CASSIE BARBER - College of Education - University of South Carolina

PROFILE:
CASSIE BARBER
9 Fairleaf Court
Columbia, South Carolina 29212
Telephone: 803-777-9618
E-Mail: barber2@gwm.sc.edu
• Background encompasses extensive professional experience in the following key positions of responsibility:
Associate Director (SC School Improvement Council, University of South Carolina); Program Consultant
(SC Healthy Schools, State Department of Education); Interim Executive Director (Alliance for South
Carolina’s Children); Owner (Birth and Wellness Associates).
• Strengths: Excellent communication/advocacy skills (verbal and written); consensus builder; proven
managerial/leadership abilities; self-motivated; team player (works well with others).
AREAS OF EXPERTISE:
● Advocacy ● Policy Analysis/Research
● State Level Collaborations/Coalitions ● Interfacing with Legislature
● Interpreting Policy for Grassroots ● Public Speaking
● Conflict Management ● Developing/Serving on Boards
● Program Development and Oversight ● Strategic Planning
● Agency Management/Administration ● Working with Volunteers
● Training/Presentations ● Creating/Directing Educational Campaigns/
• Fundraising /Grantwriting Written Communications
SELECTED ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
• Convened coalition of 40+ non-profits that successfully advocated children’s issues in the SC General
Assembly.
• Headed collaboration and oversight of public awareness campaign with key role in improving the statewide
childhood immunization compliance rate from less than 50% to over 90% in four years.
• Developed and disseminated in-depth analysis of tuition tax-credit issue and presentation materials used
statewide for successful citizen education and involvement.
• Facilitated news conferences and media events featuring state and national leaders.
• Directed statewide non-profit organization with staff of five and $750,000 budget ($250,000 Operating -
$500,000 Flow-Through).
• Successful Grant Writer/Fundraiser: Secured funding from Centers for Disease Control ($225,000), March
of Dimes, Central Carolina Community Foundation, Sisters of Charity Foundation, Mary Reynolds Babcock
Foundation, SC DHEC, Voices for SC’s Children, Communities in Schools – SC, SUDIA and AARP-SC.
EDUCATION:
• Master of Arts in Human Behavior and Conflict Management; Columbia College, Columbia, South
Carolina (GPA: 4.0)
• Bachelor of Arts in Dramatic Arts; William Paterson University, Wayne, New Jersey (summa cum laude)
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PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
Associate Director December 1999 to Present
SC School Improvement Council (SC-SIC), USC, Columbia, South Carolina
• Co-direct agency with staff of five located in the University of South Carolina, College of Education.
• Provide training, resources and technical assistance to more than 1,100 local School Improvement Councils
consisting of 16,500 volunteer parents, students, teachers, community members and administrators
statewide.
• Specialize in advocacy, collaboration and partnership training.
• Represent agency on state level collaborations and partnerships.
• Responsible for agency communications including six-page quarterly newsletter.
• Coordinate all aspects of annual conferences with up to 500 attendees.
• Responsible for development of website, fundraising, public awareness, educational materials, and media
relations.
• Monitor and analyze education legislation.
• Develop SC-SIC Board of Trustees, including strategic planning; serve as Executive Secretary to the Board.
• Member of the faculty.
Program Consultant March 1999 to December 1999
SC Healthy Schools, State Department of Education, Columbia, South Carolina
• Represented the Healthy Schools initiative and the State Department of Education on state-level
committees and coalitions and facilitated collaboration and public/private partnerships on state, regional and
local levels.
• Promoted the initiative and media/public awareness of school health issues.
• Provided technical assistance for agencies, organizations, businesses and community groups on the state,
regional and local levels to promote and achieve school health objectives.
• Developed and funded statewide children’s oral health program.
Interim Executive Director December 1994 to March 1999
Alliance for South Carolina’s Children (now Voices for SC’s Children), Columbia, South Carolina
• More than four years of progressive responsibility, ultimately serving as Interim Executive Director for
private, non-profit, child advocacy organization.
• Worked closely with board of directors, staff, state agencies, non-profit partners and lawmakers to interpret,
develop, and influence state and national policy.
• Convened and directed a coalition of 40+ non-profits with combined memberships totaling more than one
million to advocate for children in the state legislature.
