Waiting for "Superman" - HBASNY
The Hon. Michael Powell - Former FCC Chairman (Moderator)
Michael K. Powell was nominated by President William J. Clinton to a Republican seat on the Commission, and was sworn in on November 3, 1997. He was designated chairman by President George W. Bush on January 22, 2001, and served until March 17, 2005.
As chairman, Mr. Powell set out to bring FCC regulations into the 21st Century and to recognize the move of voice, video, and data technologies away from limited analog platforms to powerful digital applications that bring more value to the public. He focused on initiatives that encourage market-driven solutions that promote consumer interests.
In addition to his normal duties, Chairman Powell served as the FCC’s Defense Commissioner and was responsible for overseeing all National Security Emergency Preparedness functions for the Commission. Chairman Powell previously served as the Chief of Staff of the Antitrust Division in the Department of Justice.
Before starting his legal career, Mr. Powell served as a policy advisor to Secretary of Defense, Richard B. Cheney. In addition, his experience includes military service as an armored cavalry officer in the United States Army. While on duty, Mr. Powell was seriously injured in a training accident and—after spending a year in the hospital—was retired from service.
Mr. Powell graduated in 1985 from the College of William and Mary with a degree in Government. He earned his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center. Mr. Powell currently serves on the Board of Visitors of both the College of William and Mary and the Georgetown University Law Center and also sits on the board of America’s Promise Alliance. He is also a Henry Crown Fellow of The Aspen Institute.
As chairman, Mr. Powell set out to bring FCC regulations into the 21st Century and to recognize the move of voice, video, and data technologies away from limited analog platforms to powerful digital applications that bring more value to the public. He focused on initiatives that encourage market-driven solutions that promote consumer interests.
In addition to his normal duties, Chairman Powell served as the FCC’s Defense Commissioner and was responsible for overseeing all National Security Emergency Preparedness functions for the Commission. Chairman Powell previously served as the Chief of Staff of the Antitrust Division in the Department of Justice.
Before starting his legal career, Mr. Powell served as a policy advisor to Secretary of Defense, Richard B. Cheney. In addition, his experience includes military service as an armored cavalry officer in the United States Army. While on duty, Mr. Powell was seriously injured in a training accident and—after spending a year in the hospital—was retired from service.
Mr. Powell graduated in 1985 from the College of William and Mary with a degree in Government. He earned his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center. Mr. Powell currently serves on the Board of Visitors of both the College of William and Mary and the Georgetown University Law Center and also sits on the board of America’s Promise Alliance. He is also a Henry Crown Fellow of The Aspen Institute.
Stephen Ajani – Co-Principal, KIPP Academy Elementary School
Before joining KIPP as the founding Co-Principal of KIPP Academy ES, Steve served as the Principal of Elm City College Preparatory Elementary School in New Haven, Connecticut. Steve’s career in education began with him teaching second grade students in Northeast Washington DC. Steve feels very fortunate for having had the opportunity to serve with and learn from some of the finest educators in the District of Columbia and New Haven. KIPP Academy ES is the third elementary charter school he has been on the founding staff of. Steve received his B.S. in Business Management from Morehouse College and his M.Ed. in Educational Leadership and Supervision from Howard University.
Heather Higginbottom – Deputy Director, White House Domestic Policy Council
Heather Higginbottom is Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council. She served as Policy Director for Obama for America, overseeing all aspects of policy development. From 1999 to 2007, Higginbottom worked for Senator John Kerry serving in several capacities including as Legislative Director. She also served as the Deputy National Policy Director for the Kerry-Edwards Presidential Campaign for the primary and general elections. After the 2004 election, Higginbottom founded and served as Executive Director of the American Security Project, a national security think tank. She started her career as an advocate at the national non-profit organization Communities in Schools.
Betina Jean-Louis – Director of Evaluation, The Harlem Children’s Zone
As Director of Evaluation, Dr. Betina Jean-Louis has spearheaded the Harlem Children’s Zone’s (HCZ) evaluation efforts since March 2002. In the past seven years, Dr. Jean-Louis has built an internal evaluation department at HCZ that is an integral component of the organization’s culture of evaluation. The organization is noted for setting and meeting tough outcomes, its focus on accountability, and for using data to continuously improve program functioning. Most recently, Dr. Jean-Louis has been engaged in discussions about how best to ensure HCZ’s results orientation, accountability, and high expectations for participants and staff all remain central to President Barack Obama’s proposal to fund Promise Neighborhoods, up to 20 youth-directed community-development initiatives modeled after the Harlem Children’s Zone.
