John A. Bird

Educators' Collaborative
Spruce Head, Maine

John Bird is a leadership and management consultant to non-profit organizations across the country. His clients have included over 250 independent schools and other organizations located in 45 states and four foreign nations or territories. John's services have included searches for heads of independent schools, strategic planning projects, board retreats on governance issues, consultations with schools considering mergers or other strategic alliances, conflict resolution, and planning studies for capital campaigns.

Before beginning his consulting career in 1989, John spent 29 years in independent education, five years in full-time teaching, five years as a senior administrator and teacher, and 19 years as a head of school. Ten of those 19 years were spent as headmaster of the Holland Hall School in Tulsa, Oklahoma (1974-84).

John has also served as a trustee and board chair of several non-profit boards in the fields of education, health care, the environment, the arts, and religion.

John grew up in Rockland, Maine, and received his B.A. degree from Bowdoin College. He also has an M.A. from George Washington University. John and his wife of 42 years, Mary Alice, now live in Spruce Head, Maine. The Birds have three grown children and several grandchildren.

Richard A. Coleman

Principal
Achievable Dream Academy
Newport News, Virginia

Richard Coleman has been an administrator at An Achievable Dream Academy for seven years and Principal of the school for four years. Prior to his experience at Achievable Dream, he taught 2nd grade at John Marshall Elementary for 2 ½ years in the Newport News School Division.

Mr. Coleman entered the education profession after working for IBM for 15 years and qualifying for an early retirement. Prior to IBM, he spent six years as a New York State Narcotics Correction Officer and 4 years in the United States Air force serving in Vietnam in 1968.

Mr. Coleman was born and raised in Staten Island, New York and holds a Bachelors Degree in Business and Accounting from New York City University. He received his Masters Degree in School Administration from George Washington University.

Mr. Coleman is married and has three grown children.