Educator James to lead nonprofit group in state

Ken James, a former Arkansas education commissioner and school district superintendent, is returning to work within the state as the president of a nonprofit organization that seeks to improve high school math, science and English achievement through the College Board’s Advanced Placement program.

James, a 36-year educator, will begin work Oct. 1, succeeding Tommie Sue Anthony. Anthony is retiring as the founding chief of the Arkansas Advanced Initiative for Math and Science.

The grant-funded organization partners with the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and public high schools to better prepare high school students for college and to ultimately increase the number of college graduates with degrees in science, math and engineering fields.

“There are few people who have a stronger track record of promoting academic achievement by Arkansas students than Ken James,” said former state Sen. Jim Argue, D-Little Rock, chairman of the organization’s board of directors. “He has been a champion for raising standards and enriching curriculum. AAIMS is fortunate to have acquired his leadership.”

James, owner of a Little Rock-based education consulting service, served as Arkansaseducation commissioner from 2oo4-09 during the administrations of Gov. Mike Huckabee and Gov. Mike Beebe.

As the chief executive of the Arkansas Department of Education, he helped lead the development and implementation of policies and procedures designed to improve the public education system. During his tenure at the state agency, he also was president of the national Council of Chief State School Officers and an early proponent for national Common Core State Standards, testifying in Congress for them.

James left the state agency to become chief operating officer of America’s Choice, a national school improvement organization that was purchased by Pearson Inc. in 2010. James remained with that company as executive vice president for state and government relations until late last year.

James is a former superintendent of the Jefferson County, Ky., public schools, based in Lexington; as well as the Little Rock, Van Buren and Batesville school districts.

In 1989, James was selected as the Superintendent of the Year for Arkansas.

An Arkansas native, James began his education career in 1972 as a classroom teacher in California.

James earned his Ed.D. in 1992 from the United States International University in San Diego, a masters of arts in 1976 from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Ariz., and a bachelor of science education in 1972 from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro.

The math and science initiative that James will now lead at an annual salary of $125,000 was originally established with a $13.2 million, five-year grant from Exxon Mobil Corp.

The purpose of the grant to Arkansas and about a half-dozen other states was to increase the number of high school students who earn scores of 3, 4 and 5 on the College Board’s Advanced Placement tests in English, math and science. Students who earn those scores are typically awarded college credit hours or are permitted to skip some entry-level courses in college, enabling them to save tuition costs, accelerate college graduation and/or free them to take other courses.

The math and science initiative has provided training for the Advanced Placement courses to teachers and Saturday tutoring sessions for students in nearly 40 high schools, as well as financial incentives to teachers and students for qualifying scores of 3 or better on the student tests.

While the Exxon Mobil grant has been expended, the initiative is able to continue operating and expand many of its services to additional high schools as a result of 2013 state appropriation of $925,000 and an $850,000 Walton Family Foundation grant.

Northwest Arkansas, Pages 9 on 07/23/2013

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