Coaching staff: Steve Rees
Since 1995, Steve Rees has been helping education leaders make sense of schools’ vital signs and report results effectively. As president and publisher of School Wise Press, he has brought publishing and communication skills to the side of those in leadership who must tell their districts’ and schools’ stories to a demanding public.
Steve has many years of experience as a presenter and consultant. He taught as guest lecturer at the Stanford Publishing Program and lectured at University of California Extension courses in San Francisco. From 1990 to 1995, he worked as a consultant to major magazine publishers on a range of topics including strategic planning, business development, and marketing.
Since launching School Wise Press in 1995, Steve has addressed educators and parents statewide on the topics of accountability, school data, and school law. He has been a frequent presenter at annual conferences of the California Association of Compensatory Education Parents. In 2004, at the invitation of the U.S. Dept. of Education’s Division of Innovation and Improvement, he was the keynote speaker at regional conferences of the Parent Information Resource Centers. At the request of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, he has addressed superintendents and principals in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Missoula, Montana, on reporting results effectively in the accountability era. He has been a frequent presenter at California county offices of education and has presented workshops and seminars at annual conferences of the California School Boards Association and the Small School District Association.
Steve writes “The Owl,” an email newsletter for California education leaders on accountability practices and policies. This newsletter is in its ninth year, having reached the 80th edition this summer. He is also author of “SARC Bites,” a bimonthly newsletter for accountability directors and SARC liaisons.
Professional Biography
PRESENTATIONS
Small school District Association Annual Conference, April 2008, “Truthfulness and Effectiveness of Accountability Reports.” One of six panelists at SSDA annual conference, moderated by Melissa Brown.
Sacramento County Office of Education, January 2008. “The View of Schools from Outside the Castle,” delivered to a meeting of research, testing and evaluation directors within Sacramento county.
California School Boards Association, December 2007. Small workshop on “Improving the Return on Your Investment: SARC Economics 101.”
California School Boards Association, December 2006. Led panel presentation in large workshop on candor and clarity in reporting results. Rialto USD board member, superintendent from Salinas Union HSD, and Tom DeLappe of Communication Resources.
Los Angeles County Office of Education, March 2005, at a meeting of testing and assessment directors. Talk topic: “The View From Outside the Island of California: What Other States Are Doing To Report Results To Their Public.”
Parent Information Resource Center Conferences in San Diego and Atlanta, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Innovation and Improvement, December 2004 and February 2005. Talk for directors of PIRC centers on “Mining School Accountability Reports for Measures That Matter: Four Tips and Tools of the Trade.”
San Diego County Office of Education, September 2004. Presentation to Data and Accountability leaders, from testing and assessment, and research and planning. Talk on “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly in Reporting Results To Your Public.”
California Association of Charter Schools, March 2004. Presentation to charter school directors and staff, on “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly in Reporting Results To Your Public.”
California School Boards Association Annual Conference, December 2003, San Diego. Leader of a panel with Bill Erlendson, Director of Public Engagement and External Affairs of San Jose USD and Don Brann, Superintendent of Wiseburn ESD. “Using Accountability Reporting to Engage Your Public.”
California Education Research Association Annual Conference, November 2003, San Francisco. Co-presenter with Jim Baxter, Data Specialist with Los Angeles USD District B. “Ways You Can Help (or Hinder) Your Public’s Understanding of Test Results.”
Los Angeles County Office of Education, meeting of testing and assessment directors, September 2003. “Ways You Can Help (or Hinder) Your Public’s Understanding of Test Results.”
Missoula, Montana Gates Foundation conference of superintendents and principals, July 2003. “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly in Reporting Your School’s Results.”
Nevada conference of principals, sponsored by the Gates Foundation. March 2003. “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly in Reporting Your School’s Results.”
California School Boards Association, December 2002, San Francisco. Small School District Association Conference, March 2002, Sacramento. “School Accountability Reports That Work Harder and Smarter.”
California School Boards Association (CSBA) presentation, December 2001, San Diego.
ARTICLES
“Accountability Reporting’s Hurdles,” March 3, 2004. Education Week.
“Let’s Measure What Counts When Grading California Schools,” January 26, 2000, San Francisco Chronicle.
“Guide to Teachers, Good and Bad,“ July 17, 1998, San Francisco Chronicle.
“Use School Information At Your Own Risk,’ February 2001, Mobility Magazine, Employee Relocation Association.
AUTHOR AND EDITOR
“The Owl,” a monthly email newsletter on the policy dimensions of accountability for education leadership in California. Publisher is School Wise Press.
“SARC Bites,” a monthly email newsletter on accountability reporting for practitioners of accountability reports in California. Publisher is School Wise Press.
Editor of California School Rules, a self-help guide to California school law. Author: Judy Goddess, Ph.D. Published by School Wise Press, October 1998.
Editorial director of “Learning Bricks,” a photo-documentary on the condition of California school facilities, published online by School Wise Press in 1999. Introduction essay by Peter Schrag.
Editor of Jim Cox and Pat Puleo’s online column on testing and assessment, “Measuring Up.” Published monthly by School Wise Press.
Editor of Judy Goddess’s online column on school law, “Ask Judy.” Published twice monthly by School Wise Press.
OTHER PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Guest lecturer, Stanford Publishing Series and UC Extension, 1990-1994, and UC Extension.
Editor and publisher, “Select Letter,” a publishing industry monthly newsletter on the subject of selective binding and targeting of editorial and advertising, 1991-1994.
Consultant to magazine publishers, focusing on strategic planning, acquisition review, staff training and development, 1990-1995. Creator of Publishing 20/20, a solo practice in magazine management consulting.
Circulation director, InfoWorld, 1984-1990.
EDUCATION
University of California, Santa Cruz, 1966-1969.
