Niagara Peace & Dialogue Awards 2008

Education Award

Barbara Eason-Watkins

Chief Educational Officer

Chicago Public Schools

On August 3, 2001, Barbara Eason-Watkins was appointed the new Chief Education Officer of Chicago Public Schools (CPS) by the schools systems CEO, Arne Duncan.

Eason-Watkins is a nationally recognized school principal from Chicago's Woodlawn community. She has spent her entire 28-year professional career in the schools, working with students, teachers and parents. Since 1988, she has been principal of McCosh Elementary School in Chicago.

A native of Detroit, MI, She received a bachelor's degree with honors in elementary education from the University of Michigan, a master's in educational administration and supervision from Chicago State University, and a doctorate in education, with a specialty in curriculum and instruction, from Loyola University, Chicago.

Her awards include the Whitman Award for Excellence in Educational Leadership in 1989, the CPS Principal of Excellence Award in 1990 and 1995, the Phi Delta Kappa Educator of the Year Award in 1995, and the CPS Principal Leadership Award in 1997.