PRESS RELEASE: Carol Burris Becomes Executive Director of NPE Fund
For Immediate Release
Contact: Carol Burris
Executive Director, Network for Public Education Fund
Email: Burriscarol@gmail.com
Date: August 6, 2015
The Network for Public Education Taps Award Winning Principal, Carol Burris, to Lead its Foundation
Today, NPE President Diane Ravitch announced the appointment of Carol Burris as the Executive Director of the Network’s 501C3, NPE Fund, dedicated to raising public awareness on issues of importance to public schools.
Ravitch said, “The Board of the Network for Public Education is thrilled that Carol Burris has agreed to serve as Executive Director of the NPE Fund. NPE Fund will conduct research, issue policy papers, and communicate to the public about the crucial issues facing public education today. With Carol’s extensive and exemplary experience as a principal, a teacher, and a writer, she is exactly the right person to lead the NPE Fund at this time.”
Burris, a recently retired high school principal, is the recipient of numerous awards, including the 2013 New York State High School Principal of the Year. She is the author of both books and journal articles on educational equity. During the past few years, Burris has been an outspoken opponent of the Common Core, evaluating teachers by test scores, and high-stakes testing. She has raised public awareness as a frequent guest blogger on the Washington Post’s Answer Sheet blog. Her critique of the Common Core tests in New York have focused on the widening gaps in failure rates that unfairly stigmatize students of color, students living in poverty, and students with disabilities.
According to Burris, ‘We are living in a time of unrelenting attacks on the women and men who have dedicated their life’s work to educating and caring for children. Our youngest students are buckling under the pressure of excessive testing, and our most vulnerable children are unfairly classified as failures. Parents are skeptical of and confused by the Common Core. Profiteers are seeking to capitalize on dissatisfaction and confusion. We must now stand together to stop the privatization of our democratically controlled local schools and protect all children’s rightful heritage to a free and equitably funded public education. I am proud to join Ravitch and the members of NPE in leading that fight.”
NPE Board Member Dr. Julian Vasquez Heilig added, “Carol Burris brings the perspective of a life long educator and an important national voice to the position of ED for NPE’s C3. I am thrilled to be working with her to connect communities and allies across the nation in the important work for our nation’s children.”
Burris will join Robin Hiller, who will serve as the Executive Director of NPE’s C4, which is organized to make political endorsements and to engage in the war of ideas over the future of public education. Hiller has served with distinction as NPE’s Executive Director since its founding in 2012. According to Ravitch, Hiller has led the way in building a solid foundation for the growth of NPE as a voice for parents and teachers.
Robin, heading the C4, and Carol, heading the C3, will work closely together.