ERS Announces the Appointment of Jean-Claude Brizard to the Board of Directors

Education consulting nonprofit Education Resource Strategies (ERS) has appointed Jean-Claude Brizard, a 30-year veteran of the education sector, to its Board of Directors.  Brizard has held roles across the education sector and currently serves as President and CEO of Digital Promise, a global, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization focused on accelerating innovation in education.  “We are thrilled to have Jean-Claude join our amazing Board of Directors,” said Karen Miles, CEO and President of ERS. “He brings such experience and hard-won wisdom from his work leading school systems, in philanthropy, and now as a nonprofit leader working to expand digital access and better connect research and practice.”

“Jean-Claude has devoted his career to supporting students,” said Pete Gorman, ERS Board Member. “He’s worked tirelessly to make sure that all students have access to the resources they need to thrive.” 

Prior to Digital Promise, Brizard was the Senior Advisor and Deputy Director in U.S. Programs at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. There, he led the program’s P-16 Community Investment Team; oversaw strategies closing racial and economic opportunity gaps in Washington State’s educational system; and supported the growth and sustainability of Washington’s public charter schools’ sector.  

Brizard and ERS have been partnering with each other for nearly 15 years leading up to this appointment. “ERS was instrumental in supporting my strategies as I led two large urban school systems,” he said. “Our equity in finance and high school reform work would not have been possible without the leadership and team at ERS.” 

Years later, Brizard solicited ERS’ support again while at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. “I called on ERS again to help with our Washington State strategy, knowing first-hand how ERS could help improve school system outcomes.” He added, “Joining ERS’ Board is my way of giving back to an organization that has given me and my students so much.” 

Brizard formerly served as the Chief Executive Officer at Chicago Public Schools and the Superintendent of Schools at Rochester City School District. His experience also includes a 21-year career with the New York City Department of Education as both an educator and an administrator. As Regional Superintendent, he supervised more than 100 schools in the Borough of Brooklyn. He also served as the system’s Executive Director for its 400 secondary schools. He is a Fellow at the Broad Center, a Fellow at the Pahara-Aspen Institute, and a member of the Aspen Institute Global Leadership Network.