Goals and Responsibilities

“The strength of our community can be measured by the quality of our schools.  While the City can be instrumental in creating economic development initiatives, nearly any form of job creation and expansion relies upon a well educated work force.  Likewise, the future will be very promising for individuals who have a solid educational background and who can integrate themselves quickly into a twenty-first century work world.” 

                                                                                                          Timothy J. Davlin

Mayor Timothy J. Davlin knows that prosperous communities require successful schools. In 2003, he appointed the city’s first “Education Liaison”.  Now, the Mayor’s Office is a key player in educational policy and school improvement as well as a visible supporter of public and private education throughout the community. 

The Mayor’s Office of Education Liaison (OEL) works with Springfield’s broad and diverse educational community and its stakeholders, city government and the community at large to promote and support educational excellence.   

Major initiatives have addressed the following important topics: African-American Student Achievement and Success and High School Reform (authored major report in September, 2008), College Access, Closing the Achievement Gap, and Childhood Obesity.  Other top priorities include significant work on School Safety issues and Homeland Security, a very successful collaboration with the City’s Waste and Recycling Division to promote School Recycling, the development and coordination of the Mayor’s  Book Club to address teen literacy and more.  Additional focus areas include school restructuring and facility planning, parental/community involvement, student supports and adolescent health, and more. 

The “Education Liaison” represents the Mayor’s Office and the City of Springfield by serving on national, state and local policy committees including past and/or present active involvement with the following organizations and groups:  

• National League of Cities, Education Policy Advisors’ Network,

• Office of the Governor, Illinois Parent Leadership Council

• Illinois State Board of Education, After-School Funding Policy Task Force

• Illinois Student Assistance Commission, KnowHow2Go Advisory Board

• Illinois After-School Partnership, Leadership Team

• Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce, Business/Education Partnership

• City of Springfield, Lincoln Library Strategic Planning Task Force

• Springfield Public Schools, School Facility Feasibility Committee

• Springfield Public Schools, Serving the Same Families Leadership Team

• Lincoln Land Community College, East Branch Advisory Committee

• The Springfield Project, Board of Directors

• United Way of Central Illinois, Board of Directors

• Springfield Public Schools, Wellness Policy Committee

• Illinois Terrorism Taskforce, School Safety Committee

• Lincoln Foundation for Performance Excellence, Community of Excellence Planning Committee

Office of Education Liaison Specific Duties

• Advise the Mayor and city departments on education-related matters

• Assist city departments in the coordination of educational activities

• Partner with community groups and institutions to develop and support needed educational initiatives

• Bring together key education stakeholders to seek solutions to targeted problems

• Assist city departments, educational institutions and community groups with education-related requests

• Stimulate community-wide interest and support for quality education in Springfield

• Represent the Mayor’s office on boards and committees and at educational and community events, receptions, activities, etc.

• Track local, state and national educational issues