Kisha Towns Resume rd

                                      Kishia K. Towns, Ph.D.



    Enthusiastic, results-driven, self-motivated Director with over twenty years of experience in education
    with a proven record of success in student achievement, strategic planning, program development,
    data analysis, leadership, and community engagement to meet organizational goals.

                                              Achievements
        Reduced the number of office discipline referrals Districtwide by 55% since 2015
        Reduced the number of in-school suspensions Districtwide by 69% since 2015
        Reduced the number of out-of-school suspensions Districtwide by 50% since 2015
        Reduced bullying incidents Districtwide by 47% since 2015
        Increased the number of schools receiving a School Climate Star Rating by 11% since 2016
        Established the first Districtwide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Program
          in 2015
        Created the DeKalb County School District Employee Mediation Procedural Manual
        Managed the first Safe Schools Team in DeKalb County School District
        Assisted in designing the School Choice automated registration and lottery system increasing
         participation by 30%
        Increased Gifted Program funding by appropriately identifying and scheduling eligible students
        Assisted more than 80 DeKalb County Juvenile Court Rebound Drug Court youth in successfully
         receiving a high school diploma

                                        Professional Experience

Director, Student Relations, DeKalb County School District, 2012-present
     Oversees the management of the Department of Student Relations, including daily operations,
        personnel selection and evaluation, budget management, and provision of professional learning
        opportunities
     Ensures appropriate technical assistance and advisement is provided to District and school level
        personnel, students, parents, and other stakeholders on school law, court decisions, best practices,
        and procedures relative to student discipline and due process
     Manages placement of students returning from suspension, expulsion, incarceration, or other serious
        matters
     Prepares the Division of Equity and Student Empowerment Strategic Action Plan
     Analyzes and aggregates data to prepare and maintain reports of District programs
     Works cooperatively and effectively with community and business partners to develop and
        achieve school and Districtwide performance goals
     Conducts professional learning workshops and seminars for District administrators, school level
        personnel, and community stakeholders on student discipline, due process, bullying, PBIS, and
        restorative practices to improve school climate and culture
     Coordinates with Student Support, Federal Programs, Public Safety, School Choice, and English
        Learners to provide wrap-around services, updated safety initiatives and plans, and placement options
     Facilitates the Department of Student Relations “Let’s Talk About…” Series
     Serves as a My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) Co-Lead
     Serves as the Educational Liaison for DeKalb County Juvenile Court Rebound Program
     Serves as the District liaison for the Student Attendance Protocol Committee, DeKalb Board of
        Health, DeKalb Child and Adolescent Coalition, and DeKalb Judicial Screening Committee
Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports District Coordinator, DeKalb County School District, 2015
present
     Oversees the implementation of Districtwide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS)
        by assessing and monitoring all cohort schools to ensure compliance of Georgia Department of
        Education procedures governing the implementation of PBIS
     Ensures achievement of all PBIS program goals and objectives outlined in the District PBIS
        Implementation Plan
     Monitors School-Wide Information System (SWIS) and district databases to track and analyze student
        behavioral data including office discipline referrals, suspensions, team implementation, coach
        assessment of schoolwide implementation, and climate survey patterns
     Conducts trainings and provides ongoing technical and data analysis support to staff who use
        school wide data collection systems, ensures regular meetings, visits sites 2-4 times yearly, facilitates
        problem solving, and assists with evaluation of fidelity
     Delivers presentations to the Superintendent, district administrators, community partners, and other
        groups/organizations as necessary to educate and inform stakeholders of PBIS activities and outcomes
     Participates in regional, statewide, and national PBIS leadership conferences and meetings
     Assists the District in obtaining outside funding for PBIS related activities including writing grants,
