Very big news out of New Haven, CT, though it's a story likely to be completely overlooked.
Alex Johnston, head of the stellar Connecticut-based ed reform group ConnCan, has been named to the New Haven school board. This represents the latest episode in a remarkable volte-face in the city's approach to education.
For years, Mayor John DeStefano and Superintendent Reginald Mayo were anything but cutting edge reformers. This is despite the city's being home to the amazing charter school Amistad and headquarters of Achievement First, that school's CMO.
The mayor apparently had a major change of heart not long ago. He joined Amistad's board of directors. Next, the school system hired a leading reformer from Joel Klein's shop to be an assistant superintendent. Now, Johnston, a top-notch reform agitator, is on the school board.
It's not clear what caused this shift. Maybe it's a combination of AF's and??ConnCan's??great work in the city and the growing popularity of ed reform generally. Maybe Yale's leadership had something to do with it. Maybe the mayor and superintendent just tired of their schools' persistent low-performance.
Whatever the reasons, this is a set of very exciting developments. DeStefano deserves credit. I hope we see similar changes elsewhere.