Jeffrey Villar is the Executive Director of the Connecticut Council for Education Reform. He joined the organization in 2013. Prior to coming to CCER, Jeffrey spent 19 years of his career in Connecticut’s public education system–first as an educator and later as an administrator. Most recently, he served as Superintendent of Schools in Windsor, CT. Previously, he was Superintendent of Rocky Hill Public Schools and the Associate Superintendent for Meriden Public Schools. He also spent 5 years as a teacher for Hartford Public Schools. Jeffrey holds a Bachelor’s in History from the Eastern Connecticut State University, a Master’s in Education, and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Connecticut. He lives in Mansfield, CT with his wife, Kelly, and his six children.

Mary Anne Butler joined CCER on July 1, 2016 as the School and District Partnership Specialist. In her role she will work directly with districts and schools to support their efforts to improve and accelerate learning for all students. She brings over 20 years of experience in Connecticut Public Education with her to CCER. Her career includes over a decade of classroom experience, followed by a combined service of six years at the Connecticut State Department of Education as both an education consultant and, more recently, the Chief Academic Officer. Mary Anne has more than five years of administrative experience in the role of Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Services in the Groton Public Schools and later for the Windsor Public Schools. Mary Anne sits on the NCAA High School Review Committee and also is a national presenter on best practices in science education. Mary Anne holds a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Biology from Saint Mary’s College, a Juris Doctor Degree from Western New England University, and a Sixth Year Degree in Educational Leadership from Central Connecticut State University. She resides with her husband, John, in Noank, Connecticut.

“All students deserve access to the content and skill development necessary to prepare them for the post-secondary path of their choice. Adherence to a robust curriculum delivered through teaching strategies that enhance teacher-student relationships and more importantly, incorporates each student’s frame of reference can close the achievement gap. It is the mission of CCER to develop policies and promote practices to ensure at-risk students and the most challenged schools have the structures and expertise needed to do this critical work.”

Chantae Campbell joined the Connecticut Council for Education Reform in August 2014, and serves as Program Manager. She is responsible for supporting all of the organization’s programmatic work, including managing projects related to CCER’s policy research and direct district work.

Prior to joining CCER she served as a Teach for America Corps Member in Oklahoma City, teaching 6th, 7th, and 8th grade social studies. Chantae graduated from Duke University with a Bachelors Degree in Public Policy Studies and Chinese.

Cameron Colburn is a Data Analyst Fellow who works on school system funding analyses for CCER’s partner Alliance Districts. Prior to joining CCER, he worked as a para-educator in the New Hampshire Public School System and held graduate internships with the CT Office of Policy & Management’s Office of Labor Relations and Financial Management & Budget Division. Cameron holds an MA in Political Science from the University of Connecticut, a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from the University of Connecticut and a BA in Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Asheville.

“I feel that it is through an exceptional education that children build the knowledge and skills needed to lead fulfilling and dignified lives. Therefore I believe our society must do better to provide equal educational opportunities for all our students. Every child deserves a quality education regardless of their race, background, or socio-economic status.

I work at CCER because I feel quantitative analysis can provide meaningful insights into how to best allocate scarce educational resources and improve the learning experiences of all our students.”

Marian Hourigan joined the Connecticut Council for Education Reform on July 1, 2014 as the Director of District and School Partnerships. She will work directly with education leaders to develop and lead initiatives to transform educational practices in their districts. Marian has had a twenty-six year career in public education as a teacher, principal, and as the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction in the Rocky Hill Public Schools for the past six years. The majority of her career has been in an urban education environment, first as a student teacher in the University of Connecticut’s Urban Education Program in New Haven and then as a teacher and principal in Meriden. Marian holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education from the University of Connecticut, a Master’s Degree in Reading from Central Connecticut State University, a Sixth Year Degree from Southern Connecticut State University, and she has also completed a PIMMS fellowship at Wesleyan University in the ‘95 Integrated Math and Science program. Marian lives in Cheshire with her husband, Jack, and their dog, Scotty.

Nicki Perkins is the Director of Communications and Development at the Connecticut Council for Education Reform. She began working at CCER as a Graduate Fellow while earning her JD from the University of Connecticut School of Law. During that time, she helped CCER to establish priorities and associated briefs for the 2012 legislative session, and she also conducted research on Connecticut’s then-existing statutory provisions as compared to corresponding statutes from other states. Currently, Nicki manages CCER’s efforts to raise public awareness and garner support for the organization. She also continues to support CCER’s research and policy work.

Lourdes Rodriguez started working at CCER in March 2016 as the Finance and Operations Manager. She brings close to 10 years of accounting experience spanning several companies. Her focus over the last few years has been doing Bookkeeping work for nonprofit clients.

“Working at CCER means that I am involved in the fight for education. As someone who immigrated to this country, I know how empowering education can be. All children deserve a chance to access high-quality education, regardless of their socio-economic status. I believe every youth is unique, and that we should support teachers so that they can polish their distinctive abilities to meet the needs of individuals. CCER is an organization that fights for that every day, and I am proud to be a part of it.”