What can I solve for you?

Given that I’ve served public education in many different roles and attained a wide array of skills over the course of more than four decades, I feel I’m positioned well to help education leaders meet virtually any type of challenge and accomplish their important mission: helping our students learn and grow.

What's it like to work with me?

I’m happy to provide clients with perspectives and insights formed by my wealth of experience. We work together as thought partners to tackle challenges. I first gain an in-depth understanding of the issue at hand and their initial thinking on how to move forward. They often have a good idea of how to respond, but just need affirmation or validation. In some cases, they may need some help finding answers or resources. We weigh all factors, talk everything through, and come to a solution that they feel comfortable pursuing.

Overview

With a long-term dedication to fostering public education, Elliott Duchon serves school organizations as a Next Level Client Services professional. He enthusiastically provides highly informed insight, support and stability to school district leadership.

Elliott brings a broad array of knowledge gleaned from a 40-plus-year public education career that included positions as superintendent, deputy superintendent, administrative services director, chief business official, teacher and county office administrator who handled a spectrum of areas, from information technology to business services to curriculum development. He also possesses acumen in many topics, including facilities, planning, bond projects and boundary changes. Elliott’s familiarity with the multifaceted aspects of public education means few challenges and problems arise that he hasn’t previously encountered in some form.

Uniquely suited to take on almost any consulting role relating to school district administration, Elliott handles a range of tasks, including acting as a fiscal expert on behalf of the Department of Education, providing training for school boards, coaching executive cabinets and overseeing superintendent evaluations.

Elliott’s skill sets prove particularly crucial in the post-Covid-pandemic era, which has brought major staffing shortages and job turnover to California’s public school system, including at the highest levels. He guides new and inexperienced superintendents in job aspects such as executive cabinet leadership, protocols, relations with boards and many other issues that pop up unexpectedly. In all interactions, Elliott focuses on building people’s capacity by passing on knowledge that they can continue to draw upon throughout their careers.

Elliott’s determination and level-headed approach make him an excellent problem-solver and a natural crisis manager. Always ready to face challenges, he excels at assembling and unifying highly competent teams to address and resolve both short-term emergencies and ongoing problems. Elliott continually looks to invest in long-term strategies because he feels strongly that stability is important for students promoting school district excellence.

After School

I enjoy spending time with friends and family, walking or jogging in the fields near my house and going to the gym. I also love to read, particularly non-fiction. In the future I’d like to resume my hobbies of photography and playing piano and guitar.

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