K–12 Annual Spring Meeting and Site Visit for Funders
Hosted by The Philanthropy Roundtable
Co-hosted with Donors Forum
Now what? Coming off a run of successful K–12 education reforms, including teacher accountability measures, school choice legislation, and the expansion of digital learning, philanthropists are eager to build on promising gains. Join the nation’s leading thinkers and funders in Chicago—a city that boasts bold new education leadership and ambitious plans to turn around its struggling district—as we explore the promise and peril of sustainable, enduring reform. Engage in discussions about catalyzing community involvement, helping American students compete internationally, fostering resilient students, implementing accurate and practical teacher evaluation systems, and investing in advocacy that yields results. Get up to speed on key initiatives and developments, including portfolio district management, efforts to expand the personalized learning marketplace, and the proliferation of STEM programs. Discover what is being done to elevate achievement in K–12 education—and how strategic giving can lead to transformative breakthroughs.
Registration Information:
Thank you for your interest in attending this K–12 event. While you may still register via phone, online registration is currently closed. Please contact Cassandra Maloney directly at (202) 822-8333 or cmaloney@philanthropyroundtable.org in order to register for this event.
See the full event agenda here.
Speakers Include:
- Ellen S. Alberding, president, Joyce Foundation
- Cat Alexander, program officer, Michael and Susan Dell Foundation
- Catharine Bellinger, co-founder and co-executive director, Students for Education Reform
- Robert Birdsell, president and CEO, Cristo Rey Network
- Jean-Claude Brizard, CEO, Chicago Public Schools
- Andrew Broy, president, Illinois Network of Charter Schools
- Chris Cerf, acting commissioner, New Jersey Department of Education
- Tim Daly, president, The New Teacher Project
- David Esselman, partner, Great Gains
- Donald Feinstein, executive director, AUSL
- Chester E. Finn Jr., president, Thomas B. Fordham Foundation
- Dennis FitzSimons, chairman, Robert R. McCormick Foundation
- Nicole Baker Fulgham, president and founder, The Expectations Project
- Mark Gleason, executive director, Philadelphia School Partnership
- Joshua Hale, executive director, Big Shoulders Fund
- Leah Hamilton, program director, Carnegie Corporation
- Michael Hartmann, director of research and evaluation, Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation
- Henry Hipps, senior program officer, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
- Freeman A. Hrabowski III, president, University of Maryland at Baltimore County
- Alex Johnston, advisor, Bloomberg Philanthropies
- Jill Kafka, executive director, Partnership for Inner-City Education
- Ed Kirby, senior program officer, Walton Family Foundation
- Jeremiah Kittredge, founder and executive director, Families for Excellent Schools
- Phyllis Lockett, president and CEO, New Schools for Chicago
- Lydia Logan, senior director, Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation
- Mike Miles, superintendent, Colorado’s Harrison School District 2
- Michael Milkie, superintendent and CEO, Noble Network of Charter Schools
- Nicholas Montgomery, co-founder and CEO, UChicago Impact
- Robert Muzikowski, president, Chicago Hope Academy
- James Oliff, trustee, CME Group Foundation
- Deborah Quazzo, co-founder, NeXtAdvisors
- James Rahn, president, Kern Family Foundation
- Angela Rudolph, president, Think. Plan. Do. Consulting
- Jon Schnur, executive chairman and co-founder, America Achieves
- Oliver Sicat, chief portfolio officer, Chicago Public Schools
- Brian P. Simmons, founder and partner, CHS Capital, and chairman, Chicago Public Education Fund
- Robin Steans, trustee, Steans Family Foundation, and executive director, Advance Illinois
- Eileen Sweeney, senior director of foundation and community relations, Motorola Mobility
- Steven Teles, associate professor of political science, Johns Hopkins University
- Gregory White, president and CEO, LEARN Charter School Network
- Caprice Young, vice president for education, Laura and John Arnold Foundation
Agenda:
Wednesday, April 11
8:00 a.m.–1:30 p.m. Site Visits and Panel Discussion
- Site visits to Morton School of Excellence (a CPS/AUSL school) and LEARN Charter Schools
-
Panel Discussion:
Replicate/Repair: Weighing Charter School and Turnaround Options
3:30 p.m.–4:45 p.m. “Extra Credit” Panel
Catalyzing Community Engagement
5:30 p.m.–6:30 p.m. Reception
6:30 p.m.–8:45 p.m. Dinner and Program
- Keynote Address by Freeman Hrabowski, president, University of Maryland at Baltimore County
-
Dinner Plenary Discussion:
Mind the Gap: How Philanthropy Can Help American Students Compete
Thursday, April 12
Optional Breakfast Panel
7:15 a.m. Breakfast Available
8:00 a.m.–9:30 a.m. Panel (breakfast available in room at 7:15 a.m.)
What Role Should Catholic Schools Play in a City’s Education Reform Efforts?
8:15 a.m.–9:30 a.m. Breakout Sessions (please choose one)
- Flying Blind? Assessing Advocacy Investments
-
Quantifying Quality: What’s Needed to Implement Effective Teacher Evaluation Systems?
9:45 a.m.–10:45 a.m. Plenary Session
Five Breakthrough Strategies in Education Philanthropy
11:00 a.m.–12:20 p.m. Briefings
- Achieving Excellence in STEM Funding
- Enabling Personalized Learning in a Digital Age
- Reshaping Districts through Portfolio Management
-
Faith-Based Schools and Urban Achievement
12:30 p.m.–2:45 p.m. Lunch and Program
- Keynote Address by Jean-Claude Brizard, CEO, Chicago Public Schools
-
Lunch Plenary Discussion:
Winds of Change: How Chicago Is Rethinking the Urban District
*To see the program agenda with session titles and descriptions, visit the event agenda page.
Location:
Ritz-Carlton Four Seasons
160 East Pearson Street at Water Tower Place
Chicago, IL 60611-2308
Accommodations:
Participants are responsible for their own travel and accommodations. A block of rooms was set aside at the Ritz-Carlton Four Seasons for a reduced rate of $290 per night. To make a room reservation, contact the hotel directly at (312) 266-1000. Please mention The Philanthropy Roundtable to receive the reduced rate. If you have not made your reservation by Friday, March 16, 2012, when our room block ended then you may contact the hotel to see if they have any availability at their property. We have provided a list of other hotels on our logistics page that are in walking distance to the Ritz-Carlton Four Seasons that you may want to review.
This solicitation-free event is open to individual donors, private foundation trustees and staff, and corporate giving staff who annually distribute at least $50,000 in charitable donations. There is no fee to attend.
For additional information about the content of this program, please contact Dan Fishman, director of K-12 education programs.





