Schlechty Center

Marilyn Hohmann Senior Associate

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When Phil came to my district, he began speaking to community groups about his vision for a staff development academy. As a principal, I attended one of his first meetings; he spoke about education in words that I had always believed but could never have expressed as he did. I was hooked, and from that day on I stalked his every move in our district. A short time later I received his letter: "...an invitation to invention, not a mandate to implementation," and I moved on a fast track to accept his invitation.

I always believed that we could do the work of schooling so much better for so many more kids. I am certain that we at the Schlechty Center are about the right work, work that will do just that. I had the opportunity to experience such results while I was a principal working with the Center, then to work with other schools as they achieved the same. Being a part of the Center has never felt like a job. It is a part of who I am.

MARILYN HOHMANN is a preeminent leader at both the state and national levels in advancing education reform. She was a member of the Commission to Restructure the American High School, authors of Breaking Ranks: Changing an American Institution. And, using practical experiences gained from her leadership with Fairdale High School in Jefferson County,Kentucky, with the Coalition of Essential Schools, and with the Commission, Marilyn engages Schlechty Center clients through keynote speaking and other professional development activities. She has worked extensively in supporting the development of leadership skills for principals, central office personnel, and superintendents and the development of teacher leadership skills in designing quality work for students.