Dan Balon; Steering Committee Member

Dr. Dan Balón has been the Director of Diversity & Equity for the Burlington Schools since 2008. He brings to this role his knowledge and many professional lessons as a classroom teacher, administrator, equity director, leadership educator, published researcher, supervisor, counselor, advocate, and change agent. Before moving to Vermont, Dr. Balón was faculty member and administrator in small and large, complex education systems in Northern California, Washington DC, Seattle, and most recently Maryland. He is a trained and experienced facilitator of intergroup dialogues, study circles, diversity education workshops, and difficult conversations on sensitive topics related to: group conflict, oppression, social equity, and community advocacy. Dan completed his Ph.D. at the University of Maryland, College Park in Education Policy, Administration, and Leadership.

Dr. Balón is also founding president of Barkada Consulting Network LLC, a social change and leadership development training organization, serving clients and organizations nationally. He is a certified trainer of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI®). Dr. Balón maintains his adjunct faculty appointments, teaching graduate education courses that help prepare future educators for an increasingly multicultural world. Among other presentations, Dan recently keynoted the Social Equity Scholarship Fund luncheon in Spring 2009 to encourage Burlington and other Vermont leaders to consider the role of cultural competence in effective leadership. He also serves on several community and advisory boards in the Burlington/Chittenden County area and nationally.

Dan Balon; Steering Committee Member