INCS Expands Staff With New Hires

The Illinois Network of Charter Schools adds to Leadership Team

CHICAGO, Jan. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Illinois Network of Charter Schools (INCS) is proud to announce the addition of two key staff members: Stacy McAuliffe has been named Chief Operating Officer and Eric Johnson has been named Director of Development and Capacity. Both bring a passion for education reform born from experience in the sector to the organization's mission of establishing high quality options for all Illinois students.

"Public charter schools in Illinois are among the highest performing non-selective enrollment public schools in the state," said Andrew Broy, President of INCS. "INCS has just finished its three-year strategic plan and must scale up in order to offer our member schools the opportunities and support they deserve. Hiring Stacy and Eric will have a profound effect on how INCS can impact the charter sector and public education more broadly."

McAuliffe was previously a Principal in The Boston Consulting Group's Chicago office, where she worked across several industries and sectors, particularly public education and financial services. Additionally, McAuliffe brings public policy experience from her work at the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City in Boston and her undergraduate degree from Princeton's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. She attained her Masters of Business Administration from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management.

"I am excited to join INCS at a time of opportunity and urgency in our state and a period of growth for our organization," said McAuliffe. "INCS and our member schools have tremendous potential to impact the public education landscape in Illinois."

Johnson comes to INCS from the Golden Apple Foundation where he was Chief Development Officer. He previously held a development position with the Inner-City Teaching Corps and has worked extensively with AmeriCorps and City Year. He is originally from Virginia where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from the University of Virginia.  He is currently earning his Masters of Science in Learning and Organizational Change at Northwestern University's School of Education and Social Policy.

"I've always been interested in expanding educational opportunities for under-served students, so INCS is the perfect choice for the next stage of my career," said Johnson. "The charter sector is the cornerstone of the holistic reform I have been working toward since I completed my undergraduate degree."

"The public charter school sector is marked by dedicated professionals working to improve educational opportunities for all students in the state," said David Weinberg, INCS Board Chair. "I am thrilled that Stacy and Eric have joined us. They will bring new perspectives and passion to education reform, as well as new expertise and capacity to INCS, and we're excited to have them."

The Illinois Network of Charter Schools (INCS) is dedicated to improving the quality of public education by promoting and invigorating the charter school concept. The voice of the state's charter schools, INCS advocates for legislation to strengthen charter schools, educates the public about the value of charter schools, and supports the dissemination of best practices throughout the system.

SOURCE Illinois Network of Charter Schools