Dean Appointed to Accountability and Support Group for MPS

Released: 11/20/07

[Other School of Education News]

Dean Bill Henk has been appointed to a community group whose purpose will be to ensure the implementation of the Action Plan to Improve Milwaukee Public Schools. 

The Action Plan resulted from extensive efforts that were sponsored by the Greater Milwaukee Committee.  It is described as “a blueprint for the transformation of Milwaukee Public Schools into one of the finest school districts in the nation.”  The plan aims to significantly improve the performance of MPS students and to close achievement gaps, so that “every student graduates from high school prepared for higher education, careers, and citizenship.”  Representatives from MPS,  its teachers’ union (MTEA) and its Board of School Directors, along with the African American Education Council, partnered in creating the plan. 

The new Working Together, Achieving More Accountability and Support Group (ASG) is being led by Sister Joel Read, President Emerita of Alverno College, and includes dignitaries such as State Superintendent of Public Instruction Elizabeth Burmaster, Mayor Tom Barrett, Judge Carl Ashley, Senator Lena Taylor, and Representative Pedro Colon.  Numerous other community leaders including Tony Baez, Dr. Tia Bojar, Cecilia Gore, Beverly Greenberg, William Jenkins, Dr. Linda Post, Paul Roller, Mark Sabljak, Reverend Louis Sibley III, and Tina Walker comprise the group.  Members represent Milwaukee’s corporate, religious, parental, health care and higher education sectors.  Beyond monitoring the progress of the plan, the ASG will provide constructive guidance to  enhance the quality of education in the Milwaukee Public School District.  More information about the ASG will be provided in a future news conference. 

Leading to his ASG appointment, Dr. Henk has provided assistance to MPS through his work with the Milwaukee Partnership Academy (MPA).  He currently serves on the MPA Leadership Team, which has directed the partnership in the past year.  In addition, he has been a member of the Implementation Team and serves on the MPA’s Milwaukee Metropolitan Academy of Deans of Education.  

Dean Henk believes strongly in the necessity of strong public and Catholic schools.  He is committed to a quality education for all children, regardless of the system that educates them.  Consequently, in addition to his ASG and MPA work, he serves on the Archbishop's Advisory Committee for Catholic Schools, the charter school board of the Milwaukee Academy of Science, and as School of Education’s liaison to the Institute for the Transformation of Learning which assists choice and charter schools.