RENE S. TOWNSEND

• Rene is managing partner of Leadership Associates and Director, Education Outreach for Price Charities, focusing on urban education and philanthropic work with schools in Central America.
   
• She is a consultant with Springboard Schools, presenting workshops for new and experienced superintendents, and board-superintendent teams.
   
• Rene served as Superintendent of Schools for Coronado Unified School District from 1994 through 1998. She also served as Superintendent of the Vista Unified School District from 1988 to 1994.
   
• She received her bachelor's from the University of Washington, her Master's from San Diego State University, and her Doctorate from Northern Arizona University.
   
• Rene chaired the ACSA State Superintendency Committee, the annual California State Superintendents' Symposium, and the Superintendent's Committee for San Diego and Imperial Counties. She serves on the national boards of AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) and ESR (Educators for Social Responsibility.)
   
• Rene received the Robert F. Alioto Award for California for Instructional Leadership, 74th Assembly District Woman of the Year, National Center for Conflict Resolution Center Peacemaker, California Interscholastic Federation Life Membership, and is a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Academic Honor Society.
   
• With Leadership Associates partners Walt Buster and Jim Brown, Rene co-authored A Practical Guide to Effective School Board Meetings . With other colleague superintendents she co-authored Eight at the Top and Effective Superintendent-Board Practices.