Ed Holmes is principal of West High School in Madison, a position he has held since 2004. Previously, Holmes was principal of James C. Wright Middle School, also in Madison, a charter school that was struggling with attendance and discipline problems when he began his tenure. Holmes transformed the school, establishing a community learning center, creating strong after-school and summer school programs, conducting thorough needs assessments, and improving student test scores dramatically. Holmes' innovations included Read 180, a technology-based literacy program designed to assist students who were two or more years behind grade level in reading. He also established the Minority Youth Career Awareness Program (MYCAP), a partnership with Madison Area Technical College that focuses on tutoring, career exploration, college information and visits to business with apprentice job-sharing opportunities. Mr. Holmes wrote and received a Comprehensive School Reform grant, which allowed the school to use Turning Points, a research-based school reform model aimed at improving day-to-day operations and overall practice.
1982 University of Wisconsin - Madison, B.A.