        collaborating with community sponsors, and other partnerships
     Works closely with internal and external partners including Regional Educational Service Agencies
        (RESAs), the Georgia Learning Resources System, Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL),
        colleges/universities, other state agencies, local school districts, and community partners on school
        climate
Gifted Coordinator, School Choice Office, DeKalb County School District, 2009-2012
     Implemented and monitored procedures designed to appropriately identify, establish eligibility, and
        provide instructional services for the Gifted Program
     Coordinated the Gifted In-Field Endorsement Certification Program and other professional services
        including program evaluations, strategy workshops, and professional development
     Supervised full-time equivalent (FTE) counts for gifted program; ensured program compliance with
        relevant state guidelines; maintained department budget
School Choice Coordinator, Schools Choice Office, DeKalb County School District, 2006-2012
    Managed the daily operations of the School Choice program, registration, and lottery system
    Prepared and monitored program budgets for school choice program by ensuring compliance with
       established federal, state, and local regulations and procedures
Instructional Coordinator, Academy of Science and Mathematics, Benjamin E. Mays High School, Atlanta
Public Schools, 2003-2006
     Supervised a staff of thirty faculty members and 550 magnet and gifted students
     Managed the daily operations and budget of the Academy
     Developed the master schedule for a student population of over seventeen hundred students
     Analyzed school test data and assisted with the development of school improvement plans
     Coordinated internship programs to provide relevant job experiences and career awareness in the
         fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
Chemistry Instructor, Magnet program for High Achievers, Chamblee Charter High School, DeKalb County
School District, 1997-2003
    Increased Georgia High School Graduation Science Test (GHSGT) scores for 81% to 89% by
       implementing the first GHSGT science workshop to remediate students with science deficiencies by
       reinforcing the Quality Core Curriculum (QCC) science standards
    Science Department Chairperson
                                          Education
Ph.D. Organic Chemistry, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, August 1997
B.S. Chemistry, Fisk University, Nashville, Tennessee, May 1992
                                         Certifications
Georgia Educator Certificate #315328
Educational Leadership, Tier II, SRL-7
Teacher Support Specialist, SRS-7
Science (6-12), SRT-7
Schoolwide Information System (SWIS) Facilitator
                                         Presentations
Courageous Conversations, Panelist, DeKalb County School District Board of Education, September 2022
Culture & Climate: Nuts & Bolts of Social Emotional Learning, Presenter, Empowerment Wednesday,
DeKalb County School District, July 2022.
Conflict Resolution, Guest Speaker, The Lunchroom, DeKalb County School District, May 2022.
Lady Talk, Panelist, Towers High School, DeKalb County School District, March 2022.
Let’s Talk, Real Talk, Guest Speaker, Miller Grove Middle School, DeKalb County School District, March
2022.
District 6 Town Hall Meeting, Panelist, DeKalb County School District Board of Education, October 2021.
Back to Basics, Panelist, DeKalb County Juvenile Court Educational Forum, September 2021.
Laying the Foundation for Positive School Behavior and Climate, Presenter, Summer Leadership
Conference, DeKalb County School District, July 2021.
Gallup Employee Engagement Session, Panelist, Summer Leadership Conference, DeKalb County School
District, July 2021.
Second Annual Human Trafficking Symposium, Panelist, Decatur Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta
Sorority, Inc., January 2021.
School Safety, Panelist, EngageMEnt Now, DeKalb County School District, December 2018.
                                     Professional Training
Darkness to Light’s Stewards of Children Sexual Abuse Prevention
Human Trafficking Awareness and Capacity Building
QPR Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Program
Restorative Practices
Sources of Strength Suicide Prevention
Title IX Appellate Decision-Maker
Tribunal Officer Training
                                         Committees
DeKalb Child Welfare Collective
Educational Alternatives Task Force
Leading and Learning in Excellence Committee
Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Curriculum Development

                                   Professional Affiliations
Association of Positive Behavioral Supports
Atlanta Restorative Practices Consortia
Be THE Voice
DeKalb County Juvenile Court Rebound Drug Court Program Advisory Board, Secretary
MENTOR Georgia
National Association of Hearing Officers