CONSULTANTS
Perkins Consulting Group is a full-service international education consulting firm. We specialize in leadership and organizational development. Our services include board training and coaching, executive coaching, facilities improvement, educational planning, programming and logistics. We offer customized services for corporate, non-profit, university and school organizations.
Dr. Brian K. Perkins
Principal
Dr. Perkins founded the firm in 2007 and has been the principal consultant since inception. He has been providing education consulting since 1994. Dr. Perkins has been a university professor and university administrator in education for over 20 years and served as the national president of the Council of Urban Boards of Education. He served as president for the New Haven Board of Education and was a member for almost 12 years and was on the board of directors for the National School Boards Association for four years. Dr. Perkins received his Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry from Grambling State University in Louisiana and his professional and doctoral degrees from Yale University School of Medicine and Columbia University respectively.
Dr. Benjamin Ploeger
Associate Consultant
Dr. Ploeger specializes in improving learning through leadership development, organizational and financial management, and growing the potential of human capital. He is currently the Superintendent of Schools at Kaohsiung American School in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. KAS is an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School where 800 students from over 30 nations learn and thrive. Dr. Ploeger was previously the Principal and Head of School of Eagle Ridge Academy Charter High School in Brighton, CO. Eagle Ridge Academy was a high performing but fiscally endangered school when Dr. Ploeger joined the team. At ERA he led a successful financial turnaround, raised test scores, and steered the school through three successful charter renewals. Ben earned his Ed.D. and his Ed.M. in Educational Leadership from Columbia University Teachers College, his M.A. in Educational Leadership and his M.A.T. in Secondary Math Instruction from Xavier University of Louisiana, and his B.S. in Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines.
Ms. Jacqueline McKissack
Senior Consultant
Ms. McKissack served as the executive manager of the MD/PhD training program at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine for 20 years. She managed recruitment and provided front-line prospective student counseling for admission to this highly competitive national program. She was previously the Director of Communications for the Illinois Commission on Human Relations. She has a solid demonstrated record of both federal and private grant writing, successful funding, grant management and program evaluation. She has extensive experience with clients to pre-screen executive hires and provided technical assistance in risk management, cost saving strategies and creative proposal packaging. She earned a degree in psychology from Talladega College, a graduate degree in education from the University of Chicago and an MBA from the Keller Graduate School of Management - Chicago.
Ms. Carol Riley
Senior Consultant
Ms. Riley has served as the Associate Executive Director, Professional Learning and Outreach, for the National Association of Elementary School Principals and continues to work with the NAESP National Principal Mentor Training and Certification Program. Following 14 years as an elementary principal and 18 years as a teacher and director of curriculum and instruction, she moved into the non-profit arena with the Maryland Association of Elementary School Principals and created the MAESP Foundation for the Advancement of Childhood Education (FAME). She has represented NAESP through trainings and development projects in Canada and Bermuda and supported principals through the international affiliates. Carol received her B.S in Education from the University of California, PA and her M.A. in Education from Baldwin-Wallace College, OH. She completed post-graduate studies at the University of Akron and the University of Cincinnati.
Mr. Andre Dupre
Consultant
Mr. Dupre served in the New Haven Public Schools for 32 years. He has been a math, science, and chemistry teacher; a Middle School and High School Guidance Counselor; a High School Assistant Principal; an Elementary School Principal; and a High School Principal on Special Assignment. He received his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Coppin State University (Baltimore, MD), and his Masters in Counseling along with his Sixth Year Degree in School Administration and Leadership from Southern Connecticut State University.
Ms. Cray Francis
Associate Consultant
Ms. Francis has over ten years of teaching experience and has served as a Dean of Instruction and Literacy Facilitator in urban charter and public schools. She is a NY state and NC licensed Highly Qualified Educational Professional with Master degrees in Organizational Leadership & School Building Leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University, and in Childhood Education, from Mercy College. Ms. Francis holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Middlebury College in Vermont. Her areas of expertise are: research-based best pedagogical practices, curriculum design and development, teacher mentoring and coaching; design of professional development improvement plans utilizing student and school data.
