Joel Klein ’67CC: Lessons of Hope: How to Fix Our Schools
The Columbia University Club of New York is honored to welcome Joel Klein ’67CC former Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education, for an intimate conversation about the experiences and ideas behind his new book, Lessons of Hope: How to Fix Our Schools.
In this revealing and provocative memoir, the former chancellor of the New York City schools offers the behind-the-scenes story of the city’s dramatic campaign to improve public education and an inspiring blueprint for national reform.
In 2002 New York City’s newly elected mayor, Michael Bloomberg, made a historic announcement: his administration had won control of the city’s school system in a first step toward reversing its precipitous decline. In a controversial move, he appointed Joel Klein, an accomplished lawyer from outside the education establishment, to lead this ambitious campaign.
Lessons of Hope is Mr. Klein’s inside account of his eight-year mission of improvement: demanding accountability, eliminating political favoritism, and battling a powerful teachers union that seemed determined to protect a status quo that didn’t work for kids. Mr. Klein’s initiatives resulted in more school choice, higher graduation rates, and improved test scores. The New York City model is now seen as a national standard for meaningful school reform. But the journey was not easy. Mr. Klein faced resistance and conflict at every turn.
Lessons of Hope lays bare the problems plaguing public education and shows how they can be solved. At its core lies Mr. Klein’s personal story: his humble upbringing in Brooklyn and Queens, and the key role that outstanding public school teachers played in nurturing his success. Engaging and illuminating, Lessons of Hope is essential reading for anyone concerned about the future of American public education.
Joel Klein, Chief Executive Officer of Amplify, is an education visionary and proven leader of change. Prior to Amplify, Mr. Klein was Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education, where he oversaw a system of 1.1 million students and 136,000 employees. While there he led systemwide transformations that resulted in significant increases in student performance. Under Joel’s leadership, high-school graduation rates in the City rose 20 points—an increase of more than 40 percent.
Host: James Gerkis
Registration opens: 6:30PM
Talk begins: 7:00PM
Reception: 8:00PM
Cost: Free for members, guests, and non-members
Member fees for this event will be billed to the member’s account.
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