When asked why I do what I do, I often refer to the Brown v. Board of Education (1954) case which I first encountered as a student at Stanford's Graduate School of Education.In this landmark case, the Supreme Court stated in part: "In these days, it is doubtful that any child may reasonably be expected to succeed in life if he is denied the opportunity of an education. Such an opportunity, where the state has undertaken to provide it, is a right which must be made available to all on equal terms."This case has profoundly influenced my career and commitment to education. With a JD and PhD in Educational Leadership in hand, I have dedicated my entire career to finding and leading innovative approaches that ensure that this right to equal opportunity in education is a reality for as many people as possible.Some of my proudest achievements include:⎷ Raising the quality of education at Job Corps and correctional facilities across the US as VP of Education at Management & Training Corporation. My team and I implemented new academic and positive behavioral frameworks, standardized literacy and math curricula, and comprehensive instructor training. I also secured $6.25M in state appropriations and federal grant funds to broaden program offerings at these facilities.⎷ Ideating and co-writing a bill to fund turnaround consulting and coaching services to underperforming schools in Utah as the Education Practice Lead at Cicero Group. I partnered with Senate and House leadership and state legislators to get the bill passed with an $8M annual appropriation.⎷ Establishing a new school district serving 34K students across 45 schools. I successfully attained $250M in a bond election at the height of the recession to fund the build/renovation of 12 schools. I also implemented the first and only differentiated high school diplomas in Utah, incentivizing students to complete a more rigorous course of study and be college-ready.⎷ Cultivating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture with new programs focused on minority and first-generation college students, public honoring of Native American families, and technology initiatives such as STEAM programs. After a series of terrible racial incidents occurred at a district high school, I implemented district-wide nondiscrimination training and took other decisive actions to eradicate hate.⎷ Brown v. Board of Education is more than a court case to me. It is the foundation of my commitment to creating equitable and excellent opportunities for all.I welcome new connections. Contact me at canyonsdave@gmail.com