Introduction
Education policy shapes the structure, funding, standards, and practices of educational systems at every level. The individuals who create, implement, advocate for, and evaluate these policies have profound impacts on students, educators, institutions, and communities. This comprehensive list highlights 100 of the most influential people in education policy, including government officials, researchers, foundation leaders, advocates, and thought leaders who have significantly shaped how education systems function and evolve.
These influential figures represent diverse perspectives across the political spectrum and come from various sectors including government, academia, philanthropy, think tanks, and grassroots organizations. Their collective work has determined how resources are allocated, how schools are evaluated, how teachers are trained and compensated, how students are assessed, and how educational equity is addressed. Through legislation, regulation, research, advocacy, and innovation, these individuals have helped define what we expect from our education systems and how we hold them accountable.
Federal Government Leaders
1.Miguel Cardona
Current U.S. Secretary of Education whose policies address pandemic recovery, educational equity, and college affordability. Cardona’s experiences as a former teacher, principal, and state education commissioner inform his approach to federal education policy.
2.Betsy DeVos
Former U.S. Secretary of Education (2017-2021) who championed school choice, reduced federal regulation of education, and changed Title IX enforcement procedures for sexual harassment cases on college campuses.
3.Arne Duncan
Former U.S. Secretary of Education (2009-2016) who implemented the Race to the Top initiative, provided waivers from No Child Left Behind requirements, and promoted Common Core State Standards.
4.Margaret Spellings
Former U.S. Secretary of Education (2005-2009) who oversaw implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act, expanded federal oversight of higher education, and initiated the Commission on the Future of Higher Education.
5.Rod Paige
Former U.S. Secretary of Education (2001-2005) who helped develop and implement the No Child Left Behind Act, emphasizing standards-based education reform and accountability through standardized testing.
6.Richard Riley
Former U.S. Secretary of Education (1993-2001) and South Carolina Governor who championed standards-based reform, expanded college access, and initiated improvements in teacher training and school safety.
7.James Kvaal
Current Under Secretary of Education who leads higher education policy, student financial aid reform, and implementation of Biden administration priorities for postsecondary education.
8.Catherine Lhamon
Chair of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights and former Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the Department of Education, influential in civil rights enforcement in educational settings.
9.Roberto Rodríguez
Assistant Secretary for Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Development at the U.S. Department of Education and former Obama administration education advisor, shaping research-based policy approaches.
10.Cindy Marten
Deputy Secretary of Education and former San Diego Unified School District superintendent, focusing on K-12 policy implementation and school improvement strategies.
11.Ted Mitchell
Former Under Secretary of Education (2014-2017) who led the Obama administration’s higher education initiatives, including gainful employment regulations for for-profit colleges.
12.Bobby Scott
U.S. Representative and Chair of the House Committee on Education and Labor, championing equity-focused legislation and oversight of federal education programs.
13.Patty Murray
U.S. Senator and former Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, playing key roles in the Every Student Succeeds Act and higher education policy.
14.Lamar Alexander
Former U.S. Senator, Secretary of Education, and chair of the Senate Education Committee who led the passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act, replacing No Child Left Behind.
15.Virginia Foxx
U.S. Representative and ranking member of the House Education Committee, advocating for reduced federal role in education and reforms to higher education regulations.
State and Local Policy Leaders
16.Tony Thurmond
California State Superintendent of Public Instruction overseeing the nation’s largest state school system, focusing on equity initiatives and pandemic recovery.
17.Richard Corcoran
Former Florida Commissioner of Education who implemented the state’s ambitious school choice expansion and pandemic-era policies on school operations.
18.Betty Rosa
New York State Commissioner of Education and former Chancellor of the Board of Regents, guiding policy for one of the nation’s most influential state education systems.
19.Kathy Hoffman
Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction focused on expanding dual language programs, teacher retention, and supporting rural schools.
20.Pedro Rivera
President of Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology and former Pennsylvania Secretary of Education, known for equity-focused approaches to school funding and accountability.
21.Penny Schwinn
Tennessee Commissioner of Education implementing comprehensive literacy initiatives and pandemic recovery programs.
22.Richard Woods
Georgia State School Superintendent who reduced testing requirements and emphasized teacher autonomy and whole-child education approaches.
