Candidate for
Member; Alameda County Board of Education; Trustee Area 3

DENNIS K. CHACONAS Oakland, California 94610

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

March 00-June 03 Superintendent Oakland Unified School District

Responsible for implementing the vision and the goals established by the community and the OUSD School Board through systemic reforms that allow all youngsters to achieve a high standard of performance.

Supervised and evaluated instruction at 96 schools (53,000 students) Improved student achievement for two consecutive years. Developed and began implementation of a strategic plan with wide support. Ensured compliance in all categorical and state programs. Implemented "New Small and Autonomous Schools" policy and opened six new schools Managed all school operations and a budget of over 600 million dollars. Implemented district-wide Open Court in early elementary grades Increased partnerships with private, non-for-profit and public sectors. Conducted several visioning conferences and retreats with the Board; management, business and community. Implemented projects to reduce utilities costs. Developed and began implementation of a 300 million facilities master plan and secured land to build new schools. Recruited and secured over $20 million in grants. Upgraded software and hardware to improve financial processes Secured financial and human resources to improve assessment and accountability systems. Focused and secured student support services. Improved processes and support in the human resources department to reduce by over 65% the number of emergency credential teachers.

March `93-Feb. `00 Superintendent Alameda Unified School District (AUSD)

Hired to engage the District in systemic reform in order to dramatically raise student achievement.

Supervised and evaluated instruction at 18 schools (10,150 students); Improved student achievement Implemented class size reduction for Grades K-3; Created new promotional requirements for 8th and 12 grades; Increased the number of students enrolled in school; Developed benchmarks for all content areas; Developed an accountability and assessment program Revised and updated the District's core curriculum; Conducted a yearly district-wide diversity audit; Provided over 40 hours of diversity training for administrators; Developed and began to implement diversity plans at each site; Upgraded the new teacher mentor program; Adopted and trained teachers in new instructional materials; Increased the training program for staff in the use of technology; Ensured compliance for categorical programs Developed and implemented new instructional programs Revised and implemented a three year fiscal plan that changed a deficit to a surplus of $4 million in three years; Conducted several visioning conferences and retreats with the Board; management, business and community; Implemented projects to reduce utilities costs; Developed a ten year plan for facilities; Recruited and secured over $2 million in donations; Upgraded software and hardware to improve efficiency and the data available on students;

1997-Present Instructor, Mills College, Oakland Course Taught: Human Resource Management

1990-1993 Assistant Superintendent Area 1 Oakland Unified School District (OUSD)

Assisted the Superintendent in reforming an urban school district; Implemented school board and OUSD policies and initiatives; Supervised and evaluated instruction at 32 schools (19,000) students); Supported and assisted school reform efforts; Appointed 22 principals; Developed and implemented a Five-Year Education Plan; Developed and implemented a Five-Year Fiscal Plan; Developed an evaluation system for site principals; Monitored and evaluated all site budgets; Initiated area parent advisory group; Increased the use of computers in classrooms; Implemented OUSD's Affirmative Action goals; Developed programs to decrease racial isolation of students.

1990-1993 Trainer, California School Leadership Academy

Trained administrators in diversity, curriculum, restructuring and professional development.

1990-1991 Consultant, Strategic Planning Association

Member of a team of consultants, led by Dr. Jim Guthrie, who developed a plan for reorganization of the City College of San Francisco. Duties included the facilitation of discussions of staff members from credit and non-credit divisions of City College, in an effort to unify and streamline Library/Instructional Support Services through the use of the consensus process. A plan was developed and approved by the City College Board of Education.

1990-1991 Instructor, California State University, Hayward Course taught + The Principalship In the 1990's

1990-1991 Instructor, National University Course taught + Field Supervisor for Administrative Interns

1989-1990 Consultant, Quality Education Project

Developed, with districts, parent involvement programs; Developed a Secondary School Parent Involvement Manual; Planned workshops for parents; Assisted superintendents in personnel evaluations; Assisted superintendents in improving Board relations; Assisted sites in developing mission statements; Assisted sites in developing school improvement plans.

1983-1989 Principal, Oakland Technical High School Oakland Unified School District (OUSD)

Led the reform of an urban high school with the following accomplishments:

Test Scores

• Increased CTBS reading scores by 30%
• Increased CTBS math scores by 33%
• Increased SAT scores 120 points in the verbal section
• Increased SAT scores 200 points in the math section

• 1983 5% total admission at four year colleges
• 1984 17% of seniors accepted to UC system
• 1988 40% accepted to four-year colleges

• Health Academy
• School-Based Health Clinic
• Mentor Program
• AT&T Intramural Program
• Pre-Engineering Academy
• Paideia Program
• Interlinks Program Increased languages offered to include: French I-IV, Spanish I-V, German I-III, Russian I, Japanese I-II; Increased the number of students taking/passing AP exams from 9 in 1983 to 65 in 1989;

December 1988 Director, Oakland-Alameda County + Troitsk Student Exchange Program (OATS)

Formulated policy for exchange; Negotiated the contract for the 1989 Summer Exchange program; Supervised total planning and operation of OATS;

1979-1983 Principal, Verdese R. Carter Middle School Oakland Unified School District (OUSD)

Led the reform of an inner-city middle school; Increased enrollment by 50%; Increased reading scores by 24 percentile points; Increased mathematics scores by 33 percentile points.

1977-1979 Instructional Assistant Principal, Havenscourt Junior High School Oakland Unified School District (OUSD)

1973-1977 Teacher of Mathematics, Havenscourt JHS Oakland Unified School District (OUSD)

1971-1973 Teacher of Exceptional Children Oakland Unified School District (OUSD)

1971-1977 Instructor of Summer School, Secondary Schools Oakland Unified School District (OUSD)

EDUCATION M.A. Education University of San Francisco

B.A. Economics San Francisco State University

CREDENTIALS California Standard Teaching Credential (Secondary), Life California Service Credential Administrative (K-Adult), Life California Community College Supervisor Credential, Life California Community College Chief Administrative Officer, Life Center for Leadership Development-Management Credential

HIGHER EDUCATION AFFILIATIONS Visiting professor at Harvard University 1997-1998 Mentor of the Urban Superintendent Program Harvard University Adjunct Professor Mills College 1997-1998 Member-Advisory Committee University of San Francisco

Department of Secondary Education
Education Administration

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS Association of California Administrators Association for Supervision and Curricular Development Phi Delta Kappa California Interscholastic Federated Council Member California Interscholastic Federated Council Competition Committee Chairperson CA School Leadership Academy

COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS Alameda Chamber of Commerce Alameda Democratic Club Alameda Educational Foundation Alameda Hospital, board Member Alameda Technology and Business Consortium Alameda Youth Collaborative East Bay Conversion and Reinvestment Commission Boys and Girls Club, Board of Directors Rotary Alameda Chapter

AWARDS AND DISTINCTIONS Marcus Foster Distinguished Educator Award, 1981 Phi Delta Kappa Outstanding Administrator Award, 1988-89 Alameda/Contra Costa County Participant in the California Education Summit, 1990 Member of CA Department of Education High School Task Force