Dr. Roxanne Burleson is a Clinical Assistant Professor as well as Director of the Accelerated Leadership Program within the Simmons School of Education & Human Development. Her research interests include education policy and governance of public and non-profit organizations. Roxanne spent thirty-one years in public education as a teacher, middle school and high school principal, and assistant superintendent for Plano ISD. In her assistant superintendent position in Plano, she worked closely with other administrators to improve test scores on state assessments, as well as develop strategies and best practices to lower failure rates and increase graduation rates in Plano high schools. She formerly directed SMU's Teach for America Certification Program and has been on the faculty of Simmons School of Education and Human Development for the past 3 years.