TIM PAWLENTY
Chair

TIM PAWLENTY was first elected governor of Minnesota in 2002, with the state facing a $4.5 billion budget deficit — the largest in state history. Just months after Pawlenty took office, the legislature adopted his plan to eliminate the deficit without raising taxes. In 2005 and 2007, Governor Pawlenty balanced the state budget again without raising taxes.

Besides bringing Minnesota from historic budget crisis to financial security, Pawlenty fought for and oversaw passage of a dramatic overhaul and improvement of the state's education standards; a significant increase in K-12 education spending along with a nation-leading teacher performance pay program; health care reforms that led to a zero percent premium increase in the state insurance program; significant welfare reform; a range of new government efficiency initiatives; and a doubling of the state's ethanol standard to increase use of renewable fuels and reduce dependence on foreign oil. 

Pawlenty grew up in South St. Paul, Minnesota. The only child in his family to graduate from college, he attended the University of Minnesota and practiced law in the private sector. His public service career includes serving as a city councilmember and ten-year member of the Minnesota House of Representatives, including four years as House Majority Leader. He serves as Chair of the National Governors Association and on the National Infrastructure Advisory Council, the Achieve Inc. Board of Directors and the James B. Hunt Jr. Institute Board of Directors. He is a former chair of the Midwestern Governors Association and the Governors Ethanol Coalition.

Governor Pawlenty and his wife, Mary have two daughters.

Minnesota Governor's Web site

BARBARA M. CLARK
Vice Chair

Barbara Clark has been a member of the New York State Assembly for 22 years, using her office to champion equity in funding and access to quality educational programs for all students in New York State. Clark serves as House Assistant Majority Whip, member of the Majority Steering Committee; Health Budget Joint Conference Committee; Chair, Education Committee of the NYS Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus; and member of the Assembly Standing Committees on Education; Libraries and Education Technology; Children and Families; and Labor. She is the former Chair of the Assembly Standing Committees on Aging; State and Federal Relations; and New York State Legislative Women’s Caucus, a bipartisan organization of women legislators from both the Senate and Assembly. 

She has been a Commissioner of the Education Commission of the States (ECS) since 1989 and served two terms on the ECS Steering Committee prior to her appointment as Vice-Chair. 

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RICHARD G. RHODA
Treasurer

Richard G. Rhoda is the executive director of the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, a post he has held since 1997. He served previously with the Tennessee Board of Regents in numerous staff capacities, including chief academic officer and acting chancellor. While serving on the Regents staff, he also served as interim president of Nashville State Technical Community College and Austin Peay State University. He served earlier in the administration of Tennessee State University. Rhoda has taught on the undergraduate and graduate levels at Vanderbilt University where he continues as an adjunct professor.

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ROGER SAMPSON
President

Roger Sampson has had a distinguished career for more than 20 years in Alaska while earning a reputation for quality, innovation and increased student achievement. The State Board of Education & Early Development appointed Sampson as Alaska Commissioner of Education & Early Development in 2003. He resigned effective August 17, 2007 to take the position of president of the Education Commission of the States. During Sampson's tenure as Commissioner, the Alaska Department of Education & Early Development established a statewide full-release mentoring program for beginning teachers and administrators in partnership with the University of Alaska. The department also established, with the approval of the Legislature, an innovative public school performance incentive program. Sampson has served in a variety of roles and positions in public schools, including school administrator in both rural and urban Alaska.

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