23.Paolo DeMaria
Former Ohio Superintendent of Public Instruction who led the state’s strategic planning for education and implementation of the Every Student Succeeds Act.
24.Joy Hofmeister
Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction who championed teacher pay raises and developed the state’s school accountability system.
25.Jhone Ebert
Nevada Superintendent of Public Instruction leading implementation of a new school funding formula and modernization of the state’s education system.
26.Angelica Infante-Green
Rhode Island Commissioner of Education known for bold interventions in struggling school districts and equity-focused policies.
27.Eric Adams
Mayor of New York City whose education policies address pandemic recovery, school safety, and specialized high school admissions in the nation’s largest school district.
28.London Breed
Mayor of San Francisco whose education initiatives focus on early childhood education expansion and addressing achievement gaps.
29.Lori Lightfoot
Former Mayor of Chicago whose administration negotiated with the Chicago Teachers Union and managed school reopening during the pandemic.
30.Eric Johnson
Mayor of Dallas who has prioritized early childhood education and workforce development through education partnerships.
Academic Researchers and Policy Experts
31.Linda Darling-Hammond
President of the Learning Policy Institute, professor emeritus at Stanford University, and former president of the California State Board of Education, whose research on teacher preparation, school reform, and educational equity has influenced policy nationwide.
32.Raj Chetty
Harvard economist whose research on education and economic mobility, particularly the impact of teachers and neighborhood effects on long-term outcomes, has influenced policy discussions about educational investment.
33.Susan Dynarski
Harvard professor whose research on higher education finance, financial aid policy, and educational inequality has shaped policy approaches to college affordability and access.
34.John Friedman
Brown University economist and co-director of Opportunity Insights, whose research on college access, mobility, and the economic returns to education informs policy debates.
35.Paul Reville
Professor at Harvard Graduate School of Education, former Massachusetts Secretary of Education, and founder of the Education Redesign Lab, advocating for comprehensive child development systems.
36.Helen Ladd
Duke University professor emerita whose research on school finance, accountability, teacher labor markets, and educational equity has influenced policy approaches nationwide.
37.Sean Reardon
Stanford University professor whose research on educational opportunity and achievement gaps across racial and economic lines has shaped understanding of educational inequality.
38.David Figlio
Provost at the University of Rochester and education economist whose research on school choice, accountability, and teacher quality has informed policy design.
39.Bridget Terry Long
Dean of the Harvard Graduate School of Education whose research on college access, financial aid, and student outcomes influences higher education policy.
40.Thomas Kane
Harvard professor and faculty director of the Center for Education Policy Research, whose work on measuring teacher effectiveness, school accountability, and college readiness informs policy development.
41.Richard Murnane
Harvard professor emeritus whose research on the relationships between education and economic opportunity has shaped policy approaches to educational investment.
42.Roland Fryer
Harvard economist whose controversial experimental research on education incentives, charter schools, and strategies to reduce achievement gaps has influenced policy debates.
43.Pedro Noguera
Dean of the USC Rossier School of Education whose research on urban education, school reform, and equity has informed policy approaches to serving marginalized students.
44.Christopher Edley Jr.
Former dean of Berkeley Law School, co-founder of The Opportunity Institute, and civil rights scholar whose work bridges legal scholarship and education policy.
45.Stella Flores
Associate Professor at The University of Texas at Austin whose research on college access for underrepresented students, particularly the impact of state and federal policies, influences higher education policy.
Foundation and Think Tank Leaders
46.Bill Gates
Co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which has invested billions in education initiatives including Common Core State Standards, small schools, teacher evaluation systems, and personalized learning.
47.Melinda French Gates
Co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and founder of Pivotal Ventures, influential in shaping education philanthropy focused on gender equity and educational opportunity.
48.Jim Shelton
Former Deputy Secretary of Education, former president of education at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, and current Chief Investment and Impact Officer at Blue Meridian Partners, bridging education policy, philanthropy, and investment.
49.Sue Desmond-Hellmann
Former CEO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation who guided the foundation’s education strategy and investments in personalized learning and teacher effectiveness.
50.Priscilla Chan
Co-founder of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, whose education philanthropy focuses on whole-child approaches, personalized learning, and educational technology.
