Schlechty Center

Deb is a former K-12 educator who spent over 20 years in corporate human capital management. She began her career as a high school teacher after graduating from the University of Georgia with a B.S. in Language Education. Her corporate career was spent in retail, service and financial services, in Human Resources, Quality and Performance Improvement, Training, Executive Development and Coaching, and Business Development. The majority of her career she worked in subsidiaries of Citigroup, and launched and led a corporate university. In 2001 she left her position as Sr. Vice President for Instruction and Business Development for Citibank, N.A. to form Willing Learner. Training Magazine has honored Deb as one of the “new guard in training and development”.

In 2002, Deb led the start up of the Georgia Leadership Institute for School Improvement, a public/private initiative to improve education leadership, supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Woodruff and Whitehead Foundations and the Wallace Foundation. Under her leadership GLISI developed a solid track record for helping school systems improve student achievement and organizational effectiveness through improved practices in talent management, performance management and team-based improvement. She led development of over $15 million in external funding and provided grant-makers with proof of the stewardship and impact of their investment.

Deb works in partnership with Dr. Judy Hale, of Hale Associates (www.HaleAssociates.com) to design, develop and deliver training and performance solutions for leaders across all sectors through a collaborative arrangement with the International Society for Performance Improvement (www.ISPI.org). Beginning in January 2010, they will provide a process for experts in school improvement to obtain an evidence-based national certification as a School Improvement Specialist through ISPI. Email Haleassoci.com for more information.Deb continues to help state education agencies, school districts, universities and other stakeholders in education leadership build Signature Leadership Systems tailored to their local contexts, strategic intentions and performance goals. Through her private consulting practice, Deb helps school districts develop Balanced Performance Improvement systems, develop strategic plans and designs for 21st Century Learning Innovation. She specializes in helping leaders provide effective performance feedback, effectively monitor, measure and manage performance and use talent management strategies that tap the strengths, passions and talents of students and adults.

To learn more about Willing Learner go to WillingLearner.org. Contact Deb at deb.page@willinglearner.org or at 678-428-2363.