Vicki Phillips Selected to Lead the Education Division within the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

SEATTLE -- The foundation today announced that Dr. Vicki L. Phillips has been named director of the foundation’s education strategy and grantmaking within its U.S. Program. Phillips, now Superintendent of Portland Public Schools (PPS), has devoted her career to ensuring young people achieve and meet their full potential, as a teacher, as an administrator in the education non-profit sector and as a leader of state and local school systems.

“After a rigorous nationwide search, it became clear that Vicki’s deep understanding of the challenges facing our nation’s schools combined with her strong track record of school improvement are a prime match for leading our education division,” said Allan Golston, President of the U.S. Program at the Gates Foundation. “Under Vicki’s leadership, we will continue and build upon our work with our partners from around the country to increase the nation’s high school graduation rates, especially among low income, African American and Hispanic young people, and ensure all students graduate ready for college, career and citizenship. “

Today, more than one million students fail to finish high school, including half of African American and Hispanic students. Of those who do graduate, only half have the knowledge and skills they need to succeed. Over the last seven years, the foundation has made significant investments to reverse these startling statistics.

In her new position, Phillips will join the U.S. Program team and direct the foundation’s education portfolio. The portfolio also includes scholarship programs to remove the financial barriers to college for promising students and an initiative to improve early learning in Washington state. Dr. Phillips will complete the school year in Portland and begin work at the foundation August 1, overseeing and expanding upon more than $3.4 billion in strategic education investments and partnerships.

“I have had the privilege of working with the Gates Foundation for many years and am honored to join this remarkable organization,” Phillips said. “I have been deeply struck not only by the foundation’s commitment to the young people of this nation, but also by its willingness to tackle huge challenges in our education system, work very hard with its partners to learn lessons from the work and then to make the necessary adjustments that will ensure long-term change. I look forward to building on the work of the education division’s most recent director, Tom Vander Ark, and working with the Gates team and education partners across the country in pushing our education system to lift expectations for all students.”

In her three-year tenure as Superintendent of PPS, the largest school district in the Pacific Northwest, Vicki has overseen pre-kindergarten through 12th grade schools and programs that include alternative schools, charter schools and education services for those with special needs. Vicki’s role as Superintendent has been distinguished by her effective leadership in implementing an effort to increase high school graduation and college readiness rates in Portland, particularly among African American and Latino youth. Partnering with the state, the business community and others, she has rapidly built a strong leadership team and institutionalized efforts to raise graduation rates, tighten core curriculum, and equip teachers with the tools and training they need to help students succeed.

“Young people across the nation will benefit from Vicki’s dedication, expertise and passion for increasing student achievement and equity in our schools,” said School Board Co-Chair Dan Ryan. “We are honored by her selection. In Portland, our committed School Board, strong senior leadership team and dedicated principals, teachers and school staff will continue the reforms Vicki has initiated, bringing long-term dividends of stronger schools and more successful students.”

As Pennsylvania Secretary of Education, Phillips helped garner new investments and secure legislation to close the achievement gap between minority and low-income students and other students, and she oversaw a significant increase—62 percent to 81 percent—in schools that show progress in all students’ learning. During her career, she has tackled the challenges of an urban school district and of states and has overseen significant student achievement gains.

As director, Dr. Phillips will manage and build upon the foundation’s overall high school work in 47 states and the District of Columbia, which supports more than 1,800 schools, including more than 1,100 new schools and nearly 800 redesigned schools, directly benefiting more than one million students. This includes a partnership with Meyer Memorial Trust that has invested more than $25 million in education reform efforts and schools in Portland and throughout Oregon.