Deborah Howard
Director of Education Strategy
Deborah Howard, former Program Director for KnowledgeWorks Foundation's School Improvement Division, is EdWorks' Director of Education Strategy. In that role, she leads EdWorks' research and development work, concentrating on product development and innovation, evaluation and quality control. Debbie blends her unique knowledge and experience in the field of education, non-profit, and corporate sectors to work in the transformation of public education. For the past five years, Debbie led the design and implementation of the Ohio High School Transformation Initiative and the Ohio Early College High School Network.
Prior to joining KnowledgeWorks Foundation, Debbie served as Executive Director of the Cleveland Education Fund (CEF), a technical assistance and grant-making body, which focused its efforts in school library development; K-16 networking of mathematics and science educators and corporate partners; and teacher professional development in literacy, mathematics, science and technology. Debbie is credited with establishing an in-house research, evaluation, and assessment division at CEF to link the organization's major work in teacher professional development to student achievement.
Before moving to Ohio in 1994, Debbie served on the Superintendent's Cabinet in North East Independent School District, San Antonio, Texas. Her early career included work in higher education, economic development, chamber of commerce management, advertising and communications. Debbie holds an MA in Educational Leadership.