Portia Kennel

Portia R. Kennel Summary of Qualifications: Portia Kennel has over twenty five years experience developing, implementing and scaling effective early childhood education and family support programs for high needs children and their families. Currently serving as the Senior Vice President, Program Innovation at the Ounce of Prevention Fund, Ms. Kennel leads innovation efforts to create, demonstrate and adapt effective program, training, research and policy models throughout the organization and in the broader early childhood field. In this role, Ms. Kennel engages, develops and leverages research and other external partnerships to generate new strategies, test promising practices and catalyze innovation in early childhood programs and training efforts. Ms. Kennel also serves as the Executive Director of the Educare Learning Network, in which she has led efforts to extend the reach of Educare nationally and provides strategic direction for the Network’s training and implementation assistance system. In addition, Ms. Kennel has extensive experience in understanding family systems and clinical issues related to working with families in low-income communities. Key Accomplishments • Created the first Educare school in Chicago to serve very young children at risk of school failure in a community that was at that time, the poorest census track in America. • Led the creation and expansion of a national network of Educare schools that demonstrate Educare’s model of early learning practices for closing the achievement gap in a diverse range of communities. The network has grown from five sites in 2004 to fourteen in 2010. • Oversaw the design and refinement of the Ounce’s system of technical assistance and training to support developing Educare schools in exploring, installing, and implementing the intervention to fidelity. • Provided senior leadership to the Educare Network’s ongoing partnership with researchers at the Frank Porter Graham Institute at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and ensured that evaluation results were fed into a cycle of continuous improvement and refinement of Educare’s best practices for closing the achievement gap at kindergarten for high needs students. • Significantly expanded the organization’s statewide training institute focused on developing early childhood professionals’ skills, capacity and expertise in implementing evidence-based programs to strengthen outcomes for very young children and their families. • Served as Director of the Ounce’s Head Start Programs and led the organization’s successful federal application to secure Early Head Start funding in the first national competition in 1995. • Led program divisions with multi-million dollar annual budgets and employing large numbers of staff. Proven track record of effectively managing grants and contracts from federal, state and local funding agencies as well as cultivating and stewarding relationships and contributions from private sector funders. EDCPCS Page 116 Professional Experience 1983-Present The Ounce of Prevention Fund, Chicago IL Senior Vice President, Program Innovation 2011 to Present Leads the innovation process at the Ounce of Prevention Fund to generate new knowledge, practices and strategies that catalyze innovation in the organization and in the field. Oversees the Ounce of Prevention Fund’s innovation initiatives, promotes and sustains an organizational culture of innovation, and develops partnerships with a variety of external stakeholders to enhance the Ounce’s innovation efforts. Works in collaboration with Educare Learning Network leadership to ensure that the Educare model serves to catalyze innovation in early childhood practice and policy. Senior Vice President 2002 to 2011 Ensured the integrity of the expansion and implementation of Educare within the Educare Learning Network. In partnership with Buffett Early Childhood Fund (BECF), oversaw the development and execution of plans for the cultivation, assessment and development of new and potential Educare schools. Ensured the continued engagement of existing Network Partners, both private and public. Provided direction and oversight for the effective design and delivery of the training, implementation assistance and consultation to support the development of Educare schools. Vice President of Programs 1993 to 2002 Directed and managed operations for the Ounce of Prevention Fund’s programs and training services, including Early Head Start, Head Start, and the Ounce of Prevention Fund’s Training Institute. Developed and implemented annual and long-range budgets, program goals and work plans. Facilitated development of proposals and reports for government agencies and the private funding community. Ensured that programs met funding requirements. Served as Head Start Director and liaison to Region V Head Start office and other public and private funders. Participated as member of Executive Team in overall financial and administrative management of the agency. Director, Parents Too Soon 1989-1993 Administered and managed the Ounce of Prevention Fund’s statewide Training Institute for staff of programs serving pregnant and parenting teens and their children. Directed all aspects of program operations, including program planning and development, quality assurance, training, budget, and contracting process. Served as liaison to state and local funders. EDCPCS Page 117 1981-1983 1980-1981 1977-1980 1975 -1977 Program Specialist, Parents Too Soon 1983-1989 Assessed effectiveness of program services, provided training and developed technical assistance plans for community based agencies serving teen parents and their children Program Coordinator, Illinois Department of Children and Family Services As a regional project manager for the Parent Training Initiative/MELD Parent Education Program, directed and monitored parenting programs in fourteen counties. Provided guidance and technical assistance to private agency service providers. Research Associate, University of Illinois School of Social Work, Child Advocacy Training Program, Urbana, IL Provided in-service training on Permanency Planning for child welfare workers and supervisors within the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. Social Worker, Audrey L. Smith Developmental Center, San Francisco, CA Provided clinical assessment of families and developed appropriate treatment plans. Provided intake services and served as a clinical consultant to the public schools. Conducted group, individual, and family therapy. Preschool teacher, Cross Cultural Family Center San Francisco, CA Lead teacher in preschool class room, prepared lesson plans, and supervised teacher aide and parent volunteers. Professional Associations • Zero to Three Leadership Fellow • Board of Directors, Chicago-Metro Association for the Education of Young Children, 2000-2008 • Board of Directors, Illinois Infant Mental Health Association, 1995-2000 • Statewide Co-Chair, Healthy Families Illinois Program, Training and Evaluation Committee, 1995-2000 • Representative, Illinois Statewide Steering Committee for Human Service Reorganization, 1996-1997 • Board of Directors, Healthy Teen Network, 2006 - 2008 Memberships • National Association of Social Workers • Nation Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) EDCPCS Page 118 • National Head Start Association • World Association for Infant Mental Health Articles Kennel, P. (October/November 1996). “Working with the Written Off: Building Relationships in Grand Boulevard.” Zero to Three, Vol. 17, No. 2. Halle, T., Metz, A., Martinez-Beck, I. (2013). Applying Implementation Science in Early Childhood Programs and Systems. Baltimore, MD: Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co. Education M.S.W., Social Work, University of Illinois-Urbana B.A., Psychology, University of Illinois-Urban