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Keeping California's Schools Competitive

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Commonwealth Club of California

Commonwealth Club

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Craig Barrett

Dr. Craig Barrett is a leading advocate for improving education in the U.S. and around the world. He is also a vocal spokesman for the value technology can provide in raising social and economic standards globally. He recently stepped down as Chairman of the Board of Intel Corporation, a post he held from May 2005 to May 2009.

A former associate professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering of Stanford University, he is the author of more than 40 technical papers in his field of study and is a leading advocate for improving education in the United States.

Moira Gunn

Moira Gunn is host of the radio programs "Tech Nation" and "BioTech Nation," aired by National Public Radio. "Tech Nation" episodes are normally based on an interview with the author of a science- or technology-related book. "BioTech Nation" is based on interviews with significant figures in the field of bio-technology, as well as regular discussions with science journalist David Ewing Duncan.

"Tech Nation" and "BioTech Nation" programs are also published as podcasts by IT Conversations.

Gunn's early career included work at NASA on large-scale scientific computation and global communications, with special emphasis in infrared satellite image processing, computational fluid dynamics, and global climate and weather modeling. She also did work in robotics engineering at IBM, Morton Thiokol, United Technologies/Pratt and Whitney, Lockheed-Martin, Rolls-Royce, and the US Navy.

Gunn has a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Purdue University and an M.A. in computer science.

Michael Kirst

Michael Kirst has been a professor of education and business administration at Stanford University since 1969. He is a faculty affiliate with the department of political science, and has a courtesy appointment with the Graduate School of Business.

Before that, he held several positions with the federal government, including staff director of the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Manpower, Employment, and Poverty, and director of program planning and evaluation for the Bureau of Elementary and Secondary Education in the U.S. Office of Education. Kirst was a member of the California State Board of Education (1975-1982), and its president from 1977 to 1981. A prolific writer, he is the author of 10 books, including The Political Dynamics of American Education (2005). He holds a bachelor's degree in economics from Dartmouth College, an MPA in government and economics from Harvard University, and a PhD in political economy and government from Harvard.

Wendy Kopp

Wendy Kopp is founder and CEO of Teach For America, which is working to build the movement to eliminate educational inequity by enlisting the nation's most promising future leaders in the effort. This year 48,000 individuals of all academic majors applied to Teach For America; more than 8,000 corps members in the midst of two-year teaching commitments taught in 39 urban and rural regions nationwide; and 20,000 alumni continued working toward educational excellence and equity from positions both inside and outside the education system.

Kopp is also CEO and co-founder of Teach For All, which is seeking to accelerate and increase the impact of this model in a growing number of countries around the world. She is the author of A Chance to Make History: What Works and What Doesn't in Providing an Excellent Education for All.

Craig Barrett Demands Capable Math and Science Teachers

02 min 00 sec

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Craig Barrett faults the low achievement levels of students in math and science classes to unqualified teachers.

In addition to the K-12 classroom, Barrett faults poor teachers for "turning kids off of majoring in the key topics of the 21st century." "We are doing ourselves an immense disservice," he says.
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01 hr 11 min 42 sec

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