51.Wendy Kopp
Founder of Teach For America and CEO of Teach For All, whose organizations have influenced teacher recruitment, preparation, and leadership development globally.
52.Robert Schwartz
Senior Research Fellow at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and former president of Achieve, Inc., influential in standards-based reform and the Pathways to Prosperity initiative.
53.John King
President of The Education Trust, former U.S. Secretary of Education, and former New York State Education Commissioner, advocating for educational equity through policy and philanthropy.
54.Christopher Edley Jr.
Former dean of Berkeley Law School and co-founder of The Opportunity Institute, bridging legal scholarship and education policy with a focus on equity.
55.Amber Northern
Senior Vice President for Research at the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, overseeing studies that inform education policy debates, particularly around standards, accountability, and school choice.
56.Frederick Hess
Director of Education Policy Studies at the American Enterprise Institute, whose commentary and analysis influence conservative approaches to education policy.
57.Robert Pianta
Dean of the University of Virginia School of Education and Human Development whose research on teacher-student interactions and early childhood education has influenced policy and practice.
58.Pedro Noguera
Faculty Director of the Center for the Transformation of Schools at UCLA whose research and advocacy focus on equity and excellence in urban education.
59.Linda Darling-Hammond
President of the Learning Policy Institute, professor emeritus at Stanford University, and president of the California State Board of Education, whose research and advocacy bridge multiple domains of education policy.
60.Michael Horn
Co-founder of the Clayton Christensen Institute for Disruptive Innovation and Senior Strategist at Guild Education, influential in policy discussions about educational innovation and technology.
International Education Policy Leaders
61.Andreas Schleicher
Director for Education and Skills at the OECD and coordinator of the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), whose data and analysis influence education policy globally through international comparisons.
62.Jaime Saavedra
Global Director for Education at the World Bank, former Minister of Education of Peru, shaping education investment and policy advice for developing countries.
63.Alice Albright
CEO of the Global Partnership for Education, leading efforts to strengthen education systems in developing countries through policy support and financial investment.
64.Stefania Giannini
Assistant Director-General for Education at UNESCO, coordinating global education initiatives including the Education 2030 Framework for Action.
65.Malala Yousafzai
Nobel Peace Prize laureate, activist for female education, and founder of the Malala Fund, influencing global education policy discussions, particularly regarding girls’ education.
66.Tony Blair
Former UK Prime Minister whose Tony Blair Institute for Global Change works with governments on education system reforms, particularly in developing countries.
67.Julia Gillard
Former Australian Prime Minister and Chair of the Global Partnership for Education, advocating for education as a development priority globally.
68.Pasi Sahlberg
Finnish educator and author whose analyses of Finland’s education success have influenced education policy reforms worldwide.
69.Claudia Costin
Director of the Center for Excellence and Innovation in Education Policies in Brazil and former Senior Director for Education at the World Bank, influencing education policy in Latin America and globally.
70.Serigne Mbaye Thiam
Vice Chair of the Global Partnership for Education and former Minister of Education of Senegal, representing African perspectives in global education policy forums.
Education Reform and Advocacy Leaders
71.Michelle Rhee
Former Chancellor of Washington D.C. Public Schools and founder of StudentsFirst, whose controversial reforms focused on teacher evaluation, accountability, and school choice.
72.Jeb Bush
Former Florida Governor and founder of the Foundation for Excellence in Education, advocating for school choice, standards-based accountability, and digital learning.
73.Eva Moskowitz
Founder and CEO of Success Academy Charter Schools, influencing charter school policy and practices through her network’s academic results and advocacy.
74.Howard Fuller
Former Milwaukee Public Schools Superintendent, founder of the Institute for the Transformation of Learning at Marquette University, and advocate for school choice for low-income families.
75.Randi Weingarten
President of the American Federation of Teachers, representing 1.7 million members and influencing policy debates on teacher evaluation, school funding, and privatization.
76.Lily Eskelsen García
Former President of the National Education Association and current U.S. Representative to UNESCO, representing teacher perspectives in policy discussions nationally and internationally.
77.Campbell Brown
Former journalist, founder of The 74 education news site, and Head of News Partnerships at Facebook, influencing education policy narratives and advocacy.
