Crystal Lennix

I am a solutions and research-driven Project Manager who is skilled at leading teams with empathy and success. 8+ years of extensive experience in program/project planning, execution, evaluation, and reflection across a plethora of fields, including public entities. 

Department of Defense (2024-present): Reporting to the Department of Defense, I create and implement education programs and policies to promote educational equity in the Marine Corps (MCCS) for Marines and their families. 

Mathematica Policy Research (2022-2024): Project manager and EPMO Scheduler for 25+ projects ranging from $200,000 to $20 million. The projects center on educational policy through health and human services. 

• Developed a robust training program within the EPMO for incoming project associates and project managers 
• Utilized Microsoft Office, Microsoft Project, Agiloft, JIRA, and SharePoint daily 
• Analyzed and created financial project reports, invoices, client progress reports, and project reviews 
• Supervisor of the first summer internship program in addition to leading the EPMO’s retention initiative 

Illinois State Board of Education (2022): Project manager and lead of Discipline Policy (including racial disproportionality, expulsions, and suspensions) in Illinois schools; Coleader of Jett-Hawkins Hair Equity Policy; and team member on bullying policies and restraint and time out policies.     

• Reduced exclusionary discipline by 5% 
• Created and reviewed 200+ discipline, bullying, and hair discrimination cases for school districts using Microsoft Excel 
• 60% increase in process flow improvement for districts that disproportionality expel students of color 
• 45% increase in incident response documentation for parents, educators, and administrators 
• Led a team of five with a $775,000 budget to reduce exclusionary discipline with empathic instruction 

A Knock At Midnight (2018-2024): Supervises and evaluates teachers, in addition to teaching comprehensive classes to lowincome youth. 

• Increased team retention by 50% 
• Responsible for allotment and allocation of $350,000 Upward Bound budget 
• Improved educational progress of 70% of students
• Executed 4 in-depth projects that was under budget by 5% 

Chicago Public Schools (2016-2021): Lead English Teacher 

Ph.D. in Education Policy, M.Ed. in Teaching and Curriculum, and a B.A. in English Literature.