An Interview with Jal Mehta

Charles Leadbeater, an internationally renowned author and advisor on innovation, discusses how systemic change in education can lead to greater student agency with NCEE's Anthony Mackay.

Tracey Burns, an international education researcher, talks with NCEE’s Anthony Mackay about potential directions for education around the world.

America Achieves CEO Jon Schnur discusses the importance of a good jobs agenda and the role of career pathway systems for preparing children for the next economy.

Anthony Mackay speaks with Bob Schwartz, professor at Harvard University and co-founder of the Pathways to Prosperity network, about what America needs to do to update its CTE system to match leading countries around the world.

In this interview, Harvard Graduate School of Education Professor Jal Mehta argues that our current system of schools—designed in the early 20th century industrial era—need to become modern organizations capable of supporting deeper learning for all students.

NCEE CEO Anthony Mackay spoke with Linda Darling-Hammond, the Charles E. Ducommun Professor of Education Emeritus at Stanford University, president and CEO of the Learning Policy Institute, and a member of NCEE’s Center on International Education Benchmarking advisory board. The two discussed what it might take, in this post-pandemic moment, to strengthen our public education system and ensure that it supports social cohesion, economic prosperity, and individual and collective well-being. Darling-Hammond explained that historically there is an “anatomy of inequality” in the U.S. education system. Poverty and segregation, unequal school resources, inequitable distribution of well-qualified educators, and lack of access to a rigorous curriculum work against too many of our students.

Anthony Mackay is joined by Arne Duncan, former Secretary of Education during the Obama administration. In his current role as managing partner at the Emerson Collective, Duncan leads Chicago CRED, an effort that aims to improve opportunities for young people in Chicago with a specific focus on tackling gun violence. During the interview, Duncan highlights the power of education and its role in strengthening our nation’s democracy. Duncan identifies what he calls "nation-building goals" that the U.S. should focus on that include: improving access to high-quality pre-K; increasing the national high school graduation rate to 90 percent and incrementally working toward 100 percent; and boosting the rate of college completion. He also details the critical importance of providing equitable supports in U.S. schools, saying that the students most affected by the coronavirus pandemic should be given the time, technology, and talent they need to thrive.

Anthony Mackay is joined by James Pellegrino, founding co-director of the University of Illinois at Chicago’s (UIC) interdisciplinary Learning Sciences Research Institute, and member of NCEE’s Board of Trustees. Pellegrino’s research and development interests focus on children's and adult's thinking and learning and the implications of cognitive research and theory for assessment and instructional practice. He has contributed to several National Academy of Science/National Research Council studies, including How People Learn: Brain, Mind, Experience, and School and How People Learn II: Learners, Contexts, and Cultures. During the interview, Pellegrino and Mackay discuss how people learn and the “deep learning debate.” Pellegrino also shares his views on the future of assessment of student learning in the U.S. and associated policy implications.

Anthony Mackay is joined by John White, co-founder and board chairman of Propel America and member of NCEE’s Board of Trustees. Mackay and White reflect on the unprecedented year that was 2020, make predictions for 2021, and discuss how the incoming Biden administration can create a positive, lasting impact on education in the US for years to come. During the interview, White, who previously served as the Louisiana State Superintendent of Education as well as Deputy Chancellor for the New York City Department of Education, details what he views as the highest priority items of an education change agenda that responds to the initial crisis caused by the pandemic but also has a long-term system-wide focus.

Anthony Mackay is joined by Dr. Aaron Thompson, president of the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE) and member of NCEE’s Board of Trustees. A first-generation college student, Dr. Thompson works to ensure all Kentuckians have an equal opportunity to improve their lives through postsecondary education. During the interview, Dr. Thompson shares insights from his recently released co-authored book, Implementing Innovative Leadership in an Inclusive Learning Environment, that provides educational leaders with ­effective, research-based strategies for delivering culturally competent, responsive, and inclusive school leadership. Dr. Thompson also highlights a four-step process to be used to implement and assess culturally competent leadership: awareness, acknowledgement, acceptance and action, which he refers to as “A4th.”