David Coleman Named One of TIME Magazine's TIME 100

NEW YORK — TIME named College Board President David Coleman to the 2013 TIME 100, the magazine’s annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world. The full list appears in the April 29 issue of TIME, available on newsstands and tablets on Friday, April 19, and now at time.com/time100. Coleman became the ninth president of the College Board in October 2012.

The TIME 100 list, now in its tenth year, recognizes the activism, innovation and achievement of the world’s most influential individuals. As TIME Managing Editor Richard Stengel has said of the list in the past, “The TIME 100 is not a list of the most powerful people in the world, it’s not a list of the smartest people in the world, it’s a list of the most influential people in the world. They’re scientists, they’re thinkers, they’re philosophers, they’re leaders, they’re icons, they’re artists, they’re visionaries.  People who are using their ideas, their visions, their actions to transform the world and have an effect on a multitude of people.”

Coleman is recognized by TIME for his work as a lead architect of the Common Core State Standards and the promising new direction he has signaled for the College Board. 

“Innovation, collaboration, and excellence all require leadership,” wrote Governor Jeb Bush in his 2013 TIME 100 Tribute to Coleman. “Everyone who meets David is struck by his intelligence, eloquence, and diligence on behalf of America’s students. He has worked hard to bring together leaders from both parties and from both ends of the education spectrum.” Democratic Governor John Hickenlooper of Colorado added: “David’s leadership has been pivotal and will continue to be. The Standards are a great step forward and I look forward to working with David on delivering opportunity for all our students.”

The Common Core State Standards in math and literacy have been adopted for use in 45 states. A state-led effort that established a single set of clear educational standards for kindergarten through 12th grade, the Common Core calls for high standards that are consistent across states to provide teachers, parents, and students with a set of clear expectations for student achievement. David played a leading role in the development of the literacy standards, which offer all students the opportunity to read carefully high quality literature and non-fiction, including pivotal documents of American history. The success of the Common Core represents a rare breakthrough being achieved by people who set aside political and philosophical differences for the good of students. 

“The greatest source of power within education is the work that teachers and students do every single day,” said Coleman. “The Common Core embodies and honors the work of countless educators and ensures that all students, no matter where they live, are well prepared for the skills and knowledge they need to be successful in college and career. I am grateful to the editors at TIME for recognizing this important work.”  

In his first six months as president of the College Board, a not-for-profit education organization committed to delivering opportunity to all students, Coleman has made delivering opportunities to all students the top priority –  particularly low-income, Latino, African American, and Native American students – in pursuing the opportunities they have earned. As part of this commitment, the College Board will be supporting students through evidence-based, effective practices that expand college opportunities for high-achieving, low-income students. 

“The College Board sees the millions of students who take part in our programs as within our care, and we feel a deep sense of responsibility to propel students forward,” said Coleman. “We can’t stand by as students, particularly low-income students, go off track and don’t pursue the opportunities they have earned.”  

Over the next several months, the College Board will also work closely with its member institutions to redesign the SAT® to bring a stronger focus on the core knowledge and skills that are most important to prepare students for the rigors of college and career. The updated SAT will reinforce the practice of enriching and valuable schoolwork through stronger alignment to college and career readiness, ensuring that the content reflects excellence in classroom instruction.

Coleman comes from a family of educators. Prior to joining the College Board, Coleman was CEO of Student Achievement Partners, the not-for-profit he co-founded and which played a leading role in the development of the Common Core State Standards. Coleman also co-founded the Grow Network – an organization committed to making assessment results truly useful for teachers, parents and students – which was acquired by McGraw-Hill Education in 2005.  Coleman began his professional career at McKinsey & Company, where his work focused on health care, financial institutions, and pro bono service to education. 

A native of New York City, Coleman is a Rhodes Scholar and a graduate of Yale University, Oxford University, and Cambridge University.  In addition to the 2013 TIME 100, he was recognized as one of TIME’s “11 Education Activists for 2011” and also was named one of the NewSchools Venture Fund Change Agents of the Year for 2012. 

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