Staff
janac@partnership4learning.org
Anne Luce, Policy Manager
anne@partnership4learning.org
Chris Barron, Communications Manager
chris@partnership4learning.org
Kim Martinez, Business Manager
kim@partnership4learning.org
Jana L. Carlisle Ed.D., Executive Director
Jana possesses a wealth of knowledge on education reform policies and implementation. Her diverse and extensive experience in education at the national level and in Washington state is a great asset to Partnership for Learning.
Most recently, Jana served as the Deputy Director of State Services for the National Center on Education and the Economy's Board Examination Systems (BES) Project, where she worked with state, district, university, provider and not-for-profit partners to implement board examination systems (comprehensive instructional management systems) at the high school level.
Prior to this, she consulted with Washington state on the development of its Education Reform Plan, an activity that followed her 2010 Race to the Top project manager role in which she led the development and submission process for Washington’s Round 2 Race to the Top application.
Jana also served for two years as a Senior Program Officer and Team Leader at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on the College Ready Team. And, before relocating to Washington, she worked for seven years at the Rochester City School District in Rochester, N.Y., where, as Chief Planning Officer, she defined, led and launched major projects from the Superintendent's office.
She also brings extensive experience working with business, higher education, community and foundation partners.
Jana enjoys spending time with her family and exploring the Pacific Northwest.
Anne Luce, Policy Manager
Anne brings a depth of education policy experience to Partnership for Learning and has worked in education for the federal government, consulting agencies and nonprofit organizations.
Anne joined Partnership for Learning after four years at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation working in the US Program/Education division. Her work at the foundation to develop great teachers and leaders, develop fewer, higher and clearer high school standards, and assist in developing a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics national network has primed her well to advance education reforms in Washington state.
Prior to working at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Anne worked for a Seattle-based consulting firm, Strategies 360, coordinating and managing school district bond and levy campaigns. She has also worked for Senator Maria Cantwell as a Legislative Correspondent and holds a Masters in Public Administration from Seattle University and a B.A. in History from Gonzaga University.
During her free time Anne is often lacing up her running shoes and training for her next 10K, half-marathon or marathon. Having completed the Seattle, Portland and Boston marathons it is clear that Anne’s passion and competitive drive extends itself outside of education policy reform.
Chris Barron, Communications Manager
Chris provides the Partnership for Learning with a long, diverse communications background, working as a newspaper reporter/editor for 20 years and in state-level education communications since 2007.
Chris joined the Partnership for Learning after five years at the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), where he served as the agency's assessment communications manager. Chris was OSPI's lead on state testing and graduation requirements, advising school districts, the public and families on state law and policy. Chris also served for one year as a writer/Webmaster for the Center for the Improvement of Student Learning (CISL) at OSPI.
Prior to that, Chris worked for 20 years in newspapers, finishing his last nine years in the profession at the Kitsap Sun in Bremerton, where he covered the NFL's Seattle Seahawks and served as sports editor before moving to the military affairs beat. The military beat sent him around the nation and world, covering the start of the Persian Gulf War in 2003 from the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln. He finished his stint at the Kitsap Sun a features editor.
Chris, a graduate from the University of Oregon, enjoys spending time with his wife and four children, playing indoor soccer and watching college and professional sports.
Kim Martinez, Business Manager
Kim brings a diverse background in non-profit and business leadership to the Partnership.
She has a Masters of Theology degree from Fuller Theological Seminary, 10 years of experience in various administrative and business management positions, five years as the Pastor of Connections and Adult Ministries for an urban congregation and more than five years as a freelance writer.
Kim and her husband have resided in the Seattle area for more than 20 years years. With four children, Kim's "spare time" is spent facilitating her active teens, writing for her blog and reading sci-fi/fantasy.