About Us
Welcome to my education blog. I look forward to sharing my thoughts and ideas, and to hearing from you. I am also and education and leadership development.
HOLLINGER INTERNATIONAL
J Daniel Hollinger serves as President of Hollinger International, an education and leadership development firm focused on helping clients establish and improve schools and education programs, and strengthen education and nonprofit leadership. Dr. Hollinger specializes in inquiry-based, trans-disciplinary teaching and learning, International Baccalaureate Programmes, faculty culture assessment and improvement, leadership development and coaching, strategic planning, and strategic governance.
Prior to consulting, Dr. Hollinger founded and led two international schools, transitioning them from start-up to full-scale operations. He developed pioneering dual-language immersion, International Baccalaureate Programmes in Arabic, English, French, Greek, Mandarin and Spanish. He built and led high-performing and collaborative faculty, management and leadership teams. Dr. Hollinger established partnerships with corporations, foundations, governments, schools and universities worldwide. He acquired and developed five campuses.
J DANIEL HOLLINGER, PHD
Competencies and Practice Areas
• School and Education Program Start-Up, Development and Leadership
• Inquiry-Based, Trans-disciplinary Learning, Teaching and Curricula
• International Baccalaureate Programme Development, Implementation and Authorization
• International, Dual-Language and Special Education
• Language Acquisition and Literacy
• Leadership Development and Coaching
• Management and Governance Training
• Strategic Planning, Execution and Fulfillment
• Organization and Faculty Culture Assessment and Improvement
• Faculty and Staff Recruitment, Training and Compensation
• Capacity Building
• Strategic Partnership Development
• Business Development and Revenue Creation
• Organization, Operations and Maturity Management
• Process, Performance and Quality Improvement
• Disaster and Program Management and Recovery
• National and International Accreditation
Positions, Projects and Accomplishments
FOUNDER, HEAD OF SCHOOL and CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (06/88-08/08)
Coeus International School and Rock Creek International School, Washington, DC
Founded, built and led international schools. Designed and delivered dual-language International Baccalaureate (IB) Programmes in Arabic, English, French, Greek, Mandarin and Spanish. Built $6M company in highly competitive market, transitioning it from start-up to full-scale operations. Increased annual revenue from $25K to $5.7M. Captured emerging markets with ground-breaking programs and services. Built and led faculty, management and governance teams – capitalizing on assets to create and improve services, programs and operations for competitive advantage, cost savings and revenue growth. Recruited, trained and supervised 300+ faculty and staff members. Established strategic partnerships with corporations, foundations, governments, NGOs, schools and universities worldwide to enhance services, enter new markets and raise funds. Acquired and developed five campuses, raised $7M and negotiated below-market contracts for $3M savings. Functioned as Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operations Officer, Chief Development Officer and Chief Academic Officer.
• International, Dual-Language Programs – Developed and delivered highly acclaimed international, dual-language programs that achieved extraordinary academic, intellectual and social/emotional results for students from extremely diverse economic, linguistic and cultural backgrounds. Transformed teaching and learning into a dynamic engagement among educators and learners across languages, disciplines and ages. Established innovative programs, including International Baccalaureate Programmes offered through the schools’ signature dual-language immersion model, Professionals-in-Residence, Peace Education, and Olympism Athletics. Set up international exchange programs globally to promote cross-cultural understanding and enhance learning. Tailored curriculum and teaching to serve special education students. Offered a world-class education to prepare students to be international persons, leaders and peacemakers.
• Strategic Planning and Business Development – Developed distinctive business concept and brand, assessed the market and identified target markets. Expanded education and related business services throughout the Washington metropolitan area. Managed significant annual growth while maintaining high quality services and strong client relations. Developed strategic partnerships locally, nationally and globally for business development, marketing, public relations, service enhancement and campus expansion. Identified and developed new revenue streams. Created and sustained an organizational culture that valued and rewarded innovation and business development at all levels. Designed and implemented strategic plans for organizational growth and development, including comprehensive marketing, branding, sales, financial, staffing and campus expansion strategies to compete successfully against significantly stronger institutions.
• Strategic Partnerships and Relationship Building – Built partnerships with corporations, foundations, governments, multilateral organizations, schools and universities in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and North and South America. Developed relationships, obtained funding and received unsolicited requests for proposals to establish international schools in the UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait. Established affiliations with schools locally and globally for teacher and student exchange programs. Forged alliances with universities for teacher training and curriculum development. Cultivated relationships with stakeholders, trustees and donors. Built and led high-performing, innovative and collegial teams at all organizational levels.
• Organizational Culture and Leadership – Created and sustained a faculty culture characterized by innovation, professional growth, teamwork and indefatigable devotion to each student’s academic, intellectual and social/emotional growth and success.
• Enrollment and Revenue Growth – Grew enrollment from 5 to 250 and revenue from $25K to $5.7M at RCIS. Increased enrollment from 75 to 125 and nearly doubled revenue from $650K to $1.2M in two years at CIS.
• Negotiations and Savings – Consistently demonstrated outstanding negotiating skills. Delivered $4M in savings by negotiating below-market real estate lease, acquisition, financing and construction contract terms.
• Campus Acquisitions, Design and Build-Out – Managed five campus acquisitions, complex zoning changes, architectural design and build-out. Completed projects prior to deadlines and under budget.
• Faculty & Staff Recruitment, Training & Supervision – Recruited 300+ faculty and staff members locally, nationally and internationally. Provided training in multiple areas, including inquiry-based pedagogy, classroom management, special education and business development. Managed supervision of 50+ faculty and staff.
• Compensation and Performance – Designed and implemented an innovative “Faculty Support, Evaluation and Compensation System” that linked performance to compensation, resulting in significant performance improvement, enrollment and revenue gains, and annual 10% salary increases for four consecutive years.
• Fund Raising – Raised over $1M from foundations and stakeholders in annual and capital campaigns.
• Marketing and Public Relations – Conducted high-impact marketing and public relations campaigns.
• Accreditation – Obtained accreditation from the International Baccalaureate Organisation and the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. Received commendations for superior quality programs from both organizations.
Early Career Experience
• Director – For Love of Children Learning Center
• Associate Director – Center for Unique Learners
• Lecturer – American University
• Lecturer – Marymount University
• Education Specialist – District of Columbia Department of Human Services
• Consultant – United States Department of Education
• Director – Montgomery County Youth Service Corps
• Special Education Resource Teacher – United States Virgin Islands Public Schools
• Owner/Contractor – Sawdust, Etc.
• Principal and Teacher – Wood Corner School
Education
• PhD, Education: Concentrations; Administration and Supervision, Research and Evaluation, Special Education – University of Virginia
• Med, Special Education: Emotional Disturbance – American University
• BA, General Studies – University of Maryland
• General Studies – Phillips Universität and Eastern Mennonite University
Professional Affiliations
• International Baccalaureate Organization
• Council of International Schools
• East Asia Regional Council of Overseas Schools
• Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
• Next Generation Education Foundation
• George Mason University FAST TRAIN Program
• Association of Independent Schools of Greater Washington