EPI Bios

Charlene K. Haar

President, Education Policy Institute

Charlene K. Haar is an educational consultant specializing in teacher/parent relations and local, state and federal education policy. She is a research associate with the Social Philosophy and Policy Center, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio. Ms. Haar was born and attended public schools in South Dakota. She graduated from the University of South Dakota with a Bachelor of Arts in French and later received a Master of Arts in Gifted Education from Augustana College, Sioux Falls, South Dakota in 1987. Following graduation, Ms. Haar taught French, English and American Government for 11 years, most recently at Madison High School, Madison, South Dakota.

In 1992, after twenty years of local and state political involvement, Ms. Haar was chosen as the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate from South Dakota. In that year, at the Republican National Convention in Houston, Texas, she made one of the seconding presentations on national television on behalf of the candidacy of Vice-President Dan Quayle.

In the 1980s, Ms. Haar also had extensive first hand experience with the political operations of teacher unions. In addition to being a co-author of AFT and the NEA: Teacher Unions in Power and Politics, she is the author or co-author of articles on teacher unions in the National Review, Government Union Review, and other national publications, as well as numerous articles on PTA issues.

Personal Data

Office Address

Education Policy Institute
PMB 294
4401-A Connecticut Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20008-2322
Phone: (202) 244-7535
Fax: (202) 244-7584
E-mail: sdchar@aol.com

Education

Olson, McGillivray and Junius Elementary Schools
General Beadle High School, Madison, SD, Graduated May 1959
B.A. (French) University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD, Jan. 1963
M.A. (Gifted Education) Augustana College, Sioux Falls, SD, July 1987

Experience and Publications

Present

President, Education Policy Institute, a research and policy organization devoted to market approaches (competition) in education. She led the development of Education Services Council, a nonprofit organization devoted to contracting out educational services, was an associate director of EPI projects on Alternatives to Collective Bargaining in Public Education. As research associate, Social Philosophy & Policy Center, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, she directs the study of the PTA (book to be published next year), and is associate director of a study of the costs of public education.

Ms. Haar is also a founder and Board of Trustees member of the SouthEast Academy of Scholastic Excellence, a charter school in Anacostia (Ward 8) of the District of Columbia, and a member of the Advisory Board of Americans All, and a member of the Research Report Committee of the DC Public Charter School Resource Center, a division of the Federal City Council.

1999

Author, "Teacher Unions and Parent Involvement," and co-author of "NEA/AFT Membership: The Critical Issues," monographs in the EPI Series on Teacher Unions.

1998

Author, "United They Fall? Merger of the Unions Could Backfire, Providing New Hope for Change," Organization Trends, July 1998.
Author, "The Teacher Unions: Enemies of Reform," Crisis in Education, Feb. 1998, pp. 39-40.

1997

Author, "The PTA Goes Kaput," The American Enterprise, Nov./Dec., 1997, pp. 12-13.
Author, "National Education Association Convention Delegates Debate Change," Organization Trends, Sept. 1997.
Author, "Beyond Bake Sales," Impact Magazine, Summer 1997, pp. 28-29. Contributions to several other articles and news items.

1996

Author, "Teachers' Unions: Roadblocks to Reform," The American Enterprise, Sept./Oct. 1996, pp. 35-37.
Coauthor, "Teachers' Pet Party," by Myron Lieberman and Charlene K. Haar, The Weekly Standard, June 24, 1996, pp. 13-14.

1995

President, Education Policy Institute, a research and policy organization devoted to market approaches to education
Director, Study of National PTA
Associate Director, EPI Project on Alternatives to Collective Bargaining in Public Education; Director, School Board Project
Author, "Cutting Class, The PTA Plays Hooky from Educational Reform" Policy Review, Summer, 1995.
Author, "PTA Serves Teacher Unions, Not Parents," Insight on the News, March 27, 1995.
Coauthor, "The Great Rhode Island Ripoff: A Commentary," by Myron Lieberman and Charlene K. Haar, Government Union Review, Vol. 16, No. 2, Spring 1995, pp. 27-41.
Research Associate, Study of political operations of the NEA and AFT, foundation funded.

