Condoleezza Rice has a new position in education. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush tapped the former secretary of state last Thursday to take over as chair of the Foundation for Excellence in Education.
“I cannot overstate Dr. Rice’s international and national accomplishments and vast intellect and bold vision she brings to our ambitious work in reform,” said Bush on Rice’s appointment.
Rice, who is currently a professor at Stanford University, already has close ties with the Bush family. She served as secretary of state during the administration of Bush’s brother, George W. Bush, and has served on the board of Jeb Bush’s foundation since 2013.
Jeb Bush, who left the foundation at the end of last year, said Rice would be a “strong and compelling voice” for school choice and education reform.
The former secretary of state is no stranger to education reform policies. In 2012 Rice co-chaired the Council on Foreign Relations task force that looked at the impact the quality of education in America has on the country’s national security.
As part of Rice’s report, she advocated for the expansion of Common Core State Standards to include subjects beyond English and mathematics as well as an expansion of charter schools and voucher programs.
As part of the foundation’s transitional plan, Philip Handy will take over as president. Handy was particularly close to Bush while he served as governor. Bush had appointed him to serve as chair of the Florida State Board of Education, a position he held for six years.
Patricia Levesque will stay on as the foundation’s CEO.
The Foundation for Excellence in Education has maintained a national focus since its inception in 2008, working to promote educational reform to help students “reach their God-given potential.”
Bush also organized a Florida-centered foundation — the Foundation for Florida’s Future — which has spearheaded advocacy of the “Florida formula,” which grades schools across the state on an “A” to “F” scale. This formula became a model for many other states and has since been used as the primary tool for grading schools on academic achievement in the Sunshine State.
The Foundation for Florida’s Future vice president of communications, Jaryn Emhof, told Sunshine State News the Florida-centered organization’s mission would remain unchanged as well, meaning the organization wouldn’t lose its Florida presence just because Rice has taken over.
“Under the leadership of [the foundation’s] board of trustees, it will continue working to keep Florida a national leader in improving education for its students,” she said.
The organization also hosts a national education summit each year. This year’s summit is set for Tallahassee, Feb. 10. Along with Rice and Bush, Gov. Rick Scott, Senate President Andy Gardiner, and House Speaker Steve Crisafulli are all expected to attend.
Reach Tampa-based reporter Allison Nielsen by email at allison@sunshinestatenews.com or follow her on Twitter: @AllisonNielsen.
