Director of Educational Achievement
CF Foundation, Inc.
Cynthia Kuhlman joined the CF Foundation, Inc. as Director of Educational Achievement in August 2006. In this role, she is responsible for fostering best instructional practices that support the academic achievement of students at Charles r. Drew Charter School, Atlanta’s first charter school, now serving approximately 800 students in preschool through eight grade. She supports the principal of the school and members of the leadership team in their efforts to position Drew Charter School for national recognition of its educational and professional excellence. She works closely with the community partners for the school including the East Lake Foundation, the YMCA, Sheltering Arms and the First Tee of East Lake. In addition, she nurtures relationships between Drew and its strategic partners including the Westminster Schools, the Atlanta Speech School, the Atlanta Public Schools and other educational institutions. She also evaluates education (K-12) related grant requests received by the CF Foundation.
Prior to joining the CF Foundation, Inc., Dr. Kuhlman enjoyed a successful 36 year career in the Atlanta Public Schools, where she served in various roles, including teacher, special education coordinator, human resources director, comptroller/chief financial officer and principal. She played an instrumental role in the revitalization of the Techwood and Clark Howell Homes community as the first principal of the new Centennial Place Elementary School. Under her direction and leadership, the school became a sustainer of progress and success in the Centennial Place community. During her tenure as principal, Centennial Place received numerous noteworthy recognitions, including the Educational Trust Foundation’s “Dispelling the Myth Award” for closing the achievement gap that exists between poor and minority students and other young Americans.
Centennial Place Elementary School was recognized as a “Success Story” by the Achievement Alliance and acknowledged as a Distinguished Title I School under the No Child Left Behind Act for six consecutive years. In 2006, Dr. Kuhlman received the Michaels Family Award for Excellence in Education for her success as a principal in recognition of the outstanding student achievement at Centennial Place and the successful community collaboration. She was also recognized by the Governor as a “High Performance Principal.” In 2006, Dr. Kuhlman testified before the House of Representatives Committee on Education and Workforce on the topic, “No Child Left Behind: Disaggregating Student Achievement by Subgroups to Ensure All Students Are Learning.” Under Dr. Kuhlman’s leadership as comptroller/chief financial officer, the Atlanta Public School system earned the “International Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting” through the Association of School Business Officials (ASBO).
Dr. Kuhlman is a 1970 graduate with honor and distinction from Indiana University and earned her Master of Education and Doctor or Philosophy degrees from the College of Education at Georgia State University in 1974 and 1980 respectively.
She currently serves as chair of the Board of Directors for Charles R. Drew Charter School. She also served as vice chair of the Board of Directors for Hands on Atlanta where she was chair of the Mission Committee and a member of the Executive and Finance Committees. She is actively involved with Imagine It – The Children’s Museum of Atlanta as a member of the Program Advisory Committee and with Georgia State as a member of the Board of Advisors for the College of Education.
