through).

Successful Grant Writer/Fundraiser: Secured funding from Centers for Disease Control ($225,000), March

of Dimes, Central Carolina Community Foundation, Sisters of Charity Foundation, Mary Reynolds Babcock

Foundation, SC DHEC, Voices for SC s Children, Communities in Schools SC, SUDIA and AARP-SC.

EDUCATION:

Master of Arts in Human Behavior and Conflict Management; Columbia College, Columbia, South Carolina

(GPA: 4.0)

Bachelor of Arts in Dramatic Arts; William Paterson University, Wayne, New Jersey (summa cum laude)

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PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

Executive Director since July 2007 Employed December 1999 to Present

SC School Improvement Council (SC-SIC), USC, Columbia, South Carolina

More than nine years of progressive responsibility culminating in the appointment as executive

director/clinical instructor for this statewide program with staff of four located in the University of South

Carolina s College of Education.

Provide training, resources and technical assistance to 1,160 local School Improvement Councils consisting

of more than 15,000 volunteer parents, high school students, teachers, community members and

administrators statewide.

Specialize in advocacy, collaboration, and partnership training and development to leverage resources for

the organization, school districts and in local schools.

Represent agency on state level collaborations and partnerships.

Coordinate all trainings and events including conferences with up to 500 attendees.

Responsible for oversight of website, fundraising, public awareness, educational materials, and media

relations.

Monitor and analyze education legislation; promote and support public education advocacy statewide.

Serve on SC-SIC Board of Trustees.

March 1999 to December 1999

Program Consultant

SC Healthy Schools, State Department of Education, Columbia, South Carolina

Represented the Healthy Schools initiative and the State Department of Education on state-level

committees and coalitions and facilitated collaboration and public/private partnerships on state, regional and

local levels.

Provided public relations for the initiative and awareness of school health issues with the public and media.

Provided technical assistance for agencies, organizations, businesses and community groups on the state,

regional and local levels to promote and achieve school health objectives.

Developed and funded statewide children s oral health program.

December 1994 to March 1999

Interim Executive Director; other key positions

Alliance for South Carolina s Children (now the SC Children s Trust Fund), Columbia, South Carolina

More than four years of progressive responsibility, ultimately serving as Interim Executive Director for this

private, non-profit, child advocacy organization.

Worked closely with board of directors, staff, state agencies, non-profit partners and lawmakers to interpret,

develop, and influence state and national policy.

Convened and directed a coalition of 40+ non-profits with combined memberships totaling more than one

million to advocate for children in the state legislature.

Registered lobbyist with role in increased Medicaid coverage for children, passage of First Steps

legislation, teen pregnancy prevention legislation and more.

Created and directed educational campaigns and media events.

Provided program oversight and implementation.

Acted as chief spokesperson.

Fundraising.

Conducted and presented research; developed issue briefs.

1990 to 1994

Owner

Birth & Wellness Associates, Greenville, South Carolina

Owned and operated an independent childbirth education practice and professional birth assistance service.

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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (SELECTED):

2009 Lowcountry Diversity Leaders Initiative, The Riley Institute at Furman University

SC Education Policy Fellow (2004-2005); ten-month intensive sponsored by; SC Association of School

Administrators; SC School Boards Association; SC Chamber of Commerce; SC Department of Education

and the Institute for Educational Leadership, Washington, D.C.

Family/Divorce Mediation Training; SC Council for Conflict Resolution & SC Bar Association

Civil Mediation Training; SC Council for Conflict Resolution & Columbia College

Leadership Development Training; National Network of Partnership Schools, Johns Hopkins University

Former Certified Childbirth Educator and Labor Assistant; ALACE (Association of Labor Assistants and

Childbirth Educators), Ann Arbor, Michigan

BOARDS/COMMITTEES, ASSOCIATIONS, AND COALITIONS (SELECTED):

SC Fair Share Board of Directors (2009)

Richland County Foster Care Review Board 5-B (2006-2009, chair in 2009)

SC Chapter, National Commission on Teaching and America s Future (2008-2009)

SC Truancy Task Force and SC Truancy Advisory Council, SC Department of Education (2001-2009)

South Carolina Association of School Administrators (member since 2000)

SC Chapter, National School Public Relations Association (member since 2000)

Covenant with South Carolina's, Alliance for South Carolina s Children, Executive Director (1996-1999)

SC Children s Oral Health Coalition, SC Department of Education, Project Director (1999)

Youth Advisory Board, Office of Safe Schools, SC Dept. of Education, Adult Advisor (2001-2005)

Healthy Schools/Healthy SC Network; Chair (2002-2004); Vice Chair (1995-1998); Action Council (member

since1995)

USC School-University Partnership Network, (2006-2009; co-chair, Advocacy Committee, 2006-2008)

USC College of Education Policy Initiatives Team (2006-2007)

SC School/Family/Community Partnership Team, SC-SIC/SC Dept. of Education (2001-2003, convener)

Schools of Promise, SC Association of School Administrators, Steering Committee (1999-2004)

SC Can We Talk?, State Steering Committee and Advisory Council (2001-2006, project of NEA/NIH)

Friends of Education Coalition (2000-2009, chair 2008-2009)

SC Fatherhood Practitioners Network, Inc., Board of Directors (2002-2005); Board Secretary (2004-2006)

Children s Rights Council of South Carolina, Board of Directors (2003-2004)

Positive Dads, Board of Directors, Greenville, South Carolina (2000-2002)

Parent Cabinet & District Parent Involvement Committee, Lexington/Richland School District 5 (2002-2003)

Greater Columbia Community Relations Council s Columbia Luncheon Club (member since 2001)

SC Community Development Coordinating Council SCDHEC (1999-2000)

Covering Kids Coalition, SC Hospital Association (1998-2002)

SC Council on Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention, Board of Directors (1997-1999)

Governor s Immunization Outreach Campaign, Chair, Public Education Committee (1995-1999)

Richland/Lexington Immunization Coalition, Alliance for SC s Children, Coordinator (1995-1999)

MICH Council (Maternal, Infant and Child Health), Governor s Office (1999)

Tobacco Consensus Coalition, American Lung and American Heart Associations (1999)

My Baby Keepsake Book Advisory Committee, Governor s Office (1995-1998)

Hold Out the Lifeline (1995-1999)

Midlands Safe Kids (1995-1998)

Greenville County Community Health Task Force (1993-1994)

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AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS:

Child Advocate Award, SC Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics (1999)

Cameo Award, HOPE Worldwide - SC (1998)

Award for Excellence, SC Chapter, National Public Relations Association (SICA News) (2001 & 2002)

Pat on the Back Award, SC Public Health Association (1996)

Certificate for Service and Leadership, Governor s Immunization Outreach Campaign Committee (1999)

Certificate of Appreciation, Family Connection of South Carolina (1999)

Certificate of Appreciation, Positive Dads (2002)

Certificate of Appreciation, SC Truancy Task Force (2004)

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