This article was originally published in The Notebook. In August 2020, The Notebook became Chalkbeat Philadelphia.
Governor-elect Tom Corbett announced his 400-member transition team today, including a 34-member education committee. Prominent among its volunteer members are charter school operators and conservative education policy advocates as well as a few Democrats. They include State Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams of Philadelphia and some key financial backers of Williams’ unsuccessful gubernatorial campaign in which school vouchers were a major focus.
Other Philadelphians on the education committee include charter school operators Larry Jones and Michael Karp, attorney Carl Singley, and disciplinary school operator David Shulick.
Charles Zogby, former Ridge administration secretary of education, a key architect of the 2001 state takeover of Philadelphia schools, is also on the committee.
Here are the members:
Co-Chair – Joel Greenberg, Susquehanna International Group
Co-Chair – Mark Nordenberg, Chancellor University of Pittsburgh
Jim Agras, CEO of Triangle Tech and State Board of Education;
Jeanne Allen, President of Center for Education Reform;
Chris Bravacos, President, Bravo Group;
Matt Brouillette, President, Commonwealth Foundation;
PA State Rep. Paul Clymer;
Marie Conley, Chair of the Human Resources Committee, Board of Governors;
Bill Donahue, Treasurer of Donahue Family Foundation;
Carolyn Dumaresq, Partner, Dumaresq Consulting;
Dan Fitzpatrick, President/CEO, Citizens Bank;
Amy Forester, Saul Ewing;
Don Francis, Independent Colleges & Universities;
Dennis Giorno, Malady & Wooten;
Vahan Gureghian, Chester Community Charter School;
Larry Jones, President of Charter School Association;
Michael Karp, President of University City Housing;
Ruth O’Block Grant, Member, Board of Trustees, Seton Hill University;
Pat O’Connor, COB, Temple University, Cozen & O’Connor;
PA State Senator Jeffrey Piccola;
David Pollard, Susquehanna International Group;
Ana Puig, Co-Chair of Kitchen Table Patriots;
Father Ed Quinlan, Secretary of Education, Harrisburg Diocese;
Cynthia Richey, Director of Mt. Lebanon Library System;
Richard Sand, Managing Partner of Sand & Saidel Law Firm;
Dave Shulick, Shulick Law Offices;
Carl Singley, Counsel, Ciardi, Ciardi and Astin;
Karen Stout, President of Montgomery County Community College;
Bob Taylor, Trustee, Slippery Rock University;
Paul Taylor, Executive Director Archabbey, St. Vincent’s College;
Ron Tomalis, Director of Dutko Worldwide;
Dennis Tulli, Cyber Charters;
PA State Senator Anthony Williams;
Charles Zogby, K12 Inc. (Knowledge Universe).