John D. Welty Center for Educational Policy and Leadership

Leaders and Associates

Welty Center Leadership

Franks photoDr. Mabel Franks, Welty Center Director

Kremen School of Education and Human Development

Dr. Mabel Franks,  director of the Welty Center, has served 10 years as  Welty coordinator and associate,  EAD program  advisor, mentor and lecturer and EdD adjunct faculty  in the Kremen School of Education and Human Development in the Educational Leadership and Administration Master’s Program and Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership. Dr. Franks works closely with Kremen faculty, Welty associates and district leaders to  expand and deepen partnerships  throughout Central CA, collaborating to build coherence,  leading and supporting Welty projects, including  resource development, mentorship, coaching, training, learning academies, conferences, networking, individualized support, district partnerships and post secondary academies.  Dr. Franks holds a MA in administration  and a doctorate in Organizational Leadership from the University of LaVerne. 

Dr. Franks' K-12 career spans a total of 35+ years as teacher and principal in the Clovis Unified School District, and Assistant Superintendent in Fresno Unified School District, the 3rd largest district in California, supporting Middle Schools and Special Education and Health Services.  Dr. Franks  has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, national business reports and regional news media for her innovative thinking and focus on leadership and student engagement and academic achievement and has received numerous awards  at the district, county and region levels.  

Dr. Franks' research on effective school reform underscores the need to unite the entire school community in a common cause, a quality education for  our children- all our children.  Dr. Franks' areas of expertise include organizational leadership; systems thinking; school reform and change; building coherence; organizational development; people dynamics, interpersonal skills and conflict management; student meaningful engagement; data teams and  collaborative problem solving and decision making. 

Associates

Welty Center Associates

marc photoMarc Johnson, Welty Center Associate and Educational Consultant

Marc Johnson retired in June 2013, after a 37-year career in public education as a teacher and administrator.  He has served a co-director and coordinator of the Welty Center at California State University Fresno after retiring as the Superintendent of the Sanger Unified School District, where he had served for 14 years. Sanger Unified students include high minority, high poverty, and high English Language Learner populations. In 2004 the district was one of 98 school districts in California to be named a Program Improvement (PI) District due to low performance of English Learners.  Two years later the District was one of the first to exit PI status due to the continued improvement in student achievement in all groups, but in particular with EL Learners.  In 2011, Mr. Johnson was named National Superintendent of the Year by the American Association of School Administrators.

Marc Johnson mentors superintendents, advises state and national educational leaders and presents workshops across the nation on building collaborative cultures and growing effective Professional Learning Communities.  

photo of linda hauserDr. Linda Hauser, Faculty and Welty Center Associate

Department of Educational Leadership
Kremen School of Education and Human Development

Linda Hauser has been in education for over 40 years,  serving as a Professor at California State University Fresno, Educational Leadership Department,  in the Educational Leadership and Administration Master’s Program and Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership. She served over 28 years in K-12 public education as the Chief Academic Officer for Fresno Unified School District, and as Area Superintendent, Administrator for Professional Development (K-12), elementary school principal, secondary learning director, resource teacher and teacher in Clovis Unified School District. She received her BA in Communicative Disorders (deaf education emphasis) and teaching credential from Fresno State, her MA in Administration and Reading Specialist Certification from Fresno Pacific University and a doctorate in Organizational Leadership from the University of LaVerne. 

Dr. Hauser has been recognized as a Fresno County Administrator the Year. Under her leadership as principal, her elementary school was recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School. She has done extensive work in schools and districts in organizational development and facilitation and has led the development of numerous programs and projects. She has been a conference presenter at AERA, National Staff Development Council (NSDC) conferences, ACSA Leadership Academy presenter and consults with schools and districts throughout the state. She was an award recipient from NCSD for a model professional development program: Project BEST (Beginning Educator’s Support in Teaching). Dr. Hauser serves as a dissertation advisor for doctoral students and research in her areas of expertise that include:

  • Organizational Development
  • Executive and Cognitive Coaching
  • Instructional Rounds
  • Performance Excellence Criteria/Developing High Performing Systems
  • Alignment of the Instructional System
  • Project Management
  • PDSA - Cycle of Inquiry - Model for Continuous Improvement
  • Data management practices and program/system evaluation