Willie Burroughs, director of management services at the Council of the Great City Schools | cgcs.org
Robert Abel, Chief of Human Capital for the Dallas Independent School District (ISD), has been awarded the 2025 Distinguished Service Award by the Council of the Great City Schools. The award, sponsored by Kelly Education, acknowledges individuals in management services for their contributions to urban education. This year's ceremony took place at the annual Chief Human Resources Officers meeting in Baltimore, Maryland.
Abel has over 20 years of experience in educational leadership and has significantly impacted large urban school districts. Since assuming his role as Chief of Human Capital in 2021, he has achieved notable milestones such as a 44% reduction in grievances and a 90% decrease in complex Level 3 grievances. Additionally, under his leadership, Dallas ISD's teacher applicant pool increased by 14%.
Willie Burroughs, director of management services at the Council, said, "This award recognizes Robert Abel for his outstanding leadership overseeing the human capital management department at Dallas Independent School District." He added that Abel's work is crucial to attracting and retaining high-quality educators dedicated to providing positive educational experiences.
Nicola Soares, President of Kelly Education, remarked on Abel's achievements: "Robert Abel epitomizes the kind of leadership we strive to recognize—one marked by profound impact on students and staff."
Abel holds a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Texas at Arlington and a Bachelor of Science in Cell and Molecular Biology from Oklahoma State University.
The Council of the Great City Schools represents urban public schools nationwide. It advocates for inner-city students through legislation, research, and media relations while providing a network for school districts to share information.
Kelly Education offers workforce solutions across various educational levels and is part of Kelly (Nasdaq: KELYA, KELYB), a global workforce solutions provider.
For further information or media inquiries:
- Tonya Harris, Director of Communications at Council of the Great City Schools
- Danielle Nixon, Director of Public Relations at Kelly Education
Information from this article can be found here.
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