Cheryl D. Watkins

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

SKILLS

ABOUT CHERYL D. WATKINS

Cheryl D. Watkins, PhD is a proven exemplary educator. Her career is anchored by serving students, families, teachers and leaders within the third largest district in the United States, Chicago Public Schools. Dr. Watkins continues to serve as adjunct faculty at National Louis University while also conducting workshops for the Illinois Principals Association. She launched her leadership and coaching consultant practice in the fall of 2020. Her foundation in education is strong and includes serving as a teacher and working her way through the ranks before retiring from the third largest district in the country as a chief of schools (for a large network of schools). In 2005, Dr. Watkins wrote a proposal to start a new school under the Renaissance 2010 initiative. Pershing West Middle School was opened and celebrated many successes. There Dr. Watkins nurtured the leadership of teachers, students and parents. Pershing West was also part of the historic school closing initiative in 2013. At the time of its shuttering, the school posted high academic scores for its 4th through 8th grade population. On the state assessment, ISAT, 78% of the students meet and/or exceeded state standards.Dr. Watkins is the recipient of numerous awards, but the highlights include receiving a Milken Award (national recognition), receiving the Golden Apple Award (for excellence in teaching), a Kathy Osterman Award for Superior Public Service recipient, having a Teacher Achiever Award from the Michael Jordan Education Club and being selected to receive the Exceptional Achievement Award from Chicago State University. She identifies as a closet anthropologist seeking to explore her educational interests in teacher and paraeducator preparation, cultural language and its effect on language development, supporting the teaching and learning of individuals with disabilities and advancing the teaching profession.