President, Montclair Education Partners

I joined the JerseyCAN board because we live in a country that prides itself on the principle that every child should have an equal opportunity to succeed in life regardless of birth circumstances. The reality is that we have fallen far short of realizing that promise in America today despite tremendous efforts over the last several decades. Children born in the bottom socio-economic quartile, who are disproportionally of color, are far less likely to graduate high school having mastered essential skills, to attend college or a professional certification program or, even if they do, to successfully complete such post-secondary endeavors. As a former state commissioner of education and urban superintendent, I have dedicated my career to correcting this societal injustice.