Staff

Lindsey Blackburn, Director, Curriculum and Assessment

Lindsey earned her Bachelors’ degrees from the University of California, Davis (Dean’s List) in International Relations and Spanish. Her Master’s degree is also from the University of California, Davis in Education with secondary social studies and bilingual credentials and certifications. She is currently working on her administrative and curriculum licensures at Ashland University. Lindsey has taught 11 different courses including Spanish, civics, economics, psychology, world history, English as a second language, U.S. history, U.S. history in Spanish, and humanities (history-English combined) in the Olentangy Local, Marion City, and Dixon Unified (CA) school districts. Lindsey’s published M.A. thesis was: “Reaching Their Peak Performance: Portfolio Assessment and English Language Learners in a Social Studies Classroom.”

Jacob Christy, Administrative Assistant

Crystal Craig, VP, Finance and Administration 

A native of Virginia, Crystal attended Virginia Commonwealth University. She has held a variety of positions in federal government (with the Department of Defense and the Treasury Department), the private sector, and with non-profit organizations. Before joining the Ohio Alliance for Public Charter Schools, Crystal worked with Easter Seals of Central and Southeast Ohio, where she served as executive assistant to the chief executive officer. Prior to that, she was an executive assistant with the Columbus Metropolitan Library’s Office of Community Relations and Development.

Bob Green, Coordinator, Information Technology

Bob earned his Associate’s degree in Computer Networking from James A. Rhodes State College in June 2007. Subsequently, he completed his Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Management from Bluffton University in December 2010. Bob is currently enrolled at Bowling Green State University working towards a Master’s degree in Classroom Technology.

Bob joins OAPCS from West Central Learning Academy, an online charter school in Lima, Ohio where he was the Technology Coordinator responsible for end user support for parents, staff, students and teachers. Additionally, he oversaw the increase in the use of the federal ERATE program. His goal of investing in new technologies, while reducing overall spending at West Central Learning Academy, led to the implementation of many Google Apps for Education.

By way of Bob’s educational and work experiences thus far, he has truly developed his business sense. His ability to work with multiple stakeholders, in a variety of professional situations, makes him a valuable asset to Ohio’s public charter schools. 

Andrew J. Hoffman, Coordinator, Data Teams

Andrew is a 2006 graduate of The Ohio State University where he obtained a Bachelor’s of Science in Education. As a classroom teacher in the Columbus area, Andrew taught at-risk urban youth in grades 6-9 in the subject areas of Math, Science, Social Studies, English Language Arts, Health and Physical Education.

In addition to his teaching responsibilities, Andrew also worked as the Assessment Coordinator for the school. He oversaw the development of an assessment program that tracked school-wide student mastery and progression. His vision helped build a culture of data-driven decision making and implementation of research-based instructional practices.

As a result of his dedication to the data process, his school improved their School Designation on the State Report Card and Performance Index by more than 20 points.  Currently, Andrew is completing his Master’s in Educational Policy & Leadership at The Ohio State University and will earn his degree in July, 2012.

STEPHANIE KLUPINSKI, VP, Legal and legislative affairs 

Stephanie is responsible for overseeing advocacy, communications, and legislative/governmental affairs for OAPCS.

Stephanie graduated cum laude from the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law in 2010. While attending law school, Stephanie was a managing director of the Ohio State Law Journal, and her law review article on student speech in the digital age was recently published in that journal. Her work experience during law school included internships with the New York City Law Department, the appeals section at the Ohio Attorney General, and the American Federation of Teachers’ legal department in Washington, D.C.

Prior to law school, Stephanie was associate editor at Catalyst Ohio, an education policy magazine. In this role, she won numerous awards for journalism excellence, including the Clarion Award from the Association for Women in Communications, the Best Social Justice Reporting award from the Ohio Society of Professional Journalists, and several Ohio Excellence in Journalism Award.

Stephanie began her career in education reform as a Teach For America corps member. She taught English and journalism at Locke High School in Los Angeles, which has since been converted to a charter school.

Stephanie received a masters’ degree in public policy from the University of Michigan and a bachelor of arts in English from the University of Pennsylvania.
 

