Clarissa A. Whitehead

 

Clarissa A. Whitehead (Cris) is the Director of Parent Engagement at Strategic Learning Initiatives.  She is responsible for the design, planning, training and implementation of the Parent Engagement Program for parents of children 3-13 years of age.  She has been with SLI since 2000.

Prior to coming to Strategic Learning Initiatives, Clarissa was the Program Director at one of Chicago’s youth agencies where she planned the recreational and educational program for youth 6-21 years of age and trained and supervised program staff, summer youth and volunteers.  Following her years as program director, when her 2 boys started school, she began volunteering at their elementary school (11 years).  She was a classroom volunteer/tutor, PTO President, PTO treasurer, President of the Math and Science Committee, Chairperson of the Local School Council for 6 years and she started the Parent Patrol and supervised it’s operation for 6 years.

Clarissa received the Partnership Organization Award from the National Network of Partnership Schools Johns Hopkins University in 2005, 2006 and 2007 for excellent leadership work in school, family and community partnerships

Clarissa is a member of National Network of Partnership Schools (NNPS), Association for  Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD), International Reading Association (IRA), National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), National Association for the Education of Young Children - Chicago Chapter (CAEYC) and Delta Epsilon Tau National Honor Society.

Clarissa received her A.S in Early Childhood Education in 2007 from Ashworth University.  She is a certified facilitator in Family Math, Family Science, 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families and Junior Great Books.