CER Press Release
Washington, DC
February 24, 2012
The Education Industry Association has honored education and media entrepreneur Christopher Whittle, CEO of Avenues: The World School, with its “Friend of the Education Industry” Award. Whittle, a long-serving member of The Center for Education Reform’s board of directors, conceived and founded Edison Schools (now EdisonLearning) in 1992 with Benno Schmidt and continues to serve on its board of directors. Edison has been instrumental in establishing the charter school movement and now serves 450,000 students on three continents.
“Chris is a pioneer in the development of the modern education reform movement,” said Jeanne Allen, CER president and last year’s awardee. “It’s only fitting that he should be the recipient of this honor as his model was the first business engagement in education.”
Whittle is the author of Crash Course—Imagining a Better Future for Public Schools. He created one of America’s top 100 media businesses in the 1980s and at age 32, his company bought Esquire magazine, where he served as chairman and publisher. He also founded Channel One, a national in-school television news program, which reaches eight million students daily in 12 thousand schools.
“For more than two decades, Chris has left his mark of innovation and vision on K-12 education,” said Allen. “Without his entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to advancing the quality options available to parents and students, the education reform movement would look much different than it does today.”
The “Friend of the Education Industry” Award is the Association’s highest honor. It is presented annually to an individual or organization that fosters and demonstrates vision, entrepreneurship, a dedication to quality, and the spirit of public-private partnership in advancing education reform. Previous recipients include Toru Kumon, founder of Kumon Math & Reading Centers; and Margaret Spellings, former U.S. Secretary of Education.