TEDxCincy - Jeff Edmondson - The Key to Educational Improvement: Data and How We Use It

Interesting talk - innovative ideas in education are essential these days. The system is failing our children. It's becoming and more clear that we need a public-private collaboration to fix the system - government isn't able to do it alone, especially when the radical right is intent on teaching nonsense wherever possible.

Jeff Edmondson is the executive director of Strive, a partnership of postsecondary, K-12, business, philanthropic, non-profit, and civic organizations in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, which is aimed at increasing educational aspirations, achievement, and attainment of students throughout the region. The lessons learned from the development of this partnership are currently being applied in four cities across the country—through a collaborative relationship with Living Cities and the Coalition of Urban Serving Universities—to help ensure resources in these regions are efficiently and effectively supporting the success of every child.

He most recently served as the foundation officer for KnowledgeWorks Foundation. In this role, Edmondson was responsible for assisting the president & CEO by leading and providing support for priority initiatives, communicating on the vision and strategies of the foundation locally and nationally, and managing the relationship with the board of directors.

Prior to KnowledeWorks, Edmondson served as a program assistant at the 21st Century School Fund, where he conducted research, published papers and wrote legislation on local and national policy issues related to school facilities. Edmondson also worked as the peaceable schools coordinator at Woodrow Wilson Senior High School, the largest public secondary school in Washington, D.C. In this role, he was an advocate for teachers and students in the school; built partnerships between the school, organizations and businesses in the community to improve student outcomes; and trained students and staff in mediation and other alternative conflict resolution techniques.

Edmondson has a bachelor's of science in biology from the University of Richmond and a master's in public policy from Johns Hopkins University. In addition, he served as a volunteer and supervisor for four years in Peace Corps Gabon, Central Africa.

Tags: TEDxCincy, Jeff Edmondson, The Key to Educational Improvement, Data and How We Use It, Strive, Living Cities, Coalition of Urban Serving Universities, KnowledgeWorks Foundation, education, innovation, society, learning