Inside California's Education System: A Conversation with Dr. Michael Kirst (Part One)

Michael Kirst joins Lisa on this week's episode of "They Are Waiting for Us." Dr. Kirst brings over six decades of invaluable expertise and insight, having served as the longest-running President of the California State Board of Education. In addition to his pioneering work helping shape education policy for the state of California, Dr. Kirst has had an illustrious career as a professor at Stanford University. With high-level experience across academia, government, and policy research, Dr. Kirst offers a unique bird's-eye perspective on education's challenges and opportunities. Tune in as Dr. Andrew and Dr. Kirst have an engaging discussion providing key insights into the past, present, and future of education.About Michael Kirst: The longest-serving President of the California State Board of Education with his second and final term from 2011 to 2019; Stanford Emeritus Professor of Education (and Business Administration by courtesy) Affiliated Faculty, Political Science, Michael W. Kirst is Professor Emeritus of Education and Business Administration at Stanford University. In 2011, Kirst became the President of the California State Board of Education for the second time. Professor Kirst was a member of the California State Board of Education (1975/1982) and its president from 1977 to 1981.Dr. Kirst received his bachelor’s degree in economics from Dartmouth College, his M.P.A. in government and economics from Harvard University, and his Ph.D. in political economy and government from Harvard.Before joining the Stanford University faculty, Dr. Kirst held several positions with the federal government, including Staff Director of the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Manpower, Employment and Poverty, and Director of Program Planning and Evaluation for the Bureau of Elementary and Secondary Education in the U.S. Office of Education (now the U.S. Department of Education). He was a Budget Examiner in the Federal office of Budget and Management, and Associate Director of the White House Fellows. He was a program analyst for the Title I ESEA Program at its inception in 1965.Dr. Kirst is active in several professional organizations. He was a fellow at the Center for Advanced Study in Behavioral Sciences. He has been a member of the National Academy of Education since 1979. He was Vice President of the American Educational Research Association and a commissioner of the Education Commission of the States. Kirst co-founded Policy Analysis for California Education (PACE).A prolific writer, Dr. Kirst has authored ten books, including The Political Dynamics of American Education (2009). As a policy generalist, Professor Kirst has published articles on school finance politics, curriculum politics, intergovernmental relations, as well as education reform policies.His recent book, From High School to College (2004), concerns improving student preparation for success in postsecondary education. His latest books are Remaking College: The Changing Ecology of Higher Education, (2015 with Mitchell Stevens), and Higher Education and Silicon Valley: Connected But Conflicted (2017) with Richard Scott.