Following a national search, Larry Gabbert, education associate for charter schools in Delaware, has been hired to direct Ball State's Office of Charter Schools. Gabbert will oversee the university's charter school authorization process and ensure that the schools are held accountable for providing a high-quality education to their students. 

"We feel Larry Gabbert will be a strong leader for our charter schools initiative given his experience in authorizing and monitoring charter schools," said Ball State president Jo Ann M. Gora. "His more than nine years with Delaware's Department of Education and his expertise in educational testing and assessment have prepared him well to provide accountability and vision to our initiative as it grows."

Gabbert has managed the charter schools office for Delaware's Department of Education for the past nine years. He also worked with Delaware officials to implement an evaluation and support system to help legislators monitor the state's charter schools.

"It's exciting to be a part of a program that is so well developed in sponsoring charter schools," Gabbert said. "I am optimistic that I will be able to contribute to the further success of the program and continued growth of the charter school initiative in Indiana. My primary goal will be to continue finding ways to strengthen the accountability of university-sponsored charter schools."

Gabbert received a bachelor's degree in psychology from Western New England College, a master's in counseling and testing from Springfield College and a doctorate in counselor education from the State University of New York at Albany.

Gabbert is a founding member of the National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA), collaborating on the conceptualization, initial design and initiation of the association.

Gabbert, who will start July 1, succeeds Marty Dezelan who left the university in January to take a job in a family business. Roy Weaver, dean of Teachers College, said he is grateful for Dezelan's efforts as well as the work of Barbara Downey, who served as interim director since Dezelan's departure.

"Marty and Barbara moved this office forward, and the transition is being handled seamlessly, giving us great confidence that Ball State's Charter Schools initiative will not only stay on track but will also gather momentum with Larry as its leader," he said.

In 2001 the Indiana General Assembly approved legislation allowing four-year public universities, public school districts and the mayor of Indianapolis to sponsor charter schools. Ball State is the only university authorizing charter schools in Indiana, with 14 in operation and seven more to open this fall and fall 2007. As a public charter schools authorizer, Ball State does not run the schools but reserves the right to rescind a charter if a school fails to meet performance standards.

(Note to editors: To arrange an interview with Gabbert, contact Anthony Romano at (765) 285-1563.)