State Superintendant, Newark Public Schools

Plenary Respondent: Student Behavior in the Context of Emerging Research

Ms. Anderson became the State Superintendant of the Newark Public Schools in 2011. Prior to her current role, she served as Superintendent of Alternative High Schools and Programs for the New York City Department of Education (District 79)—a unique citywide agency serving 20,000 young people and 60,000 adults, where she oversaw the educational needs of 50,000 individuals at a variety of facilities, including suspension sites, transfer schools, and correctional education facilities such as the schools on Rikers Island. Ms Anderson earned an Ed.M. from Harvard and worked as executive director of Teach For America - New York City and as chief program officer at New Leaders for New Schools. Anderson graduated with a bachelor's degree in Education and Anthropology from the University of California at Berkeley and a master's degree in Public Policy and Education from Harvard. Anderson is an Aspen Global Leader Fellow and the recipient of both the Sallie Mae National Teacher of the Year Award and Teach For America’s Peter Jennings Award for Civic Leadership.