Cedric Lewis

As the Chief Financial Officer of Public Schools in Rockford, Illinois, Cedric Lewis draws on an extensive background combining niche financial acumen with a commitment to advancing the state of public education. During four years of service in Rockford, he has generated numerous key changes to the district's operational and instructional agenda that have minimized expenditure without compromising academic quality. Mr. Lewis produced the first Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the school district as well as its inaugural comprehensive budget report. Mr. Lewis' accomplishments in these endeavors earned him both a Certificate of Financial Excellence, and his school system is currently anticipating the Meritorious Budget Award from the International Association of School Business Officials.

Before joining the Rockford Public School District in 2009, Mr. Lewis implemented critical operational changes as Chief Financial Officer for a number of fiscally disadvantaged schools throughout the South and Midwest. While overseeing the financial agenda for the Recovery School District of Louisiana in New Orleans, he assembled a spending plan that reduced divisional staff by 30 percent while simultaneously expanding the volume of services that the organization provided to local schools. He also devised accounting protocols that heightened internal accountability, consequently yielding more than $1 billion in construction funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for new sites. Acting in a similar role with the St. Louis Public Schools in Missouri, he successfully resolved $11 million in debt amassed by a previous administrator without compromising the school's academic services. Among other positions in the public education system, Mr. Lewis has acted as a Director of Budgeting for Atlanta Public School District in Georgia and Jackson Public School District of Mississippi.

Today, Cedric Lewis adds to his extensive professional and civic accomplishments with a variety of activities contributing to the Rockford community. He serves as a board member for the region's United Way branch and as Operations Chairman for the Alignment Rockford organization. He also mentors local school children and participates in the Adopt-a-School program. Mr. Lewis' professional accreditations include a M