Julie Burnett

As a member of the senior leadership team, Julie provides guidance on The Fund’s programming, strategy, and operational initiatives. Prior to joining The Fund, Julie served as the Senior Director of Education Policy for the City of Chicago Mayor’s Office. Julie’s professional history demonstrates a commitment to providing coherent and connected policies and programs to maximize opportunities, promote just policies, and advocate for systems and resources committed to equitable outcomes for students.

Julie has over twenty years of experience as an educator, working in the district and higher education. She has a Master’s degree in Learning Disabilities and is a certified reading specialist who was a teacher, reading specialist, high school literacy coach, area curriculum director, high school assistant principal, and former Director of Literacy for Chicago Public Schools. She co-founded the Urban School Improvement (USI) Network at the University of Chicago. The Urban Education Institute incubated and supported the opening and ongoing professional learning communities of 13 new elementary and high schools, including the University of Chicago’s Woodlawn campus, and served as a Leadership Coach at the Network for College Success (NCS) at the University of Chicago.

Julie graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a B.S. in Sociology and a Master’s degree in Education leadership and policy. She successfully completed her administrative and leadership training with New Leaders for New Schools, Chicago Cohort 9. She is an avid reader and enjoys life with her big family and the family dogs.