Old News New to Me

I missed this news in December when it happened, but in EduShyster's spot-on takedown today of the whitest and brightest law firms in Boston, I saw that the Tea Party retread and charterista, James Peyser, is now Sec. of Ed. in MA. 

Horace Mann must be rolling in his grave.  

Edushyster's explanation of how segregated charter schools became the civil rights tool of our era is priceless. 

Here is a link to 2006 when Peyser was bullying schools for Romney, and below is a bio from Peyser's last big gig as bigwig for the charter bundlers at the New Schools Venture Fund.

James A. Peyser

Author Website:http://www.newschools.org/


Author Bio:
Jim Peyser is Managing Partner for City Funds at NewSchools Venture Fund, a non-profit grant-making firm that seeks to transform public education by supporting innovative education entrepreneurs. In this role, Jim leads NewSchools investment activity in Boston, Newark and Washington, DC. From 1999 through 2006, Jim served as Chairman of the Massachusetts Board of Education. 


Prior to joining NewSchools, Jim was Education Advisor to two Massachusetts Governors, where he helped shape state policy regarding standards and assessments, school accountability, and charter schools. In 1995, he served as Under Secretary of Education and Special Assistant to the Governor for Charter Schools. He spent more than seven years as Executive Director of Pioneer Institute for Public Policy Research, where he helped to launch the Massachusetts Charter School Resource Center, which supported the development of the state’s first charter schools. 


Prior to joining Pioneer Institute, Jim held various positions at Teradyne, Inc. in Boston, an electronic test equipment manufacturer. In his role with NewSchools, Jim currently serves on the board of directors for Achievement First, New Schools for New Orleans, Success Charter Network, and Uncommon Schools. He is also chairman of the board of the National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA). 


In June 2011, Jim was inducted into the Hall of Fame by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. Jim holds a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School (Tufts University) and a Bachelor of Arts from Colgate University.