1993-1994

Director, Exploratory study of National PTA, funded through Capital Research Center
Author, "PTA: It's Not Parents Taking Action," Organization Trends, November, 1994.
Author, "Teacher Union Revenues and Political Action" Government Union Review, Spring, 1994.
Coauthor, The NEA and AFT: Teacher Unions in Power and Politics, Pro>Active Publications, June, 1994.
Coauthor, "Janitor for a Day," National Review, April 4, 1994.

1992-1993

Only Republican woman running for the United States Senate in 1992. Participated in events with President Bush and Vice President Quayle, and Senators Dole, Gramm, Kassebaum, McConnell, Pressler, and Simpson. Worked closely in-state with Governor George Mickelson, former Senator James Abdnor and former Governor William Janklow. Addressed the Republican National Convention as a Senate candidate and seconded the nomination of Vice President Dan Quayle. National and international interviews with media throughout campaign.

1984-1991

High school teacher of French, Journalism, American Government and Economics; initiated the goals and objectives, organized the appropriate programming and created the criteria for high school program for gifted and talented students. Recognized in 1987 by the Presidential Scholars Commission as Distinguished Teacher of the Year from South Dakota; nominated again in 1990. Advisor to award-winning high school newspaper. Madison High School, Madison, SD.

1969-1984

Office manager in a general practice law firm. Responsible for real estate management, tax and accounting matters, work with various state and federal agencies, work with estate proceedings, bankruptcy and reorganization planning. 1982 Campaign manager for the state-wide congressional race, implemented campaign strategy, oversaw day-to-day operations, supervised campaign staff, designed and implemented fundraising efforts, developed a statewide volunteer organization, coordinated activities with Republican Congressional Committee and national visiting dignitaries.

1965-1969

High school teacher of French, Spanish and English. Junior class advisor, directed school plays, advisor to school newspaper. Hurley High School, Hurley, SD and Parker High School, Parker, SD. 1980 Executive Secretary for Ronald Reagan presidential campaign for eastern South Dakota, coordinated staff activities, fundraising activities, developed volunteer efforts in 46 counties, hosted candidate Reagan and other campaign surrogates.

Boards, Associations, Honors and Awards

1998 Secretary, Board of Trustees, SouthEast Academy of Scholastic Excellence, a public charter school
1997 DC Federation of Republican Women, member
1997 National Coalition for Parent Involvement in Education, member
1997 People of America Foundation, member, organizational/development committee
1996 President, Chevy Chase Chapter of International Questers
1995 Board of Directors, Brandywine Tenants Association
1994 Guest Lecturer: The Heritage Foundation
1994 Guest Lecturer: Eagle Forum
1994 National Policy Forum, Council on Improving Schools and Education
1993-96 The Institute for Republican Women, Advisory Council
1993-95 The Questers, International Treasurer
1988-92 SD State Questers President
1988-86 First Vice President, SD State Questers
1986-93 Madison Area Chamber of Commerce, Treasurer, Education Committee
1990-91 Dakota State University, Foundation Chairman
1984-91 National Education Association, South Dakota Education Association
1989-91 President Madison Education Association
1987-91 SDEA Government Relations Committee
1983-91 Independence One Bank N.A., Board of Directors
1988-91 Chairman, Audit Committee
1988-90 Educators for Bush, SD Chairman, and RNC Teacher Advisory Council; A Teacher's Inaugural Experience; one of five SD educators invited to participate in President Bush's Inaugural; 1988 Republican National Convention, Alternate Delegate; 1984 Delegate and member of Committee on Rules and Order of Business
1980 Delegate and member of Committee on Resolutions, Government Regulations and Free Enterprise Subcommittee
1987 Distinguished Teacher of the Year from South Dakota
1984-85 SD State Republican Party, Chairman
1985-87 SD State Republican Vice Chairman and 1979-84
1984 Reagan/Bush, SD Finance Co-chairman
1969-82 SD Association of Independent Tax Practitioners
1959-63 Chi Omega Sorority, President

Education Policy Institute, PMB 294, 4401-A Connecticut Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20008-2322 202/244-7535, Fax 202/244-7584 http://www.educationpolicy.org, revised 8/6/99