Making the Common Core Standards Work

Essential reading for school leaders!

With the Common Core State Standards adopted by the vast majority of U.S. states, educators face the challenge of translating the standards into successful, positive change within sc

Dr. Robert Manley

Dr. Robert Manley graduated from Iona College with a B.A. in Spanish language Arts and minors in Philosophy and Education. He completed his Master of Arts degree in the Humanities at Hofstra University and his Professional Diploma and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Educational Administration at St. John¿s University. He taught Spanish Language skills and served as an instructor in a New York State model Humanities Program at West Babylon High School. For twenty-one years he served in a variety of administrative positions including Assistant Principal at Babylon Jr./Sr., High School, Principal in Plainedge UFSD, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction and Superintendent of Schools in West Babylon, New York. He served as President of the Board of Directors for the Suffolk County Library System and the Suffolk County Organization to Promote Education. Currently, he is Professor of Educational Administration and Leadership in the Doctoral Program at Dowling College, New York.

In the last six years, he has presented peer reviewed papers at the Sixth Annual Conference on Social Issues at Oxford University, England, the World Association for Case Research and Application in Manheim, Germany and Lucerne, Switzerland, and the Eastern Educational Research Association in Hilton Head, South Carolina and Clearwater, Florida. In addition, he presented workshops on School Board Governance practices at the New York State School Boards Annual Convention and at the National School Boards Conference. On January 8, 2009, he presented Systems that Work for Students in Higher Education, as Keynote Speaker at the International Symposium for Quality in Higher Education at Shri M.D. Shah Mahila College of Arts and Commerce, Mumbai, India. In January 2011, his paper entitled: Indian, Mexican and USA Management Students Interpret Moral Leadership for a Global Economy was awarded Best Paper for Management at the International Business and Economy Conference at Universidad Panamericana, Guadalajara, Mexico. He is the co-author with Richard Hawkins of a book on school reform entitled: Designing School Systems for All Students: A Toolbox to Fix Americäs Schools.

Dr. Richard Hawkins

Dr. Rich Hawkins graduated from Hofstra University with his B.S. in Music Education. He completed his M.S. in Education and Professional Diploma in Education Leadership at Long Island University. Rich received his doctorate in Educational Administration at Dowling College. He began his teaching career in the William Floyd School District as an instrumental music teacher and later became District Coordinator of Music and Art. After his department was recognized as the Outstanding Music Program in the country by the Music Educators National Conference, Rich moved to district office as the Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Education and Human Resources. Schools under his supervision received designation as N.Y.S. Schools of Excellence and U.S.D.O.E. Blue Ribbon Schools. Rich served as Superintendent of the William Floyd School District for almost twelve years. He has served as President of the Suffolk County School Superintendents Association (SCSSA) and held various roles with the New York State Council of School Superintendents (NYSCOSS). Currently, he is Director of Contract Services for the College of St. Rose, Albany, New York.

Since retiring from William Floyd, Rich has been serving as an Adjunct Associate Professor in the M.A. and Ed.D. programs at Dowling College and as an instructor in the M.A. program in Leadership at the College of Saint Rose in Albany, NY. In addition, Rich taught full time at the College of St. Elizabeth as Assistant Professor in their Ed.D. and Master¿s programs. In 2006, Rich formed Hawkins and Associates: Organizational Learning Consultants to help leaders and their organizations reach their goals and aspirations. Over the last nine years he has had peer reviewed papers presented at the World Association for Case Research and Application in Lucerne, Switzerland, and Manheim, Germany, the Eastern Educational Research Association in Hilton Head, South Carolina, and in the Long Island Education Review. Rich has made numerous presentations to the New York State School Boards Association, NYSCOSS, and SCSSA. He has presented at Hofstra University¿s Social Emotional Literacy Conference, Dowling College¿s Annual Practical Research Symposium. He was also a keynote presenter at the U.S. Dept of Education Safe School/Healthier Students Conference, Tysons Corner, VA.

He is the co-author with Robert Manley of a book on school reform entitled: Designing School Systems for All Students: A Toolbox to Fix Americäs Schools.