Regis Anne Shields

Co-founder, Equity Journey Partners

What drives me is a passion for equity. What inspires me is possibilities. What captivates me is learning. What motivates me is empowering others. What sustains me is making meaningful change for children of all cultures, socio-economic status, and social identities.

Ms. Shields has over 20 years of experience in public education reform, focusing on equity, diversity, and inclusion. Prior to founding Equity Journey Partners, Ms. Shields was the Principal of RAS Equity Consulting, partnering with small to medium size districts and charter schools on equity audits, diversity, equity and inclusion training, and design and implementation equitable systems and practices including budgeting, hiring, and performance management.

Before RAS Equity Consulting, Ms. Shields served as:

A founding Director of Education Resource Strategies, a non-profit strategic consulting firm. At ERS, she worked extensively with urban school systems to rethink the use of district and school resources in ways that dramatically improve student achievement for all students. (www.erstrategies.org)
An administrator in the Providence (RI) Public Schools, as Chief of Staff to the Superintendent and Director of High School Reform.
Associate Director at the Boston Annenberg Challenge.
Vice-President in the legal department at Moody’s Investor Services.
Attorney in the Public Finance Department at the law firm of Rogers & Wells (NY).

Ms. Shields is a life-long learner and has a Professional Certificate in Strategic Diversity and Inclusion Management from the School of Continuing Studies at Georgetown University, a Master’s in Public Administration from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, a JD from New York University School of Law and a Sc.B. in Economics and Applied Mathematics from Brown University.

These accomplishments do paint a picture of me, but not a complete picture. The gaps that need to be filled cannot necessarily be captured by a tangible project or product. The gaps are my essence, or to take the painting analogy one-step further, the gesso, the prepared surface of plaster upon which the picture is painted. The accomplishments exist because of these essential characteristics. Understanding what and how I can contribute requires understanding the gesso. The characteristics that I highlight below are those that I believe are important to my professional success. In no particular order:

I am an explorer. I am happiest when my learning curve is steep. I love to learn and take on new challenges. Some might say I am a bit of a nerd.

I am reflective. I embrace self-development. New experiences and unintentional mistakes are opportunities to learn more about myself.

I am a fountain of ideas. I connect the dots and because I am an explorer and am often drawing from wildly different projects, experiences or subject matter.

I am a creator. I love to create. The process of creating is absorbing, stimulating and, of course, sometimes frustrating. It is in creating when I experience flow.

I am a detective. I am good at solving problems; they are puzzles, games and mysteries. Nancy Drew at heart.

I am empathetic. I believe that understanding the motivation and experiences of others is the key to successful relationships. I still cry watching Rudolph floating away on the broken iceberg.

I am fun. I love to laugh (sometimes too loud!), and I love to make others laugh. Humor is an essential element of a healthy work environment and a marvelous part of life.