William Bennett, Yvonne Chan, Barbara Dreyer, The Gleason Family Foundation (James, Janis and Tracy Gleason), Deborah McGriff and Michael Moe to Receive Awards in Washington, DC

CER Press Release
Washington, DC
August 1, 2013

Washington, DC – The Center for Education Reform (CER) turns 20-years-old this fall and, as part of its Anniversary Celebration, the organization will host “CER at 20,” an October 9th conference and gala in Washington, DC where the group will honor five individuals and one family foundation who have been the “classics” of the education reform movement.

These accomplished people, whose contributions to the enormous progress made on education reform are both unique and path breaking, will be presented EdReformies at the evening gala.

The announcement of the EdReformies awards was made by Jeanne Allen, founder and president, CER, who announced in February that she is stepping down from the CER presidency at the end of October to pursue other opportunities advancing the cause of meaningful education reform benefitting all children. Allen will remain a CER Board member and serve as a senior fellow of the organization. Kara Kerwin, currently vice president, external affairs, CER, will assume the role of president, CER, on November 1.

The EdReformie awardees are:

WILLIAM J. BENNETT
Former U.S. Secretary of Education, author and radio personality
Presented by Tony Bennett, Florida Commissioner of Education

YVONNE CHAN
Founder and Principal, Vaughn Next Century Learning Center, former California State board member and charter school activist
Co-Presented by Building Excellent Schools Fellows Jane Henzerling, founder the Mission Preparatory Charter School, San Francisco, CA and
David Singer, Head of School University Prep, Denver, CO

BARBARA DREYER
Co-founder and CEO, Connections Education and pioneer in virtual learning
Presented by Jonathan Hage, President & CEO, Charter Schools USA

JAMES, JANIS, AND TRACY GLEASON OF THE GLEASON FAMILY FOUNDATION
Principals of The Gleason Family Foundation, and leaders in the battle for school choice
Presented by Michelle Bernard, Founder & CEO, Bernard Center and noted journalist, columnist and author.

DEBORAH MCGRIFF
Partner, NewSchools Venture Fund, founding member of the Black Alliance for Education Options, former superintendent, education leader and activist
Presented by Alisha Thomas-Morgan, Georgia House of Representatives

MICHAEL MOE
Co-Founder & Partner, GSV Asset Management, and the leader in making education the prominent factor in business and financial sectors
Presented by Michael Horn, Co-Founder & Executive Director, Clayton Christensen Institute for Disruptive Innovation

Current sponsors of CER at 20 include Charter Schools USA, K12, Inc., Connections Education, GSV Advisors, Educational Ventures Inc., Friendship Public Charter Schools, National Heritage Academies, Imagine Schools, The Klinsky Family Charitable Fund, National Charter School Institute, Michael R. and Ellen C. Sandler Family Foundation, Information on sponsoring or attending the October 9, 2013 CER 20th Anniversary Conference and Gala at the Washington Hilton is available at [email protected]. Registration is available online at www.edreform.com/20th-anniversary/tickets/