Commission Members

Click on a member's name to read a short biography

Senator John Glenn, Chairperson
The John Glenn Institute for Public Service and Public Policy
The Ohio State University
Columbus, Ohio

Anne L. Bryant, Ed.D.
Executive Director, National School Boards Association
Alexandria, Virginia

Gene R. Carter, Ed.D.
Executive Director, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
Alexandria, Virginia

Cameron Dary
Student, Waupun Middle School
Waupun, Wisconsin

Nnennia Ejebe
Student, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Plymouth, Minnesota

Michelle Engler
First Lady, State of Michigan
Lansing, Michigan

Jim Geringer
Governor, State of Wyoming
Cheyenne, Wyoming

Carl D. Glickman, Ed.D.
Chair, Program for School Improvement and University Professor Emeritus
University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia

Stephen E. Gorrie
President, Massachusetts Teachers Association
Boston, Massachusetts

David W. Hornbeck
Former Superintendent of Schools, Philadelphia
Education Advocate
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

James B. Hunt, Jr.
Former Governor of North Carolina
Chairman of the National Commission on Teaching and America's Future
Raleigh, North Carolina

Laurie E. Lang
Executive Director Disney Learning Partnership
Burbank, California

Frank Newman, Ph.D.
Visiting Professor of Public Policy and Sociology, The Futures Project
Brown University
Providence, Rhode Island

Arturo Pacheco, Ph.D.
Dean, College of Education
University of Texas at El Paso
El Paso, Texas

Minnie Pearce
Chair, Board of Directors for the National Coalition of Title I Parents
Detroit, Michigan

Buffy Sainte-Marie, Ph.D.
Founder, Nihewan Foundation
Kapaa, Hawaii

Jianping Shen, Ph.D.
Professor, College of Education
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, Michigan

Senator Harris Wofford
Former Chief Executive Officer, Corporation for National Service
Washington, D.C.

John Glenn, Commission Chair, has devoted his life to public service. He was the first American astronaut to orbit the earth in 1962, for which he received the Space Congressional Medal of Honor. After 23 years of distinguished service in the Marine Corps, John Glenn retired in 1965. Taking an active part in politics, and early environmental efforts in Ohio, he was elected to serve in the U.S. Senate in 1974. In 1992, John Glenn became the first popularly elected senator from Ohio to win four consecutive terms. John Glenn again made history in 1998 when he returned to space aboard the shuttle Discovery, making him the oldest person to fly in space. His deep commitment to education and involving youth in public and community service inspired the formation of The John Glenn Institute for Public Service and Public Policy at The Ohio State University. The aim of the Institute is to encourage public service among citizens of all ages, with a major focus to introduce students to the ideals of civic commitment and to encourage them to pursue careers in public service.

Anne L. Bryant, Alexandria, Virginia, is executive director of the National School Boards Association. Prior to joining NSBA, she was executive director of the American Association of University Women. Bryant testifies before Congress, carrying the message that the education of our public school students is the nation's top priority. She has written widely on gender equity, volunteer-staff leadership issues, and the role of government in education. Bryant chairs the board of Simmons College, is an advisory commissioner of the Education Commission of the States, serves on the board of the Universal Service Administrative Company (which administers the E-rate), and is a member of the CEO Forum on Education and Technology.

Gene R. Carter, Alexandria, Virginia, is executive director of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development where he has demonstrated a personal commitment to service-learning and its advocacy. Prior to joining ASCD, he served as superintendent of schools in Norfolk, Virginia where among other accomplishments he succeeded in reducing the dropout rate, built partnership programs with the private sector, and implemented a district wide school improvement program. In 1988, he was selected the first National Superintendent of the Year by the American Association of School Administrators. Carter serves on the Board of Trustees of Virginia Wesleyan College, the Education Commission of the States Advisory Board, and the Norfolk Southern Corporation Board of Directors.

Cameron Dary, Waupun, Wisconsin, is in the eighth grade at the Waupun Middle School. Two years ago, he helped start the Do Something Network at his school. As Head Captain of this Network, he has assisted other students in his school to become more involved in addressing and solving community issues. While in elementary school, he assisted in starting the First Aide Program, a student mentoring project where fifth grade students help first graders learn about avoiding risk behaviors. He has made public speeches throughout Wisconsin to groups such as Kiwanis Club, Waupun City Council, Rotary Club, the Wisconsin Education Association Convention, and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, and faculty of several school districts.

