Jill Hawley – Chief of Staff and Strategy
Hawley will oversee the implementation of CDE’s strategic plan and statewide reform agenda. She will assist the commissioner in working with the State Board of Education and she will guide, manage and ensure alignment and coherency of statewide policy. Hawley will oversee the human resources, policy, and project management functions and provide general operations support to the commissioner.
Hawley brings nearly 20 years experience in education policy and business. She currently serves as project director with The New Teacher Project (TNTP) and has assisted CDE in developing and implementing a statewide strategy for increasing educator effectiveness. Hawley spent eight years working for AdvancED where she was responsible for leading the merger that created the organization, implementing the organization’s strategic plan, and managing the organization’s 30 state offices. She has held a variety of leadership roles in a range of nonprofit organizations seeking to improve the quality of education for all students. Early in her career she served as a staffer at the Colorado Legislative Council. Jill holds a bachelor’s degree in public policy from Stanford University and a master’s in business administration from the Harvard Business School.
Janelle Albertson Asmus – Chief Communications Officer
Asmus will direct the CDE’s communications office with a focus on internal and external communications, strategic planning and governmental relations. She will create and implement a statewide communications and public relations plan, as well as direct media relations. In addition, she will oversee CDE’s legislative liaison and Web site services.
Asmus brings 24 years of experience in education communications. She has been the chief communications officer at Adams 12 Five Star Schools for the past eight years, overseeing district marketing, communications, governmental relations, media production and Web communications. Asmus also served as the director of communications for the Boulder Valley School District and as the division director of marketing and communications for the Wichita Public Schools in Wichita, Kan. Her state-level experience includes serving as the public information coordinator for the Kansas State Department of Education and the coordinator of member services for the Kansas Association of School Boards. Janelle earned her bachelor’s degree in communications from Baker University in Baldwin City, Kan.
“Ms. Hawley’s and Ms. Asmus’s contributions to education are rich and varied and each will bring a depth of experience to these positions.,” said Commissioner Hammond. “I am pleased that they have agreed to join the Colorado Department of Education’s work to move education reform forward.”
Janelle Albertson Asmus will begin at CDE on June 13, 2011. Jill Hawley will begin on June 20.
