Gov. Hunt Honored for Public Service in Education
April 23, 2003
Former North Carolina Governor Receives New Award
CHAPEL HILL, NC, April 23, 2003 –
Four-term North Carolina Governor James B. Hunt, Jr. was awarded the first Distinguished Public Service Award from the American Educational Research Association (AERA) for his work in enacting public education policies firmly based in education research.
“I have long maintained that providing our children with a top-quality education is the single most important gift we can give them and that this requires taking advantage of the finest in education research," said Governor Hunt. "That is why it is such an honor to receive the first Distinguished Public Service Award from a group I respect and that shares my deep commitment to education.”
The award was presented to Governor Hunt Wednesday at AERA’s 84th Annual Meeting in Chicago, attended by approximately 12,000 education researchers.
In presenting the award, AERA’s Member-at-Large Lorraine McDonnell said, “What is truly outstanding about Governor Hunt’s record is that he focused the public spotlight on improving schools more than 20 years ago, long before chief executives in other states even knew what it meant to be an ‘education governor.’”
Prior to the award presentation, Governor Hunt described his personal experiences with education research in his address, How I Know that We Can Make Every School Work and Help Every Child Learn.
Governor Hunt shared with the research community the data that he found compelling in stimulating efforts to change schools and get results. The Rand Corporation reports that, under Hunt’s leadership, North Carolina public schools improved National Assessment of Education Progress math test scores more than any other state in the 1990s.
In his address, Hunt also described the unique role of his namesake organization, the James B. Hunt, Jr. Institute for Educational Leadership and Policy in Chapel Hill, NC, and its distinctive work with governors and other top political and education leaders in the United States. Established in 2001 and based at the University of North Carolina, the Institute works with governors and other national, state and local leaders to improve public education. Hunt chairs the Institute’s board.
AERA’s Annual Meeting runs from April 21 to 25. Sessions will discuss research findings that impact education, from pre-kindergarten to post-secondary education and beyond. Founded in 1916 and based in Washington, DC, AERA offers a comprehensive program of scholarly publications, training, fellowships and meetings to advance educational research.
For additional information about AERA and the Distinguished Public Service Award, contact AERA Communications at (202) 223-9485, or outreach@aera.net In Chicago, call the AERA Pressroom, (312) 329-7080.