Nnennia L. Ejebe, Plymouth, Minnesota, is a student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where she is an active volunteer with the Black Women's Alliance and member of the National Society of Black Engineers. As a high school student, Ejebe worked with the National Youth Leadership Council (NYLC) as a Youth Project Team member, to promote youth leadership, youth-adult partnerships, and service-learning throughout the United States. She also assisted in the coordination of the National Youth Summit that was held in Orlando, Florida in June 2000. From 1998-2000, Ejebe served as representative of the Plymouth City Youth Advisory Council. She was awarded the SEARS/Youth Service America "Larger than Life" Award in the fall of 1999.

Michelle Engler, Lansing, Michigan, is the first lady of the state of Michigan. For nine years she served as the founding chair of the Michigan Community Service Commission, which encourages all state citizens, especially youth, to make a commitment to community service. She continues to serve on this Commission. In 1997, Engler was appointed by retired U.S. Army General Colin Powell to serve on the board of America's Promise: The Alliance for Youth. Reappointed in 1998, she continues to help sustain the mission launched at the Presidents' Summit for America's Future. Engler is also a member of the board of directors of the Points of Light Foundation and the ConnectMichigan Alliance.

Governor Jim Geringer, Wyoming, is serving his second term as governor of the state. Education is a continuing priority for Geringer and he has pushed for higher standards, proper assessment of achievement, and effective use of technology for basic and distance learning. Committed to higher academic standards in math and science, he was selected to serve on the National Commission for Mathematics and Science. Geringer recently completed his term as chair of the Education Commission of the States and remains an active board member for the Western Governors' University. He is past chair of the Western Governors' Association and the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission.

Carl D. Glickman, Athens, Georgia, is university professor of education, emeritus and chair, at the Program for School Improvement at the University of Georgia. He is president of the Institute for Schools, Education, and Democracy, Inc. Glickman has been the founder and head of various university/public school collaborations including the nationally renowned League of Professional Schools that focus on school renewal through democratic education. He has authored ten books including Revolutionizing America's Schools and Renewing America's Schools: A Guide for School-Based Action and numerous articles, studies, and essays considered as standards for the public purpose of education.

Stephen E. Gorrie, Boston, Massachusetts, is President of the Massachusetts Teachers Association where he has played a key role in helping teachers navigate through the state's education reform process that began in 1993. Gorrie is a strong advocate for higher standards and substantive reform to improve student achievement. Currently, he is leading the Association's campaign to achieve smaller class sizes, new teacher mentoring programs, and upgraded school buildings. Gorrie serves on the Massachusetts Education Reform Act's Review Commission and has been on the Massachusetts Commission on Time and Learning. He is active in numerous community organizations including the Massachusetts Workers' Rights Board, Children's Health Care Access Coalition, and the board of Health Care for All.

David W. Hornbeck, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, served as Superintendent of Schools from 1994 until August 2000. He led a comprehensive school reform effort that resulted in dramatic improvement in student achievement and included large numbers of students in service-learning. He is currently writing and organizing a statewide effort to advocate for poor children's education. He continues service as Chair of the Boards of the Children's Defense Fund and the Public Education Network. From 1976 to 1988 Hornbeck was state superintendent of schools in Maryland. Other past positions include President of the Council of Chief State School Officers, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, and Chair of the Carnegie Corporation's Task Force on Education of Early Adolescents.

Governor James B. Hunt Jr., Raleigh, North Carolina, is a member of Womble, Carlyle, Sandridge & Rice, PLLC. He is the chair of the National Commission on Teaching and America's Future and the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education. The former governor served four terms, during which time he introduced the Excellent Schools Act, which raises standards and accountability for students and teachers and raised teacher pay dramatically. His state raised math test scores on the NAEP more than any other state in the 1990's. In 1985 he co-chaired the "Committee of 50" which led to the Carnegie Forum on Education and the Economy and eventually, to the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, which he served as chair for 10 years. A strong supporter of high standards in public schools, Hunt has served as chair of the National Education Goals Panel and vice chair of the board of Achieve Inc. His "Smart Start" early childhood program is considered to be a national model and received the "Innovations in American Government Award" from the Ford Foundation and the John F. Kennedy School of Government.

