About Designs for Change

Designs for Change (DFC) is a 30-year-old, multi-racial, educational research and reform organization. Our basic mission is to serve as a catalyst for major improvements in the public schools serving the 50 largest cities in the country, with a particular emphasis on Chicago.

Designs for Change is unique in the nation in combining high-quality applied research and policy analysis with direct involvement in aiding reform.

History

Since its founding in 1977, Designs for Change has conducted a series of national research studies focused on analyzing the implementation and impact of a range of strategies for improving urban public schools. These studies have been funded by The Ford Foundation, Carnegie Corporation, the U.S. Department of Education, and the Spencer Foundation.

From 1982 through 1988, DFC carried out a coordinated program of training, research, organizing, and advocacy that built on our past research and was aimed at restructuring the Chicago Public Schools. A watershed event in this effort occurred in December 1988, when the Illinois General Assembly passed the Chicago School Reform Act, which historian Michael Katz has called the most extensive restructuring of an urban school system in the last 100 years.

For more than sixteen years, DFC has been immersed in supporting the implementation of Chicago school reform in a manner that has improved educational quality and student achievement.

Staff at Designs for Change

Donald R. Moore, Ed.D., Executive Director.
Dr. Moore has headed Designs for Change since its founding in 1977 and has had 28 years of experience studying urban school reform and directing urban education reform advocacy and school assistance efforts (Ed.D., Human Development, Harvard University Graduate School of Education). He is responsible for the overall development and direction of DFC's program (founded DFC in 1977).

Cheryl A. Walker, Administrative Coordinator.
Ms. Walker is directly involved in supporting all aspects and programs of DFC, including fundraising. He also directs the Administrative Team (joined DFC in 2008).

Valencia Rias, Senior Leadership Development Associate.
Ms. Rias is an active parent who has served on three Local School Councils. She has primary responsibility for carrying out the direct organizing activities of the Policy Reform Program (joined DFC in 1999).

Elena Rios, Leadership Development Associate.
Ms. Rios is an active bilingual parent with past experience as an effective Local School Council member. She has extensive familiarity with predominantly Latino neighborhoods on the South Side. She will lead workshops and provide related assistance to LSCs across the South Side (joined DFC in 2006).

Semay Johnston, Administrative/Program Associate.
Ms. Johnston provides program and administrative support to the Policy Reform Team. She is also a member of Administrative Team (joined DFC in 2006).