Paul Vallas
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Paul Vallas | |
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1st C.E.O. of the Chicago Public Schools
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| In office 1995 – 2001 |
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| Appointed by | Richard Daley |
| Preceded by | Office created |
| Succeeded by | Arne Duncan |
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| Born | June 10, 1953 Chicago, Illinois |
| Political party | Republican (since February 4, 2009) Democratic (until February 4, 2009) |
Paul Gust Vallas (born June 10, 1953) is the superintendent of the Recovery School District of Louisiana, and former CEO of Chicago Public Schools and the School District of Philadelphia.
During his tenure as CEO of the Chicago Public Schools from 1995 to 2001, he led an effort to reform the school system, and his work was cited by President Bill Clinton for raising test scores, improving relations with the teachers' union, balancing the budget, and instituting several new programs included mandatory summer school, after school programs, and expanding alternative, charter, and magnet schools.
The position of CEO of the CPS was created by Mayor Richard M. Daley after he successfully convinced the Illinois State Legislature to place CPS under mayoral control. Vallas had previously directed the budget arm of the Illinois State Legislature and served as budget director for Daley.
Controversy plagued Vallas towards the end of his reign as CPS CEO. Following criticism from the mayor, and the election of a union president who ran on an anti-Vallas platform, Vallas resigned in 2001 and ran for Governor of Illinois as a Democrat. Vallas placed second in the Democratic primary, losing narrowly to now-former-Governor Rod Blagojevich while running ahead of former state Attorney General Roland Burris.[1]
Following the election, Vallas was appointed CEO of School District of Philadelphia. In Philadelphia, he presided over the nation's largest experiment in privatized management of schools, with the management of over 40 schools turned over to outside for-profits, nonprofits, and universities beginning in Fall 2002.
In 2005, Vallas considered challenging Blagojevich again for Illinois governor in the Democratic Primary but decided against it. He then signed a two-year contract (2007–2008) as superintendent of the Recovery School District of Louisiana.
On April 28, 2008 he appeared before the City Club of Chicago and on Chicago news shows discussing a possible run for governor in 2010.[2][3][4] In February 2009, Vallas gave an interview to Carol Marin in the Chicago Sun-Times and stated that he planned to return to Cook County, Illinois in 2009 and run as a Republican for Cook County Board president in 2010.[5]
On June 11, 2009, Vallas announced that he would not be a candidate for President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners in 2010. Vallas stated that he could not "begin a political campaign while trying to finish what he started--rebuild the school system there in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina."[6]
[edit] References
- ^ "IL Governor - D Primary, March 19, 2002". OurCampaigns.com. December 21, 2004. http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=6435. Retrieved February 9, 2009.
- ^ Vallas interested in running for Illinois guv, Greg Hinz, Crain's Chicago Business', April 28, 2008
- ^ Vallas "open" to run for governor in 2010, David Mendell, Chicago Tribune, April 28, 2008
- ^ Former CPS CEO considering run for governor, Rosalind Rossi, Chicago Sun-Times, April 28, 2008
- ^ Marin, Carol (2009-02-04). "Vallas targets County Board run". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on 2009-02-04. http://blogs.suntimes.com/marin/2009/02/exclusive_paul_vallas_will_run.html. Retrieved 2009-02-08.
- ^ Kass: Vallas staying put in New Orleans. John Kass, Chicago Tribune June 11, 2009.
[edit] External links
- Times Topics - Paul G. Vallas The New York Times, collected news stories, including commentary and archival articles
- Leadership PBS, profile of Vallas's work in New Orleans
- Political educator: Paul Vallas became the nation's most sought-after superintendent by bringing order and energy to Chicago's moribund school system Alexander Russo, Education Next, Winter 2003, profile
