Barbara Thompson
Director of Programs
Barbara Thompson has been a teacher ever since, at 6 six years old, she taught her little sister how to read. In her twenty year career in education, she has served as a teacher, student, leadership coach, and nonprofit and district leader. Barbara began her journey as an early elementary teacher at a public school in the South Bronx, New York, where she also lived (and served as the Bronx Five Borough Champion in the New York City Marathon). In New York, Barbara studied education policy and leadership at Columbia University’s Teachers College, earning a masters degree. Then, during a time of significant transition to data-driven leadership, Barbara worked for the Chicago Public Schools Performance Management team, leading the implementation of aligned assessments and strategic planning grounded in data. Barbara went on to spend many years at the Achievement Network (ANet), serving as a coach to school and system leaders in Chicago, Detroit, and Kansas City, with a focus on Common Core-aligned instructional leadership. ANet contributed to intensive reform efforts in the Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) as the district transitioned out of emergency management and into an era of leadership under a publicly elected board. Barbara greatly values finding the balance between fearless and thoughtful reform, that has measurable benefits for students, and this led her to join the team at DPSCD. Ultimately, Barbara served as the Deputy Executive Director of Assessment and Performance Management for the district. Barbara is tremendously proud to be a founding member of the Michigan Educator Workforce Initiative, and deeply believes in the organization’s ability to positively impact teachers, leaders, and students across the mitten.
Alma Mater
The College of Wooster, BA in Psychology and Education
Columbia University Teachers College, MA in Education Leadership and Policy
Fun Facts
I grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan and came back home after 15 years away in Ohio, New York, and Chicago
I have been married to my college sweetheart for 20 years and we have three delightful children
I’ve been a lifelong distance runner and have competed at distances ranging from 800 meters to marathons - but I enjoy taking “runner sabbaticals” now and then!