Richard directs the Foundation’s national initiative aimed at strengthening the ability of education leadership – both in terms of the quality of the leaders and the conditions within which they work at the school, district and state level – to improve student achievement.

Prior to joining the Foundation, Richard headed the Illinois Business Roundtable’s (IBRT) education efforts. He testified in 2002 before the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Education and the Workforce on the federal education law, “No Child Left Behind.”

Prior to the IBRT, Richard spent over four years with the Illinois State Board of Education as the Associate Superintendent for Policy, Planning and Resource Management. Richard has published numerous articles on the question of does money matter in education. Richard received a M.B.A. from the Graduate School of Business, a M.P.P. from the Graduate School of Public Policy Studies and a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Education Policy, all from the University of Chicago.  Richard currently serves on his local school district’s board of education.