Dr. Kristy Dela Cruz
Associate Consultant
Dr. De La Cruz has more than twenty years of experience in urban education, in which she has served various roles such as teacher, coordinator, assistant principal, and principal. As an educator, she has achieved her National Board Certification in English as a New Language and her National Mentor Certificate from the National Association of Elementary Principals. Kristy earned both her masters of education and her doctorate of education in Organizational Leadership at Teachers College, Columbia University. Some areas of expertise include creating systems and structures to support English Language Learners, building positive school cultures that promote learning, and developing professional learning cycles for teacher and staff development.
Dr. Stephen Brown
Senior Consultant
Dr. Stephen M. Brown is the former Dean of the Jack Welch College of Business at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut. He is currently a professor and the Director of the Center for Not for Profit Organizations at Sacred Heart. Prior to his current assignment, Dr. Brown was the Founding Dean of University College at Sacred Heart University, and the Dean of the Graduate School at Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Dr. Brown is the author of two books and over 40 articles. His current research and practice interests are assessment, pedagogy, leadership, and strategic planning. He has extensive experience in assessment, faculty development and accreditation. He earned his doctorate at Boston University, his master’s degree from the University of Rhode Island, and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth.
Ms. Tonia Casarin
Consultant
Ms. Casarin is our personal and professional development coach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She works with corporate executives and school leaders to develop their skills to become more effective. Her expertise is on social and emotional intelligence in adults and in children, working also with parents to help them in their children's development. She is the author of a children’s book in Portuguese that has been published in Brazil. Tonia graduated in her MA at Teachers College Columbia University has a Certificate in Executive Coaching.
Mr. André Ramos
Consultant
Mr. Ramos is our leadership consultant in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He is a Master Coach and Mediator. He has worked for over 13 years in leadership positions for government, national and multinational companies. He specializes in Positive Psychology and has certifications in DISC, ASSESS and Six Seconds assessment tools. Mr. Ramos has been working for almost a decade in leadership development, Emotional Intelligence, Socio-emotional development and Conflict Resolution. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from the Federal Center of Technological Education in Brazil and has a Master of Business Administration in Marketing.
Dr. James Parla
Senior Consultant
Dr. Parla served as a superintendent of schools in New York and New Jersey for more than seventeen years. He also served as an assistant superintendent for business and elementary school teacher. In addition to his experience as a public school administrator and teacher, Dr. Parla served as a member of his local board of education for fourteen years. Dr. Parla received a Bachelor of Science from the State University of New York at Oneonta, a Master of Arts from Adelphi University, a Master of Business Administration from Iona College and a Doctor of Education from Columbia University Teachers College.
Mr. Rashid Faisal Associate Consultant
Mr. Faisal is a highly respected instructional leader with progressive experience and accomplishments as an administrator at the elementary, middle and high school levels. Widely recognized for expertise in curriculum planning, instructional supervision, data and assessment, safety-net programs for at-risk populations, school improvement, strategic planning, transformation/reform planning, parent outreach, and the implementation of college-bound culture. Mr. Faisal received dual Bachelor's Degree in English and Sociology from Madonna University and Master's Degree in Education and Reading from the University of Michigan-Dearborn. His second Master's Degree in School Leadership and Organization from Teachers College Columbia University. He is currently a doctoral candidate in Urban Education and Leadership at the University of Michigan-Dearborn.
PLUS 19 JUNIOR CONSULTANTS DEPLOYED AS NEEDED.
We have a range of junior specialists for special short and long-term projects who can assist your organization with a variety of projects including but not limited to instructional coaching, human resources, accounting, finance, event planning and logistics.
“Innovation is a new solution for a new or existing challenge. At Perkins Consulting Group, we diagnose problems and solve them using industry-changing approaches. We are innovation."
Dr. Brian K. Perkins, Principal