Jean C. Halle brings over 30 years of experience in executive positions in education, business, and professional services to inform her work with the State Board of Education. She is currently an independent consultant.
Following 20 years in media, Ms. Halle moved into education as the CEO of the not- for- profit Calvert Education Services. Calvert supported students and teachers in public, private, charter, correspondence, virtual, domestic, and international settings, as well as homeschooled students. Calvert students included children from economically challenged communities to communities of privilege. During her tenure, Calvert grew to serve twenty thousand students, transitioned to include analog and digital options, moved from private tradition to standards aligned curriculum, opened charter schools in Colorado and South Carolina, and developed, in partnership with Jemicy School, a curriculum for children with language-based learning differences. After leaving Calvert she served as the Chief Operating Officer for Curiosityville a digital early learning company.
In media, she worked at The Baltimore Sun and Times Mirror in a variety of positions including Chief Financial Officer and Business Development for Times Mirror Interactive, V.P. of Business Development for The Baltimore Sun, Chief Financial Officer for The Baltimore Sun, CEO of Homestead Publishing, and Chief Financial Officer for Abell Communications. In addition, she served as the President of the Maryland, Delaware, D.C. Press Association for two terms. This media experience developed her appreciation of better policy and practice through the engagement of informed constituents.
Ms. Halle currently serves on the board of American Public Education Inc. and chairs the Audit Committee, the Board of Trustees of Catholic Distance University and serves as Treasurer, the Advisory Board of Loyola University School of Education, the board of the Women’s Education Alliance (WEA) and serves as the Technology Chair and Treasurer, and the advisory boards of two private companies. The Technology Committee of WEA developed and implemented standards for infrastructure to enable a 21st century classroom in the Community Schools WEA supports. This standard helped to inform the standard now adopted for parochial schools in the Archdiocese. Ms. Halle is also National Association of Corporate Directors Board Leadership Fellow, having completed a comprehensive program of study for experienced corporate directors spanning leading practices for boards and committees. Jean is an alumni of the Greater Baltimore Leadership Program and an former board member of Maryland Family Network.
Jean attended Loyola College, now Loyola University, earning her degree in accounting, passed the CPA exam, and began her career with Deloitte Haskins and Sells working in auditing and business consulting.
She is a child of a family of seven, has two children, 17 nieces and nephews, and 12 grand nieces and nephews. Among this family there are students who are gifted and talented, are challenged by dyslexia, autism, Aspergers, attention-deficit disorder, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. These family connections have inspired her passion for education to serve all children. Education moved her from a modest childhood to the boardroom and she is committed to providing an educational pathway for children from every economic background to realize their potential. Her professional experiences have spanned early learning through post-secondary education. This combination of experience with a variety of education organizational structures, student profiles, student ages, and public service inform her work with the board.
Jean lives with her husband, Glenn Davis, in Lutherville and serves on her Community Association as the Secretary.