Laurie Lang, Burbank, California, is executive director of Disney Learning Partnership, The Walt Disney Company's philanthropic initiative providing corporate support for innovative approaches to learning. She also served on the steering committee of the Afterschool Alliance and has been an active participant in the Learning and Arts funders taskforce. Prior to her current position, Lang was senior vice president of strategic marketing, where she oversaw brand direction and policy of all brand exposure throughout the company. In that capacity, she also was an internal marketing consultant for new business development and expansion initiatives across Disney's divisions.

Frank Newman, Providence, Rhode Island, is visiting professor of public policy and sociology at Brown University where he directs The Futures Project: Policy for Higher Education in a Changing World. He is also visiting professor at Teachers College, Columbia University. Newman is former president of the Education Commission of the States where among other accomplishments he co-founded Campus Compact (service-learning in higher education). From 1974 to 1983 he was president of the University of Rhode Island and then a presidential fellow at the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Newman also co-chairs the Advisory Committee on Public Issues, The Advertising Council, Inc.

Arturo Pacheco, El Paso, Texas, is professor and dean of the College of Education at the University of Texas at El Paso. Since his first experience as a teacher in the Peace Corps he has had a strong interest in the preparation of teachers in diverse urban education. As site director for John Goodlad's National Network for Educational Renewal, Pacheco leads a restructuring effort of the College into a clinical field-based model of teacher preparation. Pacheco has served on several state and national boards, including the Texas State Board of Education, the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, and the American Association for Colleges of Teacher Education. He is on the Board of Trustees for the Educational Testing Service.

Minnie Pearce, Detroit, Michigan, is chair of the Board of Directors for the National Coalition of Title I Parents and oversees the National Parent Center, located in Washington, D.C. She serves as the Detroit Head Start Policy Council Chairperson, Officer for the Michigan Head Start and their parent representative on Region V Head Start Association. For six years Pearce served as chair of Region V of the National Coalition Title I Organization. In addition to being a licensed minister, Pearce is a member of numerous councils and organizations including the Wayne County Reading Council and Detroit Public Schools' Strategic Planning and Bond Committee. She is President and founder of P.O.W.E.R. in Education (Parents Only Want Equal Rights in Education). The Ralph J. Bunche elementary school library is named in honor of Minnie Pearce.

Buffy Sainte-Marie, Kapaa, Hawaii, is founder of the Nihewan Foundation for Native American Education, which for over thirty years, has provided scholarships, curriculum, and services to thousands of students nationwide. In 1997 she was named Native American Philanthropist of the Year for her work with the Cradleboard Teacher Project. In 1998 Sainte-Marie received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Indian College Fund, and another from Hollywood's Screen Actor's Guild. She has recently been named an Officer in the Order of Canada, the highest civilian honor the country can bestow. Sainte-Marie spent five years as a cast member on television's Sesame Street and is an Academy Award winning songwriter.

Jianping Shen, Kalamazoo, Michigan, is professor of educational leadership in the College of Education at Western Michigan University. A recipient of the 1998-99 National Academy of Education/Spencer Postdoctoral Fellowship, he began his career in education when he taught at the elementary level in Shanghai, China in 1984. His research interests include leadership theories, policy studies, and research methods. He has published approximately 50 articles in professional education and leadership journals in the United States and United Kingdom, as well as numerous articles and books in China.

Harris Wofford, Washington, D.C., is the newly elected Chair of the board of America's Promise: The Alliance for Youth and the former Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for National Service. As a senator from Pennsylvania between 1991-1994, Wofford sponsored the National Civilian Community Corps and the National and Community Service Act, which included AmeriCorps and Learn and Serve America. While Secretary of Labor and Industry in Pennsylvania, 1987-1991, he created the Governor's Office of Citizen Service, which promoted service-learning throughout the commonwealth. He helped launch the Peace Corps and later served as its special representative in Africa. In the 1950's, he was active in the civil rights movement, working with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and in the 1960's was special assistant to President Kennedy, and chair of the subcabinet group on civil rights. He was president of the College at Old Westbury and Bryn Mawr College. He is author of Of Kennedys and Kings. He recently chaired the Working Group on Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, whose report, Finding Common Ground, was released in January 2002.