In June, Cornerstones of Care announced the appointment of Angela Danley, Ed.D., as the new Senior Director of Education Programs and Services. In this role, she will oversee the BIST program, Build Trybe, and the Gillis and Ozanam Campus Day Treatment Schools, leading teams to achieve the highest program standards of quality, consistency, and financial health to ensure a lasting positive impact on students and their families.

“Our education department is a diverse mix of programs and services, demanding a dynamic leader who is adaptable and knowledgeable with robust prior experience,” said Justin Horton, Chief Programs and Innovation Officer. “Dr. Danley has only reinforced what the interview panel thought of and expected from her during her first two months, and she is the ideal leader for us at this time.”

Angela brings a wealth of experience from her 29 years in education, including 17 years as a K-12 classroom teacher and in special education.

In 2009, Angela earned her Education Specialist Degree in School Administration from the University of Central Missouri and went on to receive her Doctorate in Educational Leadership, Policy, and Foundations from the University of Missouri, Kansas City, in 2012. Though she initially intended to become a school principal, she instead pivoted to a distinguished career in higher education.

Angela’s focus has been on teacher development through supervision, curriculum development, and program coordination. She has also taught undergraduate and graduate courses in education and earned recognition as an academic researcher with over 20 peer-reviewed articles to her name.

“I view myself as a collaborative leader who is passionate yet empathetic,” said Angela, who estimates she has helped prepare nearly 1,000 students for careers in teaching. “I know it’s not easy what teachers do. I want to be an advocate and support for them.”

In 2023, Angela took on a dual role as Chair and Director of Clinical and Field-Based Experiences at Avila University. Returning to Avila in 2022 was a “full-circle moment” for Angela as she began her journey in education there as a first-generation college student.

As Angela embarks on her first year at Cornerstones of Care, she is experiencing similar full-circle moments, highlighting how this role is a culmination of her diverse professional experience and passion for trauma-informed care.

In July, Angela helped set up the annual Basic BIST conference, which was attended by more than 600 school leaders across the country. Over two decades earlier, she attended her first BIST training as a second-grade teacher at Lee’s Summit School District.

“I remember that training well,” said Angela. “I completed Basic BIST and advanced training as a classroom teacher. Now it’s a full-circle moment because here I am working with Marty Huitt again.”

Themes of trauma-informed care have been a central part of Angela’s career from the beginning, and she has been open with students and colleagues about how her past shapes her views as a leader in education. Raised in a single-parent household, Angela recalls the impact of a Kindergarten teacher who helped her see her future as an educator from a young age.

“Mrs. Hatfield was the person who helped me see that you might go through hard things in life, but the classroom is a safe space for you,” said Angela.

For Angela, bringing a trauma-informed mindset into her work at Cornerstones of Care means building professional development opportunities for educators to make their work sustainable.

“We can’t serve youth if we’re not okay,” said Angela. “I know teacher burnout is real,” said Angela. “I want to work with the principals to help teachers not feel burned out at the end of the year. When you go to a conference, it builds morale and gets them motivated to come back to work.”

Much of her first year will focus on building relationships and “listening with intent” to identify necessary changes to better support team members, students, and families. She has kept herself busy these first three months, attending trainings and visiting sites like the Build Trybe shop, engaging with curiosity and a genuine desire to learn.

During uncertain moments, Angela likes to remember her purpose or her “why,” a practice she developed during her early years as a teacher. She recently shared this with her oldest daughter, a second-year elementary math and science teacher following in her mother’s footsteps.

“My first five years were challenging, but I thought, ‘I’m doing this for the kids,’” said Angela. “I want them to have opportunities and see that they have the potential to break the cycle. Even preparing teacher educators, I told them, ‘I’m preparing you to become a great teacher because every child deserves the best version of you each day.’ That’s why I do what I do, and I feel like I can do that here.”