DeLaSalle Welcomes New Executive Director
June 28, 2010 – Kansas City, MO –- DeLaSalle Education Center announced today the appointment of its new Executive Director. Mr. Mark Williamson was selected following an extensive and thorough executive search process conducted by MSA Executive Search/Integrated Healthcare Strategies.
DeLaSalle is in the unique position of assisting a high-school population that is typically hard-to-reach. By providing at-risk youth critical school-based support services on campus (such as mental health therapy, drug/alcohol treatment, and child care and parenting education), DeLaSalle is able create a safe and trustworthy environment in which these young people are able to accept the treatment they need and make significant steps toward improvement.
“In selecting a new Executive Director, DeLaSalle required a highly visible and actively involved leader with experience in both fundraising and program innovation and excellence,” said DeLaSalle Board President Gary Ballard. “We were excited to find these visionary qualities in Mark.”
Williamson joins DeLaSalle with over 25-years in nonprofit administration and extensive experience in holistic services. Most recently, he served as Agency Head of John de la Howe School in McCormick, South Carolina, a state agency providing residential, behavioral, experiential and academic services to approximately 150 children annually. Agency results under Williamson’s leadership include:
o Earned agency accreditation through the Council on Accreditation (COA).
o Reestablished the agency’s reputation as an effective and efficient service provider for at-risk children.
o Developed alternative programs for at-risk children including a Wilderness Camp, Equestrian Therapy program, and Service Learning program.
DeLaSalle Education Center was founded in 1971 and began operating a private, tuition-free, alternative high school to provide a quality and comprehensive education to young people previously unsuccessful in traditional schools. In 1993, DeLaSalle assumed management of Hilltop School, a Jackson County Family Court school in Lee’s Summit. On March 26, 2010, the Missouri State Board of Education gave approval to DeLaSalle Education Center to begin operating its high school as a charter school which is sponsored by the University of Missouri – Kansas City and authorized to open beginning with the 2010 – 2011 school year.
Williamson is only the agency’s third Executive Director in its nearly 40 year history. He will lead DeLaSalle Education Center through the transition of changing its high school from a private school to a charter school, ensuring that DeLaSalle continues to provide a holistic environment that offers students the opportunity to improve learning and life skills.
Regarding the agency’s shift, Williamson stated, “As demonstrated by its charter school transition and facility expansion project, DeLaSalle Education Center simply continues to do as it always has, and that is to respond to the emerging needs of the community’s children. I have joined the DeLaSalle team at just the right time as it moves the agency into its next exciting phase.”
As Executive Director, Williamson reports to the Board of Directors, and is responsible for the vision, strategic development, planning, operations, and financial performance of DeLaSalle Education Center. Williamson’s direct reports have a collective 42 years of service to DeLaSalle Education Center and include the Education Administrator, Gayle Lee, the Controller, Dana Shelton, the Director of Development and Communications, Vanessa Van Goethem-Piela, and the Director of Human Resources, Carolyn Watkins.
Williamson holds a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education from Ball State University and a Masters of Business Administration from Indiana Wesleyan University.