ALBANY, NY September 14, 2009 - New York State United Teachers, a statewide union of professionals led by President Richard C. Iannuzzi, today welcomed John King as New York State's new deputy commissioner of education.
NYSUT Vice President Maria Neira, who oversees the union's Division of Research and Educational Services, said: "We look forward to working as partners with Dr. King in accelerating New York's progress in closing the achievement gap. As a statewide union of more than 600,000 members, representing teachers in both charter and regular public schools, we welcome the opportunity to work with him as he brings innovative strategies, experience as an urban educator and a proud family legacy in public education to his new role at the State Education Department."
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, SEPTEMBER 14, 2009
STATE BOARD OF REGENTS APPOINTS DEPUTY COMMISSIONER TO LEAD EDUCATION REFORM EFFORT
The State Board of Regents today announced the appointment of Dr. John B. King, Jr. as Senior Deputy Commissioner for P-12 Education. In his position, King will lead the State's school reform efforts. He will begin State service on October 5, 2009.
Regents Chancellor Merryl Tisch said, "John King is a nationally recognized education leader with a proven track record of lifting student achievement, particularly for low-income minority students in urban settings. His goal is always the same - ensuring that the students in his care are prepared for college-level work and productive careers."
"New York's children, teachers, and schools are fortunate to have John King assume this important leadership position," said Education Commissioner-elect David M. Steiner, who will begin service as Commissioner on October 1, 2009. Steiner added, "Students have thrived at the schools John King has overseen. And I know he will bring the same commitment to educational excellence to all of New York's children in his new role at the Education Department."
King said, "I look forward to working with teachers, school leaders, parents, and all of those throughout the State who are interested in raising student achievement. The Regents have set an aggressive reform agenda and I am thrilled to work with them and Commissioner-elect Steiner to accelerate the progress already underway."
John King has been recognized across the State and the nation for providing results-driven educational leadership. As co-founder and co-director of the Roxbury Preparatory Charter School in Boston, he developed an instructional program and school culture that provided not only the academic skills but also the self-discipline and character essential for success in high school and college. Under John King's leadership, Roxbury Prep's students attained the highest state exam scores of any urban middle school in Massachusetts, closed the racial achievement gap, and outperformed students from not only the Boston district schools but the city's affluent suburbs. One hundred percent of the school's students are Black or Latino, over 70% of the students qualify for free or reduced price lunch, and all of its graduates matriculate to college preparatory high schools; 80 percent of the school's graduates who are now college-age are persisting in college.
In his current role as Managing Director with Uncommon Schools, a non-profit charter management organization that operates schools in New York and New Jersey, Dr. King has continued to improve educational outcomes for low-income students in urban settings. In 2009, 98 percent of grade 3-8 students in the New York State Uncommon Schools network scored at Level 3 or 4 on the State math assessments, compared with 86 percent of all New York students and 82 percent of New York City students. In addition, 89 percent of the New York State Uncommon Schools grade 3-8 students scored at Level 3 or 4 on the State's English Language Arts assessments, compared with 77 percent at the State level and 69 percent in New York City.
A former high school history teacher from a family of New York City public school educators, John King is a magna cum laude graduate of Harvard College. Additionally, he holds a J.D. from Yale Law School and both an M.A. in the Teaching of Social Studies and an Ed.D. from Teachers College, Columbia University. He has served on the board of New Leaders for New Schools, the nationally recognized principal training program, and is an Aspen Institute-NewSchools Entrepreneurial Leaders for Public Education Fellow.