2021 Legislators Discussion Series Jan 21, 2021

Covid Related learning loss: What can we do? 

Featured Panelists: 
Ms. Thea Andrade, Chief Achievement Officer, Phoenix Union High School District
Ms. Rebecca Gau, Executive Director, Stand for Children
Dr. Carl Hermanns, Ed.D., Clinical Associate Professor, Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, ASU
Ms. Georgina Monsalvo, Organizing Director, Stand for Children


          
    Thea Andrade                   Rebecca Gau  

        
           Carl Hermanns                    Georgina Monsalvo
 

Thea Andrade is the Chief Achievement Officer for the Phoenix Union High School District, an innovative portfolio district, located in the urban core of Phoenix.  Thea has served in public education for over 25 years and as an administrator for over 20 years.  As a former mathematics teacher, Thea has taught both high school and middle school Algebra.  Thea earned a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University and has served as a high school Principal, Director of Quality Schools, Director of Assessment and Accountability, and Executive Director of Technology and Innovation. In her current role as the Chief Achievement Officer, Thea oversees the Teaching & Learning, Student & Family Services, and the Leadership Divisions for the District.  Thea is passionate about ensuring equitable opportunities and access to quality seats for all students.  Additionally, she is dedicated to systems improvement through empowering others to use data to inform practice and effective decisions in education.
 
While a Boston native, she has made Phoenix her home for over 26 years with her son and daughter.  She is passionate about having the privilege and opportunity to shape the future of Arizona, the city of Phoenix, and her local community.


Rebecca Gau has an extensive background in education policy and research and data analysis which began in 1993 as an intern on Capitol Hill. In the decades since, she has established herself as a national leader in education performance management and continuous improvement.

Prior to her role at Stand for Children, Ms. Gau served as the Director of the Governor’s Office of Education Innovation where she launched and led state efforts to implement the Governor Jan Brewer’s Education Reform Plan - Arizona Ready and a nationally recognized data dashboard - the Arizona Ready Report Card. She worked with Governor Brewer’s Arizona Ready Education Council (previously named the P-20 Education Council) to drive collaboration and continuous improvement at all levels of the education pipeline, while respecting local control.

She has served on numerous Boards and Commissions, and is currently Co-Chair of the Arizona Early Childhood Alliance.

Ms. Gau received her Master’s in Public Policy from Duke University, and wrote her Thesis on the topic of charter schools. Her research has been published in journals, textbooks and newspapers. She has two teenaged sons, four rescued dogs, and is married to Eric Hilkman. 

 

Carl Hermanns is a clinical associate professor in the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College at Arizona State University. He teaches classes in leadership and organizational change in the master’s and doctoral programs in the division of educational leadership and innovation. Prior to coming to ASU, Professor Hermanns served as a teacher, principal, and assistant superintendent in California and Oregon public schools. He received his Ed.D. in Administration, Planning, and Social Policy (Urban Superintendents Program) from Harvard University. Professor Hermanns’ research agenda is related to understanding best practices for English language development for English language learners.

 

Georgina Monsalvo was born in Arizona but was raised on both sides of the border. Since she came from a small border town, she saw firsthand the disparities within the public school system. She was raised by two educators who instilled in her that education is the most important gift one can give their children.

She graduated from Douglas High and went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Arizona. She discovered that she had a passion for organizing while working in rural communities that had been affected by Mexico-U.S. migration.

Most recently, Georgina has worked in electoral and issue advocacy campaigns throughout Southern Arizona. Georgina is a believer in the power of organizing and is convinced that change comes from the ground up. She is ecstatic about her new role as the Arizona Organizing Director where she will help build the organization’s presence across the state. In her spare time, Georgina enjoys good meals, traveling, hanging out with family and friends, and spending time with her 9-year-old son, Jorge.