For Immediate Release
DECEMBER 16, 2003 – CHAPEL HILL, NC – The James B. Hunt, Jr. Institute for Educational Leadership and Policy has been awarded a $1,250,000 grant from The Wallace Foundation of New York City to support the University of North Carolina-based Institute’s work in helping governors promote education leadership in their states.
The grant will fund the Hunt Institute’s work with a select group of governors across the country to improve the recruitment and training of new principals and superintendents, as well as to improve conditions for current school and district leaders to work to improve raising student achievement. The grant will allow the Hunt Institute to continue its mission of engaging governors and other leaders in strategic efforts to advance and sustain state-level education reform. “The Hunt Institute recognizes that governors are the primary education leaders in their states. The Wallace Foundation’s grant allows us to support governors’ efforts to improve leadership in the education sector,” said Hunt Institute Executive Director Dr. Judith Rizzo. “We are excited to provide counsel and expertise to support governors’ efforts in improving the conditions for school leaders and ensuring that schools and districts benefit from top-notch executives.” The Hunt Institute will begin work on this critical issue with Governor Sonny Perdue of Georgia (R) and Governor Mark Warner (D) of Virginia before expanding to additional states.
“Effecting change in education leadership, in terms of both the leaders and the conditions within which they work, begins with the governor,” said Richard Laine, The Wallace Foundation’s Director of Education Programs. “As the political leader of the state, governors must be a driving force in bringing needed improvements not to just one or two schools, but to every school, especially those serving children with the highest needs. The Hunt Institute will provide greater support to engage the governors of five states to serve, in turn, as a model of leadership for all states.”
The Wallace Foundation is an independent, national private foundation established by DeWitt and Lila Acheson Wallace, the founders of The Reader's Digest Association. Its mission is to enable institutions to expand learning and enrichment opportunities for all people. It does this by supporting and sharing effective ideas and practices. To achieve this mission, The Wallace Foundation has three objectives:
- Strengthen education leadership to improve student achievement
- Improve after-school learning opportunities
- Expand participation in arts and culture.
For more information, please visit: www.wallacefoundation.org
Working at the intersection of education policy and politics, the James B. Hunt, Jr. Institute for Educational Leadership and Policy, founded in 2002, engages governors and other political, business and education leaders in strategic efforts to advance and sustain state-level education reform. The Hunt Institute is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. For more information, please visit: www.hunt-institute.org.
Media Contacts:
The James B. Hunt, Jr. Institute for Educational Leadership and Policy
Alicia Smith, Interim Communications Officer
919-843-0182
asmith@huntinstitute.northcarolina.edu
The Wallace Foundation
Jessica Schwartz, Senior Communications Officer
212-251-9711
jschwartz@wallacefoundation.org