• Registered lobbyist with role in increased Medicaid coverage for children, First Steps, and teen pregnancy
prevention.
• Created and directed educational campaigns and media events.
• Provided program oversight.
• Acted as chief spokesperson.
• Fundraising.
• Conducted and presented research; developed issue briefs.
Owner 1990 to 1994
Birth & Wellness Associates, Greenville, South Carolina
• Owned and operated an independent childbirth education practice and professional birth assistance service.
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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (SELECTED):
• SC Education Policy Fellow (2004-2005); ten-month intensive sponsored by SC Education Oversight
Committee; SC Association of School Administrators; SC School Boards Association; SC Chamber of
Commerce; and the Institute for Educational Leadership, Washington, D.C.
• Family/Divorce Mediation Training; SC Council for Conflict Resolution & SC Bar Association
• Civil Mediation Training; SC Council for Conflict Resolution & Columbia College
• Leadership Development Training; National Network of Partnership Schools, Johns Hopkins University
• Former Certified Childbirth Educator and Labor Assistant; ALACE (Association of Labor Assistants and
Childbirth Educators), Ann Arbor, Michigan
BOARDS/COMMITTEES, ASSOCIATIONS, AND COALITIONS (SELECTED):
• Richland County Foster Care Review Board (appointed 2006)
• SC Fatherhood Practitioners Network, Inc., Board of Directors (2002-2005); Board Secretary (2004-2006)
• Children’s Rights Council of South Carolina, Board of Directors (2003-2004)
• Positive Dads, Board of Directors, Greenville, South Carolina (2000-2002)
• SC Truancy Advisory Council, SC Department of Education (2005-2006)
• SC Truancy Task Force, SC Department of Education (2001-2004)
• South Carolina Association of School Administrators (member since 2000)
• SC Chapter, National School Public Relations Association (member since 2000)
• Healthy Schools/Healthy SC Network; Chair (2002-2004); Vice Chair (1995-1998); Action Council
(since1995)
• Professional Development Schools Partnership Network, College of Education, USC (chair, Advocacy
Committee, 2005-2006)
• SC School/Family/Community Partnership Team, SC-SIC and SC Department of Education (2001-2003)
• Schools of Promise, SC Association of School Administrators, Steering Committee (1999-2004)
• Can We Talk? Project, SC PTA, State Steering Committee (2001-2006)
• Friends of Education Coalition (2000-2006)
• Parent Cabinet & District Parent Involvement Committee, Lexington/Richland School District 5 (2002-2003)
• Covenant with South Carolina's, Alliance for South Carolina’s Children, Executive Director (1996-1999)
• SC Children’s Oral Health Coalition, SC Department of Education, Project Director (1999)
• Youth Advisory Board, Office of Safe Schools, SC Dept. of Education, Adult Advisor (2001-2005)
• SC Community Development Coordinating Council – SCDHEC (1999-2000)
• Covering Kids Coalition, SC Hospital Association (1998-2002)
• SC Council on Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention, Board of Directors (1997-1999)
• Governor’s Immunization Outreach Campaign, Chair, Public Education Committee (1995-1999)
• Richland/Lexington Immunization Coalition, Alliance for SC’s Children, Coordinator (1995-1999)
• MICH Council (Maternal, Infant and Child Health), Governor’s Office (1999)
• Tobacco Consensus Coalition, American Lung and American Heart Associations (1999)
• My Baby Keepsake Book Advisory Committee, Governor’s Office (1995-1998)
• Hold Out the Lifeline (1995-1999)
• Midlands Safe Kids (1995-1998)
• Greenville County Community Health Task Force (1993-1994)
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AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS:
• Child Advocate Award, SC Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics (1999)
• Cameo Award, HOPE for Kids of SC (1998)
• Award for Excellence, SC Chapter, National Public Relations Association (SICA News) – (2001& 2002)
• “Pat on the Back” Award, SC Public Health Association (1996)
• Certificate for Service and Leadership, Governor’s Immunization Outreach Campaign Committee (1999)
• Certificate of Appreciation, Family Connection of South Carolina (1999)
• Certificate of Appreciation, Positive Dads (2002)
• Certificate of Appreciation, SC Truancy Task Force (2004)