JEFFREY D. SMINK
20 Mayflower Drive
Rochester, NY 14618
(585) 455-5809
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Fifteen years of high-profile experience in education policy and reform at the national, state, and local levels, with nationally recognized expertise in expanded learning time, school-community partnerships, school improvement, policy analysis, coalition-building, government relations, and communications.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
National Center on Time and Learning Rochester, NY
State Director, New York 2012-2013
· Led efforts to build, implement, and sustain support for expanded learning time in Rochester and New York state
· Successfully managed expanded learning planning process for cohort of elementary schools in the Rochester City School District, resulting in five schools with expanded schedules in 2014-15 school year
· Worked with Governor’s office, New York State Education Department, and key statewide organizations to prioritize and align expanded learning time, including development of new $20 million state initiative
National Summer Learning Association Baltimore, MD
Vice President of Policy 2009-2012
§ Led team responsible for development and implementation of public policy agenda at the federal, state, and local levels
§ Architect of New Vision for Summer School initiative to transform summer school in urban districts across the nation, including authorship of landmark report, creation of a network of 20 urban districts implementing the vision, and development of a corporate partnership board
§ Led successful initiative to reform summer learning in New York City, resulting in endorsement by Chancellor of Schools and creation of innovative pilot programming based on the New Vision for Summer School framework
§ Led successful national campaign to increase public investment in summer learning over three years, exceeding goal of $50 million despite difficult economy
§ Helped develop and implement first two state legislative task forces on summer learning in California and Rhode Island, both of which recommended state adoption of New Vision for Summer School framework and resulted in policy and funding changes
§ Raised over $5 million in foundation grants to support policy work of the Association through partnerships with national foundations such as Wallace, MacArthur, Gates, and Walmart
§ Successfully positioned summer learning as a key use of funds for states and districts under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), helping lead to over $200 million in new public investment in summer programs at the local level
§ Cited extensively in the media on issues related to summer and education reform, including the New York Times, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, National Public Radio, Education Week, Fortune, and Christian Science-Monitor
National Center for Summer Learning at Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD
Policy Director 2007-2009
§ Led development and implementation of first-ever summer learning public policy agenda
§ Managed National Summer Learning Day outreach, more than doubling number of events over the past three years and securing a Presidential proclamation in 2009
§ Created and managed Champion of Summer Learning Award to recognize policymakers support of summer learning programs
§ Wrote several grant proposals resulting in over $2 million in awards to further policy activities
§ Developed partnerships with a number of national, state, and local organizations including the Education Commission of the States, Council of Great City Schools, and National League of Cities
§ Managed staff focused on making summer learning a priority in Baltimore, Indianapolis, and other communities
§ Developed and implemented policy forums on summer learning at local, state, and national levels
Independent Education Consultant 2005-2006
National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ), Washington, DC
§ Provided strategic advice, editing, and engagement with states to support development of first annual NCTQ State Policy Yearbook on Teacher Quality
Pittsburgh Public Schools, Pittsburgh, PA
§ Conducted research on comprehensive school reform models and urban school closures to assist Superintendent in district right-sizing plan
Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), Harrisburg, PA 2003-2005
Special Assistant to Deputy Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education
§ Served as political appointee of Governor Edward Rendell, and top assistant to Deputy Secretary of Elementary and Secondary Education
§ Led management of state assessment and accountability efforts related to No Child Left Behind (NCLB), including coordination of three successful changes to state accountability plan
§ Directed and designed early implementation of new statewide school improvement initiative funding regional Intermediate Units (IU) to assist low-performing districts and schools
§ Coordinated activities of internal team responsible for meeting NCLB Standards and Assessment Peer Review process conducted by the U.S. Department of Education
§ Chairperson and facilitator of 38-member Pennsylvania NCLB Committee of Practitioners
§ Served as point person on NCLB policy and funding issues with Congress, Governor, Legislature, State Board of Education, school districts, and media
Director of Federal Relations/Legislative Specialist
§ Directed all federal legislative efforts of PDE while advocating for priorities of Governor and Secretary at national and state levels
§ Established and maintained strong working relationships with Pennsylvania Congressional delegation through meetings and correspondence on all education issues
§ Helped research and write statewide NCLB position paper used by Governor and Secretary
§ Presented NCLB position paper at wide variety of venues, including House Education Committee, state education associations, and public forums
§ Secured $1 million federal earmark in FY2005 budget to supplement new statewide school improvement program
Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), Washington, DC 1998-2002
Legislative Associate, Office of Federal-State Relations
§ Served as liaison between state education agencies (SEAs) and Congress, the Administration, and national education associations on all federal education legislation
§ Worked for over three years on drafting and early implementation of reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (No Child Left Behind Act)
§ Managed efforts to successfully defeat Senate NCLB amendment to diminish role of SEAs
§ Directed CCSSO legislative efforts on all federal funding issues
§ Wrote and/or edited all key CCSSO legislative correspondence to Congress and Administration
§ Provided legislative updates and presentations to Chiefs, staff, and CCSSO Executive Director
Legislative Assistant, Office of Federal-State Relations
§ Researched and tracked federal legislation affecting state education agencies
§ Informed and assisted SEA staff on federal legislative issues through newsletters, legislative alerts, electronic list-serve, monthly meetings, and frequent phone contact
RELATED EXPERIENCE
Rennie Center for Education Research and Policy, Boston, MA 2002-2003
§ Conducted interviews with leading Massachusetts school superintendents on impact of NCLB and helped create published document summarizing results as a work-study student
St. Joseph’s Villa of Rochester, Rochester, NY 1996-1997
§ Taught high school social studies to special education students in alternative education setting
Greater Rochester Summer Learning Association, Rochester, NY 2011-present
§ Serve as Board member and helped start organization focused on expanding high-quality summer learning opportunities for students in the Rochester City School District
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, NY 2013-present
· Serve as advisor for Make City Schools Better panel of Editorial Board, with frequent blogging and op-eds on key education issues
EDUCATION
Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 2002-2003
Master of Education (Ed.M)
§ Concentration in Administration, Planning, and Social Policy from Graduate School of Education
Allegheny College, Meadville, PA 1992-1996
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
§ History major; Pennsylvania teaching certification in secondary social studies
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
§ Inaction on City Schools, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, (2013)
§ This Is Your Brain on Summer, New York Times Op-Ed, (2011)
§ Student Enrichment Works, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle (2011)
§ A New Vision for Summer School, Educational Leadership (2011)
§ Is Summer School the Key to Reform?, Education Week Commentary (2010)
§ It’s Time for Summer: An Analysis of Recent Policy and Funding Opportunities, The Wallace Foundation (2009)
§ Maximizing Education Reform in the Stimulus Bill: Enhancing Summer Learning Programs, Education Commission of the States (2009)
§ Pennsylvania’s No Child Left Behind Position Paper, Pennsylvania Department of Education (2004)
§ No Child Left Behind: Obstacle or Opportunity in Massachusetts? Rennie Center (2003)