I’ve seen them dubbed the “corporate edu-‘reform’ crowd”  and the “hedge-fund ‘reformers’ ”. They have wealth, power, and a desire to use both to change American public schools. NYC’s Mayor Bloomberg, and philanthropists Eli Broad, Bill Gates, and Sam Walton are all included in this high-profile group.

According to an article in the New York Times, there’s a new name to add to the list: Merryl A. Tisch. Dr. Tisch is the newly elected chancellor of the 16 member New York State Board of Regents. I was previously unaware of the extent of this Board’s power, but apparently it presides over all education activities in the state - from public school districts and colleges to libraries and museums. In the next few months, the Board will be charged with hiring a new commissioner for NY State’s Education Department – a decision whose impact on education policy will be long-lasting.

My guess is that while this may be the first I’ve heard of Dr. Tisch, it probably won’t be the last. Check out this clip of a speech she gave to Learning Leaders:

Based on what I’ve learned so far, here’s what impresses me most:

1. Although she married into the uber-wealthy (and uber-generous) Tisch family, Dr. Tisch had a modest upbringing. She was raised on the Lower East Side by a Hebrew school principal and a Reform rabbi. As she puts it: “Someone coming from where I started to where I am today, which was a long march, has a perspective that a lot of other people may not have.” This may explain her hands-on involvement in charitable organizations such as the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty, where she increased the number of families served by its food pantries from 200 to 7,000 per month and personally handed out coats to needy families in Borough Park, Brooklyn.

2. Unlike many other ed reformers, Dr. Tisch actually has a background in education. She taught first grade in Manhattan, and earned both a master’s degree and a doctorate in education.

3. Dr. Tisch is not afraid to speak her mind, even when her opinions are unpopular. For example, she helped one parent successfully persuade the state to approve a charter school for children with autism. She also isn’t afraid to publicly disagree with Mayor Bloomberg and Chancellor Joel I. Klein, even though they are longtime family friends.
(She disagreed with Klein’s argument that Albany should give the city more freedom in how to spend state aid, saying “nobody appointed him czar.”)

4. Finally, and most importantly, she is passionate about school reform, and plans to use her political clout to push an agenda that emphasizes closing the achievement gap, supporting career and technical education programs, and improving educational access for students with disabilities.

What remains to be seen is just how much of an influence Tisch will have on the Board, and what stance she will take on some of the major ed reform issues looming on the horizon. (Testing? Performance pay? Underperforming schools?) Not to mention who her choice for new commissioner will be. One thing I do know for sure: Dr. Tisch is definitely someone to watch.

takepart in learning more about Merryl H. Tisch.