Cory Bowman has been working for Penn Program for Public Service since 1991 and for Penn’s Netter Center for Community Partnerships since its inception in 1992. As an Associate Director, Cory helps coordinate the core functions of the Netter Center, particularly developing academic partnerships with schools, non-profits, and communities of faith.  These partnerships emphasize the integration of the teaching, research, and service missions of the University.  His primary focus is the development of University-assisted community schools that are designed to function as centers of education, services, engagement and activity for all members of the community.  This work is anchored by Academically Based Community Service (ABCS) courses, grades K-16+, and incorporates Penn interns, workstudy students, and faculty, staff, alumni and student volunteers. Cory supervises the Agatston Urban Nutrition Initiative, Moelis Access Science program, College Access and Career Readiness program, Community Arts Partnership, Extended Day and Summer programs (which are connected to the school day), and other school and community partnership efforts at Penn. He is a founding board member and was the interim Executive Director of the Sayre Health Center, a 501(c)3 federally qualified health care center that includes the Sayre High School community, the School District of Philadelphia, the University of Pennsylvania and its Health System, and other community partners and is focused on the joint missions of clinical care, community health promotion and job training.

Kevin Burr is currently a fourth-year doctoral student in the Department of Education Administrations, K-12 at the University of Oklahoma.  He is currently the Area Superintendent for High Schools for Tulsa Public Schools.  Prior to that he served as the Executive Director for High School Re-Design for TPS.  He has served for more than twenty years as a high school principal and most recently led high school improvement efforts for the Southern Regional Education Board and High Schools That Work.  He is a nationally recognized presenter for high school reform issues and educational leadership.  He has twice been named Kansas Principal of the Year (KASSP and KFHA) and was a finalist for National Principal of the Year (NASSP) in 2000.  He has also been recognized as a Milken National Educator.  His research interests include urban high school reform, educational leadership, reflective practice in curriculum delivery and professional learning communities.  His work is referenced throughout literature on school reform, the High Schools That Work Newsletter, and published curriculum from SREB.

Joann Weeks is an associate director of the University of Pennsylvania’s Netter Center for Community Partnerships, focusing on its regional, national and international programs.  She directs the national adaptation of the Netter Center’s university-assisted community school program, as well as its training and technical assistance activities.  She also organizes the numerous site visits to Penn’s work in West Philadelphia.  She supervises the staff of the Philadelphia Higher Education Network for Neighborhood Development (PHENND), a consortium of over 40 institutions of higher education in the Philadelphia region. Ms Weeks works closely with the Coalition for Community Schools and is a member of the Urban Affinity Network and has been on the planning committee for all of the Coalition’s National Forums.  Ms. Weeks is the assistant editor of Universities and Community Schools.