Thomas W. Payzant

Thomas W. Payzant is Professor of Practice at Harvard University's Graduate School of Education. He has served as school superintendent in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania; Eugune, Oregon; Oklahoma City; San Diego; and the city of Boston. In 1993, he was appointed to President Clinton to serve as assistant secretary for elementary and secondary education in the U.S. Department of Education. He worked closely with the Clinton administration to enact passage of the Goals 2000: Educate America Act and to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. He has written more than 30 journal articles and book reviews. In 1998, he was named one of four national finalists for Superintendent of the Year by the American Association of School Administrators.