Rob’s primary area of expertise is building leadership capacity in others to achieve breakthrough results for students. He is an innovative visionary dedicated to taking actions that deliver results. Dr. Hess has a proven track record of improving graduation rates, attendance rates, student achievement, and equity outcomes for all students. Rob has deep experience with school & district improvement, educational reform, data analysis, process management, crisis management, facility improvement, foundation development, state reform, systems improvement, and community engagement. Dr. Hess has nine years of experience as a superintendent, ten years at the district office level, eight years as a principal, and ten years as a teacher. As superintendent for Lebanon schools, he was responsible for the achievement and success of eight schools representing 4,100 students. He developed a community vision process to determine a vision, mission, and strategic plan for the school district and engaged the community through a variety of events and activities. Dr. Hess consistently saw overall increases in reading and math achievement throughout the district and implemented AVID district-wide to support college and career readiness and has mentored, coached all principals in the district. He has developed and led data analysis workshops to support and increase data fluency throughout the district and has experience as a human resource administrator as well. Dr. Hess founded Breakthrough Consulting, LCC in 2018–a grassroots network dedicated to helping schools and districts achieve breakthrough school improvement results. He designed and created the Priority Leadership G.R.O.W. coaching program to support superintendents and principals, which includes the Priority Leadership assessment tool. His company has also designed teacher and principal evaluation and support tools to help educators grow in their practice. His firm specializes in Executive Searches, Community Engagement, Strategic Planning, Evaluation Systems, and Community Engagement. Dr. Hess has taught classes at the University of Oregon, Oregon State University, Willamette University, and Lewis & Clark College on the following subjects: teacher leadership, professional development for administrators, school improvement planning, data analysis for school improvement, priority leadership, research for education, teacher/principal evaluation, and many other topics.. He has authored (and co-authored) four books about educational reform, school improvement, and leadership and has contracted with various districts and educational organizations for presentations and professional development activities. Dr. Hess has developed one-day interactive workshops on the following topics: Advanced Data Toolkit, The 5 Talents and 5 Skills of Exceptional Teachers, Priority Leadership, and Goal Setting. His Mt. Everest Keynote walks leaders through what it takes to achieve extraordinary results in their work and life.