Dr. Jean-Louis earned a bachelor’s degree from Columbia College and M.S., M.Phil. and Ph.D. degrees in developmental psychology from Yale University. After completing her doctorate, she worked as an independent evaluation consultant (at Children’s Television Workshop and several programs at Safe Horizon) and at Metis Associates, a consulting company with a focus in educational evaluation. Dr. Jean-Louis served on the advisory board for the national expansion of Safe Horizon’s Project Safe Harbor, a youth violence prevention and reduction program. She is a former Chair and board member for Dwa Fanm (“the Rights of Women” in Haitian Creole), an organization that is dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls in Haiti and in the United States.
Dr. Jean-Louis earned a bachelor’s degree from Columbia College and M.S., M.Phil. and Ph.D. degrees in developmental psychology from Yale University. After completing her doctorate, she worked as an independent evaluation consultant (at Children’s Television Workshop and several programs at Safe Horizon) and at Metis Associates, a consulting company with a focus in educational evaluation. Dr. Jean-Louis served on the advisory board for the national expansion of Safe Horizon’s Project Safe Harbor, a youth violence prevention and reduction program. She is a former Chair and board member for Dwa Fanm (“the Rights of Women” in Haitian Creole), an organization that is dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls in Haiti and in the United States.
John B. King – Senior Deputy Commissioner, New York State Board of Regents
Dr. John B. King, Jr. serves as Senior Deputy Commissioner for P-12 Education at the New York State Education Department. Dr. King is responsible for ensuring quality and accountability for New York State’s education system. He brings to this role extensive experience leading urban public schools that are closing the achievement gap and preparing students to enter, succeed in, and graduate from college.
Prior to his appointment as Senior Deputy Commissioner, Dr. King served as a Managing Director with Uncommon Schools, a non-profit charter management organization that operates some of the highest performing urban public schools in New York and New Jersey. Prior to joining Uncommon Schools, Dr. King was a Co-Founder and Co-Director for Curriculum & Instruction of Roxbury Preparatory Charter School. Under his leadership, Roxbury Prep’s students attained the highest state exam scores of any urban middle school in Massachusetts, closed the racial achievement gap, and outperformed students from not only the Boston district schools but also the city’s affluent suburbs.
Dr. King earned a B.A. in Government from Harvard University, an M.A. in the Teaching of Social Studies from Teachers College, Columbia University, a J.D. from Yale Law School, and an Ed.D. in Educational Administrative Practice from Teachers College, Columbia University. In addition, Dr. King has served on the board of New Leaders for New Schools and is a 2008 Aspen Institute-New Schools Entrepreneurial Leaders for Public Education Fellow.
Prior to his appointment as Senior Deputy Commissioner, Dr. King served as a Managing Director with Uncommon Schools, a non-profit charter management organization that operates some of the highest performing urban public schools in New York and New Jersey. Prior to joining Uncommon Schools, Dr. King was a Co-Founder and Co-Director for Curriculum & Instruction of Roxbury Preparatory Charter School. Under his leadership, Roxbury Prep’s students attained the highest state exam scores of any urban middle school in Massachusetts, closed the racial achievement gap, and outperformed students from not only the Boston district schools but also the city’s affluent suburbs.
Dr. King earned a B.A. in Government from Harvard University, an M.A. in the Teaching of Social Studies from Teachers College, Columbia University, a J.D. from Yale Law School, and an Ed.D. in Educational Administrative Practice from Teachers College, Columbia University. In addition, Dr. King has served on the board of New Leaders for New Schools and is a 2008 Aspen Institute-New Schools Entrepreneurial Leaders for Public Education Fellow.
Joel I. Klein – Chancellor, New York City Schools
Joel I. Klein became New York City schools chancellor in July 2002 after serving in the highest levels of government and business. As Chancellor, he oversees more than 1,500 schools with 1.1 million students, 136,000 employees, and a $21-billion operating budget.
When Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg appointed Mr. Klein, a graduate of New York City public schools, as the first Chancellor of the newly-reorganized Department of Education, he called the new Chancellor “a true leader who never shies away from the tough and sometimes controversial decisions that are necessary to implement change.” Mr. Klein’s comprehensive education reform program, Children First, is transforming the nation’s largest public school system into a system of great schools.
From 1997 to 2001, Mr. Klein was assistant attorney general in charge of the U.S. Department of Justice’s antitrust division. He also served as Acting Assistant Attorney General and as the antitrust division’s principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General. His appointment to the U.S. Justice Department came after Klein served two years (1993-95) as deputy counsel to President William J. Clinton.
Mr. Klein received his BA from Columbia University, from which he graduated magna cum laude/Phi Beta Kappa in 1967 and went on to earn his J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1971, again graduating magna cum laude.
When Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg appointed Mr. Klein, a graduate of New York City public schools, as the first Chancellor of the newly-reorganized Department of Education, he called the new Chancellor “a true leader who never shies away from the tough and sometimes controversial decisions that are necessary to implement change.” Mr. Klein’s comprehensive education reform program, Children First, is transforming the nation’s largest public school system into a system of great schools.
From 1997 to 2001, Mr. Klein was assistant attorney general in charge of the U.S. Department of Justice’s antitrust division. He also served as Acting Assistant Attorney General and as the antitrust division’s principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General. His appointment to the U.S. Justice Department came after Klein served two years (1993-95) as deputy counsel to President William J. Clinton.
Mr. Klein received his BA from Columbia University, from which he graduated magna cum laude/Phi Beta Kappa in 1967 and went on to earn his J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1971, again graduating magna cum laude.
Whitney Tilson – Board Member, KIPP New York; Founding Member, Teach for America and Democrats for Education Reform
Whitney Tilson is the founder and Managing Partner of T2 Partners LLC and the Tilson Mutual Funds, which manage a number of value-oriented hedge funds and mutual funds. Mr. Tilson is also the co-founder, Chairman and co-Editor-in-Chief of Value Investor Insight, an investment newsletter, and is the co-founder and Chairman of the Value Investing Congress, a biannual investment conference in New York City and Los Angeles.
Mr. Tilson, whose parents were educators, has maintained a life-long interest in education. He was among the first people to join Wendy Kopp in 1989 to launch Teach For America and currently serves as a board member of the KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program) Academy charter school in the South Bronx, which is part of a national network of 82 college preparatory public charter schools in low-income communities. Mr. Tilson is one of the founders of Democrats for Education Reform, which aims to move the Democratic Party to embrace genuine school reform.
Mr. Tilson serves on the boards of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools and the Council of Urban Professionals. He is also on the board of the Pershing Square Foundation and served on the finance committees of Barack Obama and Newark Mayor Cory Booker. For his philanthropic work, he received the 2008 John C. Whitehead Social Enterprise Award from the Harvard Business School Club of Greater New York.
Mr. Tilson received an MBA with High Distinction from the Harvard Business School, where he was elected a Baker Scholar, and graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College, with a bachelor’s degree in Government. He lives in Manhattan with his wife and three daughters.
Mr. Tilson, whose parents were educators, has maintained a life-long interest in education. He was among the first people to join Wendy Kopp in 1989 to launch Teach For America and currently serves as a board member of the KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program) Academy charter school in the South Bronx, which is part of a national network of 82 college preparatory public charter schools in low-income communities. Mr. Tilson is one of the founders of Democrats for Education Reform, which aims to move the Democratic Party to embrace genuine school reform.
Mr. Tilson serves on the boards of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools and the Council of Urban Professionals. He is also on the board of the Pershing Square Foundation and served on the finance committees of Barack Obama and Newark Mayor Cory Booker. For his philanthropic work, he received the 2008 John C. Whitehead Social Enterprise Award from the Harvard Business School Club of Greater New York.
Mr. Tilson received an MBA with High Distinction from the Harvard Business School, where he was elected a Baker Scholar, and graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College, with a bachelor’s degree in Government. He lives in Manhattan with his wife and three daughters.