Marianne Lombardo, VP, School Performance and Accountability 

Marianne’s career has centered on increasing educational access, innovation and quality. A graduate of one of the nation’s first public alternative schools, New Futures High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico, she obtained her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Sociology from Wright State University and the Ohio State University respectively. While at the Ohio Board of Regents, Marianne measured results of the Jobs Student Retention Program at thirty-three community colleges in Ohio and managed workforce investment and university research grants. She taught for six years at Columbus State Community College and at the Columbus College of Art and Design. For the past twelve years, Marianne has worked to improve educational programs in the Ohio Department of Youth Services. In addition to supervising curriculum, testing, Title 1, GED programs, school operations and technology, she built postsecondary opportunities, and managed partnerships with the Civilian Conservation Corps and the Jobs for Ohio’s Grads program. Marianne worked with eTech Ohio to build the infrastructure needed to bring technology into the classrooms, and launched an information management system to collect and report education data. Marianne was a member the State Education Data Workgroup, Governor Strickland’s Transition Team, and an evaluator for Alternative Education Challenge Grants. She is a regular presenter at state EMIS conferences and at national conferences, on the topic of measuring academic gains for at-risk populations. Marianne’s volunteer work includes public speaking and advocacy work for Planned Parenthood, and serving as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for Franklin County.

Cecilia Shanahan, Director, New and Renew School Development

Cecilia entered the field of education as a Teach For America corps member, where she taught fourth grade in Denver Public Schools. During this time, Cecilia received her Master’s Degree in Curriculum & Instruction and Urban Leadership from the University of Colorado. She went on to complete a selective leadership and principal licensure program, The Ritchie Program for School Leaders, through the University of Denver and Denver Public Schools. She also served as a Principal Intern at a K-8 Denver Public School and after receiving her certification, served as Dean of Students at Denver School of Science and Technology, a nationally recognized charter school. Cecilia is excited to return to Ohio, where she received her Bachelor’s Degree at Ohio University in Organizational Communications. Cecilia will be overseeing New and Renew School Development, in the efforts to positively transform public education and create increased quality choices for Ohio’s children.

William J. Sims, President and CEO

Bill’s career has spanned the fields of education, non-profit organizations and the private sector. Before joining the Ohio Alliance for Public Charter Schools in early 2007, he served as vice president of school management for K12 Inc., a Virginia-based curriculum and school management company with associated charter schools located across the United States. He began his tenure at K12 Inc. as founding head and superintendent of the Ohio Virtual Academy, a statewide virtual charter school based in Toledo. In all, he spent 14 years as a teacher, history department chair, admissions director, school principal and head of school in both public and private education. Bill has also served as executive director of the Cisneros Foundation (New York City), executive director and president of the Denver Council on Foreign Relations, founder of the Denver Institute of International Studies, and founder of the publication World News Digest. In addition, he has been vice president of administration and customer relations at Onesoft Corporation, a Virginia-based e-commerce company, and senior program officer at The Brookings Institution’s Center for Public Policy Education in Washington, D. C. Bill received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado and earned a master’s degree in education and international relations from the University of Denver. During the Nixon-Kissinger era of “ping-pong diplomacy” and détente with China during the 1970s, Bill led the very first groups of American students (more than 100 private and public school students from Denver) into the People’s Republic of China.

Jesse Truett, Senior Director, Performance and Management Program

Jesse received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Otterbein University and his Masters Degree in Education Policy and Leadership from Ohio State University.

As a former principal at Newark High School and Grandview Heights High School, Jesse is an experienced and proven academic and administrative leader who has demonstrated a significant commitment to both student performance and solid operational and financial management.

Jesse will lead in building the Alliance’s new performance management initiatives, made possible by a generous grant from the Walton Family Foundation.

Jennifer Wall, Senior Director, Membership and Operations

As head of State Reporting Services at Charter School Specialists (CSS), Jennifer managed a team of four State Reporting Coordinators providing services to nearly 30 community schools.  Prior to CSS, Jennifer Wall provided EMIS services for multiple community schools at ACE Software.  Jennifer is regarded in the charter school movement as one of the foremost experts in providing and managing EMIS Services for community schools.  Jennifer expertly assisted schools in fulfilling their State reporting requirements to The Ohio Department of Education. 
 

Jennifer Wall received her Bachelor's Degree from Wittenberg University in Ohio.

Ashley Wilson, Fiscal Associate

Ashley is responsible for providing financial, administrative and clerical services to the Ohio Alliance for Public Charter Schools' team. Before joining OAPCS, Ashley worked as an executive assistant for a small business owner, where she gained experience in event planning, operating different accounting software and handled extensive clerical duties. Prior to being an executive assistant, she was a financial services advisor with J. P. Morgan Chase and held a range of positions within the banking industry.

Ashley is a native of Virginia, but was raised in Ohio. She attended the University of Cincinnati and is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in human resource management, with a minor in accounting, at Franklin University.