Committee for Children Names New Chief of Staff Published: Koua Franz Joins Committee for Children’s Leadership Team as Chief of Staff FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Shauna McBride, PR and Communications Director smcbride@cfchildren.org / 206-612-8718 M’Bilia Meekers, Senior Public Relations Specialist mmeekers@cfchildren.org / 206-438-6541 SEATTLE—Committee for Children, the global leader in research-based social-emotional learning (SEL) education, diversifies and expands their executive leadership team with the hiring of Koua Franz as chief of staff. “Koua is a natural leader whose warmth, collaborative spirit, and determined focus on the people we serve each and every day will help us build a long-term strategy centered around organizational development and health,” said CEO Colleen Oliver. “As we strive to expand our impact, her support will be instrumental in creating effective processes and leading our efforts to intensify our focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Koua is results-oriented, a systems-level thinker, and we are thrilled that she has joined our team.” One of the first Hmong chiefs of staff in Washington State, Franz joins Committee for Children after decades working to expand equitable opportunities for youth, improve educational outcomes, and create safe spaces for youth voice. As chief of staff for the Sacramento City Unified School District (SCUSD), she implemented high-quality district-wide social emotional learning initiatives and, as a result, was recognized by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) with a Mary Utne O’Brien Award in 2013. Most recently, she served as director of the Stuart Foundation’s Office of the President, where she headed their whole-child initiatives and supported the self-publication of Wildflowers, a book about the challenges a superintendent overcame to implement whole child education. “If we want to create a better world, all children need social-emotional competency and to see themselves reflected in the composition of leadership teams,” said Franz. “I’m excited to be part of an organization that is seeking to positively impact 100 million children annually by 2028.” About Committee for Children Committee for Children is on a mission to ensure that children everywhere can thrive emotionally, socially, and academically. Best known for our innovative social-emotional learning (SEL) curricula that blend research and rigor with intuitive program design, we empower children and their adults with skills that help them realize their goals in the classroom and throughout their lives. Since 1979, we’ve been connecting experts in the field to share experiences and advance the cause of educating the whole child. A force in advocacy, we’re helping pass policies and legislation that place importance on creating safe and supportive learning environments. Today, our social-emotional learning and child safety programs reach more than 15 million children in over 70 countries worldwide. By lifting up children today, we’re helping them create a safe and positive society for the future. Connect with Committee for Children on Facebook and Twitter. Learn more at cfchildren.org ###
Committee for Children Names New Chief of Staff Published: Koua Franz Joins Committee for Children’s Leadership Team as Chief of Staff FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Shauna McBride, PR and Communications Director smcbride@cfchildren.org / 206-612-8718 M’Bilia Meekers, Senior Public Relations Specialist mmeekers@cfchildren.org / 206-438-6541 SEATTLE—Committee for Children, the global leader in research-based social-emotional learning (SEL) education, diversifies and expands their executive leadership team with the hiring of Koua Franz as chief of staff. “Koua is a natural leader whose warmth, collaborative spirit, and determined focus on the people we serve each and every day will help us build a long-term strategy centered around organizational development and health,” said CEO Colleen Oliver. “As we strive to expand our impact, her support will be instrumental in creating effective processes and leading our efforts to intensify our focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Koua is results-oriented, a systems-level thinker, and we are thrilled that she has joined our team.” One of the first Hmong chiefs of staff in Washington State, Franz joins Committee for Children after decades working to expand equitable opportunities for youth, improve educational outcomes, and create safe spaces for youth voice. As chief of staff for the Sacramento City Unified School District (SCUSD), she implemented high-quality district-wide social emotional learning initiatives and, as a result, was recognized by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) with a Mary Utne O’Brien Award in 2013. Most recently, she served as director of the Stuart Foundation’s Office of the President, where she headed their whole-child initiatives and supported the self-publication of Wildflowers, a book about the challenges a superintendent overcame to implement whole child education. “If we want to create a better world, all children need social-emotional competency and to see themselves reflected in the composition of leadership teams,” said Franz. “I’m excited to be part of an organization that is seeking to positively impact 100 million children annually by 2028.” About Committee for Children Committee for Children is on a mission to ensure that children everywhere can thrive emotionally, socially, and academically. Best known for our innovative social-emotional learning (SEL) curricula that blend research and rigor with intuitive program design, we empower children and their adults with skills that help them realize their goals in the classroom and throughout their lives. Since 1979, we’ve been connecting experts in the field to share experiences and advance the cause of educating the whole child. A force in advocacy, we’re helping pass policies and legislation that place importance on creating safe and supportive learning environments. Today, our social-emotional learning and child safety programs reach more than 15 million children in over 70 countries worldwide. By lifting up children today, we’re helping them create a safe and positive society for the future. Connect with Committee for Children on Facebook and Twitter. Learn more at cfchildren.org ###