H. Naylor Fitzhugh Conference - Closing the Achievement Gap

Closing the Achievement Gap: What Has To Happen To Deliver Scalable Change

Closing the achievement gap has been a national priority since the late 80s, but recent reports still show a vast chasm between blacks and whites. What methods have been effective in increasing performance scores for minorities and how can they be replicated on a national scale?

Panel Speakers

Josh Zoia, Principal, KIPP Lynn

Mr. Zoia is the founder and Executive Director of KIPP Academy Lynn. Mr. Zoia grew up in Marblehead and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania. After living on a sailboat for a year and traveling the world, he joined Teach for America, where he taught 4th grade in a South Bronx Elementary school for two years. Mr. Zoia then discovered KIPP Bronx where he taught 6th grade science and history for four years. While at KIPP Bronx, he was inspired by what was possible in education. Mr. Zoia was selected as a KIPP Leadership Fellow and trained to bring KIPP back home. Now in his sixth year at KAL, Josh has moved into the Executive Director role. Josh lives in Lynn, MA with his wife Pat and his two children, Jabali and Maya.

Otis Rolley, Mayoral Candidate for Baltimore

Otis France Rolley was the seventh Director of Planning for the City of Baltimore, Maryland, serving from July 2003 until 2007. Upon taking office at age 29, Rolley was the youngest director of a large city planning department in America. Under Rolley’s leadership, Baltimore adopted its first Comprehensive Master Plan in 39 years.

After Shelia Dixon became Mayor of Baltimore she asked Rolley to co-direct her Transition Team, and after a successful transition, Otis was asked to join her administration as her Chief of Staff. After successfully assisting Mayor Dixon in completing the final year of former Mayor O’Malley’s term, and helping her to earn her own term as the 48th Mayor of Baltimore, Rolley joined the nonprofit sector to serve as the founding President and Chief Executive Officer of the Central Maryland Transportation Alliance (CMTA). He successfully launched and established CMTA, an advocacy organization formed by a coalition of area business, civic, environmental and philanthropic leaders, dedicated to improving and expanding transit and transportation options for the people of Central Maryland. Though a young organization, CMTA was honored twice by the Maryland Daily Record for its work as an Innovator of the Year in 2008 and 2009.

In 2010, Rolley joined Urban Policy Development (UPD). UPD Consulting is a Baltimore-based, minority-owned public sector management consulting firm that specializes in a wide range of services including education accountability, housing and human services, community and economic development, data warehousing, and public-private partnerships. Rolley headed its urban redevelopment and local government reform sectors until recently. Rolley is currently running for mayor of the city of Baltimore.

Kwasi Asare, Associate Director, Department of Education

Kwasi Asare is Associate Director of Education Technology at the US Department of Education. He is responsible for teaching and learning technology strategy, policy, and research in the Office of Education Technology. He leads internal and external teams, fosters partner projects, and drives education technology initiatives supporting priorities for the Secretary of Education.

Prior to joining the Department, Asare was a senior product manager in the Tivoli brand of IBM’s Software Division. In that role, he was responsible for the profit and loss of compliance software that helped customers to satisfy regulatory requirements.

Previously, Asare was the worldwide product marketing manager for IBM’s energy management portfolio and brand manager. In that capacity, he was a key leader in the establishment of IBM’s market presence in energy efficiency as part of a larger program for a smarter, greener, more efficient planet.

Asare has held positions in product management, brand management, software development, consulting, business development, and strategy. Asare holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Wake Forest University and a master’s degree in business administration from the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School. He and his wife, Tamika, reside in Arlington, VA.

David Thomas, HBS Professor (Moderator)

David Thomas is H. Naylor Fitzhugh Professor of Business Administration and Unit Head of the Organizational Behavior unit at Harvard Business School. David Thomas is a recognized thought leader in the area of strategic human resource management. His research addresses issues related to executive development, cultural diversity in organizations, leadership and organizational change. He is co-author of the Best Selling Harvard Business Review article “Making Differences Matter: A New Paradigm for Managing Diversity.” His book Breaking Through: The Making of Minority Executives in Corporate America (with John Gabarro) has met with critical acclaim in reviews by academics and journalists.