About Us

Avanti Learning and Technology Innovations is the leader in technology support and platforms for districts and states that are implementing Student Learning Objectives (SLOs). SLOadvantage™ is our landmark online platform for the development, implementation and evaluation of SLOs. It draws on more than 15 years of national learnings from SLO practice, training, and evaluation.  Learn more

William M. Eglinton previously served as Chief Operating Officer of Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM: a Fortune 200 company), and Chairman of the Board for all corporate subsidiaries. Under his leadership, PNM introduced performance-based compensation. In addition to being a key-team member for many of CTAC’s partnerships, Mr. Eglinton has served as CTAC’s co-project director for the TIF-supported Leadership for Educators’ Advanced Performance Initiative (LEAP) with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, directed CTAC’s National Urban Reform Network, led site research and evaluations teams in Christina (DE) Denver (CO) and Newark (NJ) and trained district leadership teams, community collaboratives, corporate leadership groups and policy making bodies at local, state and national levels. His areas of expertise include school/corporate collaboration, performance-based compensation, executive assistance to superintendents and boards of education, and education policy. 

Patricia Sullivan currently manages an independent consulting firm that provides advice and advocacy support for clients in the K-12, post-secondary education, early education, and workforce arenas. Ms. Sullivan began her career as a staff person on the House of Representatives Committee on Education, representing the interests of the National Governors' Association, the Council of Chief State School Officers, and Achieve, Inc. on Capitol Hill and in various policy arenas for more than 30 years. She has had the opportunity to work with various foundations to support the work of the Center on Education Policy and the American Board for the Certification of Teachers.  At the American Federation of Teachers, she served as the Deputy Director of Policy, helping AFT members navigate the challenges of developing and implementing the Common Core standards.  Ms. Sullivan has given presentations before the National Governors Association, National Conference of State Legislatures, the State Senate President's Forum, and the Council of Chief State School Officers and has testified before multiple state legislative committees.  She has also presented at AERA and at most national K-12 and post-secondary education association meetings.  As a recognized expert in K-12 education and postsecondary policy, she has also been quoted in the New York Times, by the Associated Press, the Washington Post, Education Week, Time Magazine, Child Magazine and many other regional and local publications, and has appeared on CSPAN’s Washington Journal. 

Joseph J. Wise serves as Co-founder and Chief Education Officer of Atlantic Research Partners, a professional services firm that supports public schools and school districts in 18 states. He is also Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Distinctive Schools, which is responsible for the management of three high-performing public non-profit charter schools on the south side of Chicago. Dr. Wise formerly served as Superintendent of Duval County Public Schools in Jacksonville, Florida and Christina School District in Wilmington, Delaware. He is a former Executive Vice President and Chief Education Officer of Edison Learning, Inc. and was Director of Organizational Development for the Disney organization. He began his career in education as a teacher before assuming executive leadership roles in various districts, including Orange County Public Schools and Seminole County Public Schools in Florida, and Anne Arundel County Public Schools in Annapolis, Maryland. Dr. Wise serves on the Board of Directors of Northwest Evaluation Association. He previously served on the National Commission on Writing for America’s Families, Schools, and Colleges, was selected as a Broad Fellow by Eli Broad Institute for School Boards, was appointed a Fellow to the Eli Broad Urban Superintendents Academy, and served on the Academy’s adjunct faculty and advisory committee. Dr. Wise is the author of three books: Power of Teaching—The Science of the Art, Power of Coaching—Teachers and Teaching, and The TAO of Interviewing. 

William J. Slotnik, President and Chief Executive Officer, is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Community Training and Assistance Center (CTAC). CTAC builds capacity and addresses root causes of poverty at local, state and national levels by providing technical assistance, conducting research and evaluation, and supporting public policy initiatives. Since 1979, Mr. Slotnik has led CTAC in assisting and partnering with hundreds of school systems, states, unions, non-profit organizations, coalitions, and philanthropic institutions to achieve positive and lasting results in low income communities. This includes providing extensive assistance to state education agency leaders, superintendents, boards of education, unions and leadership teams throughout the United States, as well as catalyzing major innovations in such areas as performance-based compensation, teacher and administrator evaluation, school and district turnarounds, state-to-district assistance, and community development. Under his leadership, CTAC introduced Student Learning Objectives (SLOs) and is the leading practitioner, trainer, and evaluator of SLOs in the United States. 

Jeffrey E. Edmison, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, is the Chief Officer of National Field Operations for the Community Training and Assistance Center (CTAC). He is responsible for key CTAC education initiatives relating to teacher and principal evaluation, performance-based compensation, school turnaround, and state-to-district collaboration. Mr. Edmison currently serves in a lead role for the teacher effectiveness and principal effectiveness projects using student learning objectives in New York State and provides organizational leadership for CTAC’s engagements around the nation. Mr. Edmison previously served as Chief Operating Officer for the Christina School District, Delaware’s largest district, providing leadership for the New Directions in Christina systemic reform effort. Through a methodical implementation of the Standard Bearer Schools process, the district significantly increased student achievement and created foundational changes in the organization. In addition, he has served as the Associate Superintendent of Operations for the West Contra Costa Unified School District in Richmond, California, and as the Regional General Manager for EdisonLearning, Inc. As a reform-minded leader, in both roles, Mr. Edmison led multiple system-wide efforts improving the educational and organizational outcomes for students.