October 1, 2020
Chiefs for Change Welcomes Eight New Members

Chiefs for Change today announced eight chiefs have joined the bipartisan network of state and district education leaders:

  • Mary Elizabeth Davis: Superintendent, Henry County Schools in Georgia
  • LaTonya Goffney: Superintendent, Aldine Independent School District in Texas
  • Theodis Lamar Goree: Superintendent, Caddo Parish Public Schools in Louisiana
  • Errick Greene: Superintendent, Jackson Public Schools in Mississippi
  • Millard House II: Director of Schools, Clarksville-Montgomery County School System in Tennessee
  • Harrison Peters: State Turnaround Superintendent, Providence Public Schools in Rhode Island
  • Ian Saltzman: Superintendent, Everett Public Schools in Washington
  • Kyla Johnson-Trammell: Superintendent, Oakland Unified School District in California

“This is a difficult time for our country: The COVID-19 pandemic, incidents of racist violence, and widespread economic hardship are taking a toll on children and families,” said Chiefs for Change Board Chair and San Antonio Independent School District Superintendent Pedro Martinez. “The eight people we recently welcomed into membership are bold, thoughtful leaders who understand the power of education to improve lives. They are deeply committed to supporting all students in this moment and beyond.”

Members of Chiefs for Change are united around a core set of beliefs and advance policies and practices that make a difference for students. The chiefs have worked to expand school choice initiatives, promote the use of high-quality instructional materials, and create pathways that ensure students graduate ready for college and meaningful careers.

In the wake of the coronavirus, the chiefs and their teams are working to address the multi-faceted challenges of the pandemic and ensure students continue to learn. Chiefs for Change created communities of practice where members meet virtually to discuss the work in their systems. Through a partnership with the Council of Chief State School Officers and the consulting group McKinsey & Company, Chiefs for Change is supporting members as they respond to COVID-19. Webinars and related resources are available in the network’s digital report, Schools and COVID-19: How Districts and State Education Systems are Responding to the Pandemic. Chiefs for Change also collaborated with the Johns Hopkins Institute for Education Policy on a report that outlines relevant research and provides key recommendations for reopening K-12 schools.

There are currently 40 Chiefs for Change members, 35 of whom are actively serving as chiefs. Of that group, 27 are district chiefs and 8 are state chiefs. Fifty-eight percent of the members are leaders of color, and 43 percent are women. The members are:

  • Rob Anderson: Superintendent, Boulder Valley School District, Colorado
  • Katy Anthes: Commissioner of Education, Colorado
  • Emmanuel Caulk: Superintendent, Fayette County Public Schools, Kentucky
  • Sharon Contreras: Superintendent, Guilford County Schools, North Carolina
  • Susana Cordova: Superintendent, Denver Public Schools, Colorado
  • Mary Elizabeth Davis: Superintendent, Henry County Schools, Georgia
  • John Deasy: Former Superintendent, Stockton Unified School District, California
  • Paolo DeMaria: State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Ohio
  • Susan Enfield: Superintendent, Highline Public Schools, Washington
  • Donald Fennoy: Superintendent, The School District of Palm Beach County, Florida
  • Lewis Ferebee: Chancellor, District of Columbia Public Schools, District of Columbia
  • Chad Gestson: Superintendent, Phoenix Union High School District, Arizona
  • Deborah Gist: Superintendent, Tulsa Public Schools, Oklahoma
  • LaTonya Goffney: Superintendent, Aldine Independent School District, Texas
  • Eric Gordon: CEO, Cleveland Metropolitan School District, Ohio
  • Theodis Lamar Goree: Superintendent, Caddo Parish Public Schools, Louisiana
  • Errick Greene: Superintendent, Jackson Public Schools, Mississippi
  • William Hite: Superintendent, The School District of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • Millard House II: Director of Schools, Clarksville-Montgomery County School System, Tennessee
  • Angélica Infante-Green: Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education, Rhode Island
  • Janice Jackson: CEO, Chicago Public Schools, Illinois
  • Barbara Jenkins: Superintendent, Orange County Public Schools, Florida
  • Aleesia Johnson: Superintendent, Indianapolis Public Schools, Indiana
  • Michael Johnson: Commissioner of Education, Alaska
  • Kyla Johnson-Trammell: Superintendent, Oakland Unified School District, California
  • Hanseul Kang: State Superintendent of Education, District of Columbia
  • Christina Kishimoto: State Superintendent, Hawaii
  • Henderson Lewis, Jr.: Superintendent, NOLA Public Schools, Louisiana
  • Pedro Martinez: Superintendent, San Antonio Independent School District, Texas
  • Scott Muri: Superintendent, Ector County Independent School District, Texas
  • Kunjan Narechania: Former CEO, Recovery School District, Louisiana
  • Harrison Peters: State Turnaround Superintendent, Providence Public Schools, Rhode Island
  • Orlando Riddick: Former Superintendent, Midland Independent School District, Texas
  • Robert Runcie: Superintendent, Broward County Public Schools, Florida
  • Ian Saltzman: Superintendent, Everett Public Schools, Washington
  • Sonja Santelises: CEO, Baltimore City Public Schools, Maryland
  • Penny Schwinn: Commissioner of Education, Tennessee
  • Elliot Smalley: Former Superintendent, South Carolina Public Charter School District
  • John White: Former State Superintendent, Louisiana
  • Carey Wright: State Superintendent, Mississippi

About Chiefs for Change
Chiefs for Change is a nonprofit, bipartisan network of diverse state and district education chiefs dedicated to preparing all students for today’s world and tomorrow’s through deeply committed leadership. Chiefs for Change advocates for policies and practices that are making a difference today for students, and builds a pipeline of talented, diverse Future Chiefs ready to lead major school systems.