With large percentages of children nationwide performing below state levels in K-12 schools, school turnarounds have become an important activity of many states and school districts. In this panel discussion, moderated by Jordan Meranus, a state and district school leader—one in Louisianna, one in Maryland—field questions on school turnaround challenges. They spoke at Driving Dramatic School Improvement: Strategies for Turning Around Our Nation’s Failing Schools, a conference at Stanford University cosponsored by FSG Social Impact Advisors and the Stanford Social Innovation Review.
Paul Pastorek was appointed Louisiana’s state superintendent of education in March 2007 by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE). In January 2008, BESE reappointed Pastorek to that position. He served on the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education from 1996-2004, including the last three years as president of the board. After stepping down from the board in 2004, Pastorek formed Next Horizon, a nonprofit organization that serves as a statewide think tank to connect Louisiana's leadership—education, government, business, and community—as a force supporting school improvement. He is an attorney and was licensed by Louisiana to practice law in 1979. He has been associated with the law firm Adams and Reese for more than 27 years, first as a litigator and later as a corporate and transactional attorney.
Andres Alonso was named CEO of Baltimore City Public Schools in 2007. From 1987 to 1998, he taught emotionally disturbed special education adolescents and English language learners in Newark, N.J. He worked at the New York City Department of Education from 2003 to 2007, first as chief of staff and then as deputy chancellor for teaching and learning, working closely with the chancellor in planning and implementing the reform of the largest educational system in the nation. Alonso graduated Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Columbia University. He went on to earn a JD from Harvard Law School and practiced law in New York City before changing course to become an educator. In 2006 he was awarded a doctorate in education from Harvard University.
Moderator Jordan Meranus is a partner in the NewSchools Venture Fund East Coast office, where he focuses on the firm’s school turnaround investment strategy, as well as management assistance for a variety of its portfolio ventures. Prior to joining NewSchools, Jordan was a managing director at Imagitas, a company that partners with government agencies to launch revenue generating businesses that demonstrate that entrepreneurial ventures can help the public sector better serve citizens. Jordan is also a co-founder of Jumpstart, a nonprofit organization built the idea that providing intensive early literacy services to low-income children is a great investment in ensuring that children in underserved communities enter school prepared to succeed. He received his bachelor’s degree in history from Duke University and earned a master’s degree in both education and public administration from Harvard.
This free podcast is from our Stanford Social Innovation Review series.
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