78.Jeanne Allen
Founder and CEO of the Center for Education Reform, advocating for charter schools, school choice, and education innovation for over three decades.
79.Deborah Meier
Educator, author, and advocate for progressive education and small, democratically run schools, influencing alternative visions of education policy.
80.Diane Ravitch
Education historian, former Assistant Secretary of Education, and public school advocate whose critique of market-based education reforms has influenced policy debates.
81.Kaya Henderson
Former Chancellor of DC Public Schools who continued and refined education reforms with a focus on teacher quality and educational equity.
82.Geoffrey Canada
Founder of Harlem Children’s Zone, whose cradle-to-career approach has influenced policy discussions about comprehensive community-based education interventions.
83.Marc Tucker
Founder and former president of the National Center on Education and the Economy, whose international benchmarking research has influenced standards and assessment policies.
84.Cheryl Oldham
Senior Vice President of Education Policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, representing business perspectives on education and workforce development policy.
85.Chris Stewart
CEO of brightbeam and education activist whose work focuses on educational equity and parent advocacy, particularly for communities of color.
Higher Education Policy Influencers
86.Ted Mitchell
President of the American Council on Education, former Under Secretary of Education, and former president of Occidental College, influencing higher education policy at multiple levels.
87.Michael Crow
President of Arizona State University whose innovative approaches to university structure, accessibility, and online learning have influenced higher education policy discussions nationwide.
88.Martha Kanter
CEO of College Promise and former Under Secretary of Education, advocating for free community college and college affordability policies.
89.Sara Goldrick-Rab
Founder of the Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice and researcher whose work on college affordability and basic needs insecurity has influenced policy approaches to student support.
90.Sandy Baum
Senior Fellow at the Urban Institute whose research on college affordability, student debt, and financial aid systems informs policy design and evaluation.
91.Anthony Carnevale
Director of the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, whose research on the economic value of degrees and credentials influences higher education and workforce policy.
92.Jamie Merisotis
President and CEO of Lumina Foundation, driving policies to increase postsecondary attainment with a focus on equity and workforce needs.
93.Robert Shireman
Director of Higher Education Excellence and Senior Fellow at The Century Foundation, former Deputy Undersecretary of Education, influential in for-profit college regulation and student loan policy.
94.Peter McPherson
President Emeritus of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, advocating for research funding, college access, and international education.
95.Walter Kimbrough
Former President of Dillard University and higher education leader whose perspectives on HBCUs, student activism, and equity influence policy discussions.
Emerging Policy Voices
96.Sharif El-Mekki
Founder and CEO of the Center for Black Educator Development and former principal, advocating for increasing teacher diversity and culturally responsive education policies.
97.DeRay Mckesson
Civil rights activist, education leader, and host of Pod Save the People, bringing attention to educational equity issues through digital organizing and policy advocacy.
98.Sonja Brookins Santelises
CEO of Baltimore City Public Schools whose leadership in urban education reform includes emphasis on literacy, whole-child approaches, and equity.
99.Nadine Burke Harris
First Surgeon General of California and pediatrician whose work on adverse childhood experiences has influenced policies on trauma-informed education.
100.Donna Harris-Aikens
Senior Advisor for Policy and Planning at the U.S. Department of Education, formerly with the National Education Association, shaping implementation of Biden administration education priorities.
Conclusion
Education policy continues to evolve through complex interactions between research, practice, advocacy, and governance at multiple levels. The individuals highlighted in this list represent different ideological perspectives, professional backgrounds, and policy approaches, collectively shaping how education systems function and develop.
As education faces unprecedented challenges—from pandemic recovery to technological disruption, from persistent inequality to changing workforce needs—the impact of these policy influencers becomes increasingly significant. Their decisions, recommendations, and advocacy affect millions of students, educators, and communities, determining educational opportunities and outcomes for generations.
The diversity of voices represented in this list reflects the contested nature of education policy itself. From those advocating market-based reforms to those defending public institutions, from those emphasizing standards and accountability to those focusing on equity and inclusion, these individuals collectively demonstrate that education policy remains a dynamic arena of ideas, values, and visions for society’s future.
As we navigate complex educational challenges in the years ahead, the quality of education policy—and the wisdom of those who shape it—will remain crucial to creating learning systems that effectively serve all students and communities.
