EDUCATION SECRETARY ADDRESSES BUSINESS/EDUCATION COALITION

Pennsylvania Secretary of Education Dr. Vicki L. Phillips was the featured speaker at the spring membership meeting of the Berks Business Education Coalition held at the Berks Career and Technology Center on May 9, 2003. Phillips spoke about Governor Rendell's vision for public education as contained in his "Plan for a New Pennsylvania."

Dr. Phillips was appointed secretary of education in March 2003. She is recognized for her experience and achievements in education reform and leadership in school improvement at the local, state, and national levels. Prior to her appointment, Dr. Phillips served as superintendent of the School District of Lancaster where she successfully led the 11,500 student-district through an aggressive, standards-based reform. Dr. Phillips also held the position of executive director of the Philadelphia Partnership for Reform and the Children Achieving Challenge Program, a $150 million program designed to assist the School District of Philadelphia in implementing its school reform agenda.

As the deputy director of the National Alliance for Restructuring Education, a program of the National Center on Education and the Economy, Dr. Philips worked with states and cities to bring about reforms in standards and assessments, learning environments, community services and supports, public engagement, and high performance management. Dr. Phillips also served in her home state of Kentucky as chief executive assistant to the Commission of Education during the initial overhaul of Kentucky's education system.

Dr. Phillips routinely works with the governments, schools, and universities in Britain and Australia, as well as the United States and has served as an improvement coach for individual schools, as well as a consultant on policy issues. She presently serves on the governing board of England's National College for School Leadership and the advisory panel for the Harvard University Urban Superintendents Program.