CISC Directors

CO-DIRECTOR

Wagner is an Associate professor of Educational Leadership, Research and Foundations at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, KY. He holds a BA from Augsburg College (Minneapolis, MN), MA from Michigan State University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota. Wagner has been a public school teacher, principal (16 years), central office administrator, author and consultant. He served as president of the Minnesota Association of Secondary Principals. He has conducted hundreds of School Culture Audits and has trained over 80 SCA facilitators. Wagner is a popular presenter providing leadership programs for school administrators throughout the U.S. Canada and Mexico. He is a Senior Partner with TEAM Associates and Vice President of the National School Improvement Project, Inc.

Penny is an Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership Studies at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee.She holds an Ed.D. in General Administrative Leadership from Vanderbilt University.Masden-Copas has taught grades K-8, been an elementary assistant principal, a middle school assistant principal, district Curriculum Coordinator,Associate Superintendent, Regional Service Center Team Leader/Director, and Kentucky Primary Education Director.She is Co-Editor of the National Council for Professors of Educational Administration newsletter and President of the Tennessee Professors of Educational Administration.

Noted author of thirteen books, numerous articles and nationally recognized speaker, Dr. Gary L. Phillips is also founder and president of The National School Improvement Project. Dr. Phillips began his career as a public school teacher and went on to become a principal, university professor and educational consultant. It was during his tenure as a staff member with the Lilly Endowment and Charles Kettering (I/D/E/A) Foundation that Dr. Phillips developed the School Culture Audit, a process for establishing "inside-out" school improvement rather than "add-on" programs. As he states in one of his books, "If people do not improve, programs never will. By improving the school culture, almost any focused program of improvement will see positive results."

School districts and state departments of education have enlisted Dr. Phillips unique process for improving school climate, expanding teaching strategies, promoting higher levels of professional collaboration and improving student achievement by as much as 67% in a two-year period. Dr. Phillips has worked with some of the highest performing schools in the nation. He has also chosen to work with low performing, impoverished schools in Kentucky, North Carolina, Florida and Tennessee. He has always been associated with success in these endeavors. Dr. Phillips has been recognized nationally for his pioneering work with at-risk students and alternative schools. He maintains an active speaking schedule making over 80 keynote presentations every year across the United States and Canada.