The National Center for School Engagement is located at:

The Partnership for Families & Children
(Formerly The Colorado Foundation for Families and Children)
450 Lincoln St., Suite 100
Denver, CO 80203
303-837-8466 ext. 100
info@schoolengagement.org

NCSE STAFF:

Ken Seeley, Ed.D.
President and Chief Executive Officer
(303) 837-8466, ext. 101

Dr. Seeley founded The Partnership for Families & Children (PFFAC), formerly known as the Colorado Foundation for Families and Children, over seventeen years ago.  He is currently its President as well as President of the National Center for School Engagement. Ken has served in a variety of roles related to children and families over the past 30 years both in Colorado and nationally.

When he served as principal of the Laboratory School at the University of Northern Colorado, he was also a professor of education. Ken was a tenured faculty member at the University of Denver and served as the coordinator of graduate education. With a doctorate in education, he continues as an adjunct faculty member teaching program evaluation, research, and educational leadership.

Before starting the Partnership, Ken was Director of Programs at the Clayton Foundation (Denver) operating direct services to high-risk families and children. While at Clayton, he initiated the first family preservation programs in Colorado. He went on to The Colorado Trust and expanded family preservation to 32 counties in the state. He has served as a policy consultant for many foundations including the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation and for the Center for the Study of Social Policy.

Ken has roots and ongoing interests in early childhood education, public education and family preservation and support. He is active in community service serving on the Board of Directors of Colorado Heritage Camps which serves over 2000 adopted children. He also is Board President for the KIPP Sunshine Peak Academy charter school in west Denver.

Finessa Ferrell
Director
(303) 837-8466, ext. 107

Ms. Ferrell directs work with school districts interested in implementing evidence-based prevention strategies for high-risk youth.  In this role, she conducts needs assessments, resource mapping and strategic planning with school administrators, district administration and community-based organizations across the country.  In addition, Ms. Ferrell has done extensive training and technical assistance, including in-service professional development for principals, teachers and school counselors on topics such as Triple "A" Schools, Parent Engagement, Best Practices in School-Based Case Management, Positive Youth Development and Changing School Climate. 

Ms. Ferrell worked with educational policy makers across the country while with the National Conference of State Legislatures and testified before legislative committees on best practices in school-based settings.  She also taught at the University of Wisconsin and served as an evaluator for Search Institute, a leader in positive youth development research.  Ms. Ferrell holds an MA in political science and education policy as well as bachelor's degrees in political science and communication arts.  She is the author of numerous articles on youth at risk and school violence.

Marvin Klinger
Administrative & Project Assistant
(303) 837-8466, ext. 100

As Administrative & Project Assistant, Marvin is involved with a variety of office operations at the Partnership for Families & Children. He is a member of the Information Resource/Staff Support Team and is the support person for the National Center for School Engagement. In addition, he is the Recording Secretary for the Board of Directors of the Partnership for Families & Children.

He came to the Partnership twelve years ago with many years of experience in hospitals, as well as in the for-profit sector including banking, insurance, and manufacturing. His degrees include a Bachelor of Science in business from Kean University located in New Jersey, and a master's degree in Library and Information science from the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee.

RESEARCH & EVALUATION STAFF

Joanna (Jodi) Zorn Heilbrunn, M.A.
Senior Research and Policy Analyst
303-837-8466 ext. 128

Jodi Heilbrunn has been a Senior Research and Policy Analyst since 2002.  Jodi has worked in the field of education research for over a decade with a current focus on truancy prevention and school success.  She participated with other colleagues in launching NCSE in 2003.  Her projects include quantitative and qualitative evaluations of several truancy reduction programs for the Colorado Dept. of Education, The OJJDP and the National Truancy Prevention Association.  In addition, Jodi is the editor of the NCSE newsletter.  Jodi was also affiliated with the RAND Corporation for twelve years.  At RAND she contributed to numerous health care, immigration policy, and military manpower studies prior to turning her full attention to education in a longitudinal evaluation of New American Schools.  Jodi holds a master's degree in sociology from UCLA and an undergraduate degree in economics from Boston University.