Gilbert "Gil" Downey

Gil is the CEO of Downey Educational Consulting providing professional development support for K-12 science standards, curriculum and instruction as well as implementation of effective formative assessment practices.

Gil spent six years at the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) in the College and Career Readiness Division. He was the state coordinator for the Illinois Mathematics and Science Partnerships Program (IMSP), federal grant program authorized under NCLB. Mr. Downey also served as the primary contact person in Illinois for the NGSS Lead State Initiative. Illinois was one of 26 Lead States collaborating with Achieve on development of the new standards. This work included chairing two Illinois committees, the Illinois Building Capacity for State Science Education (IL-BCSSE) and the NGSS Adoption Committee, both involved with state-level adoption and implementation planning strategies for NGSS.

Previously, Mr. Downey taught Junior high and high school science for 23 years in Fisher. Following his teaching tenure, he served as principal for Ridgeview Jr-Sr High School in Colfax, IL for five years and as an assistant principal at Belvidere High School in Belvidere, IL for four years.

He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Eastern Illinois University in Charleston and a Master’s in Educational Administration from Illinois State University in Normal.

Gil and his wife Patty live in Normal, Illinois. They are the proud parents of five adult children and ten grandchildren.

Contact information:
gdowney20@gmail.com