The Urban Teachers Board of Directors has hired Peter Shulman, an experienced leader in K-12 education, to helm the nearly decade-old teacher training organization. “Social impact has been at the heart of my career,” Shulman said. “In Urban Teachers, I have found a mission-driven organization that is focused on improving the lives of our most underserved children by putting high-quality teachers into their classrooms.”
Shulman most recently served as Deputy Commissioner for the New Jersey Department of Education, where he helped lead a set of ambitious policy initiatives aimed at supporting educators and raising expectations for all students. He previously served in managerial roles with the Delaware Department of Education and Miami-Dade County Public Schools, where he began his career in education through The Broad Residency in Urban Education.
Prior to his work in public education, Shulman co-founded a commercial real estate technology company and worked as a commercial real estate analyst. He holds an undergraduate degree in Economics from the University of Michigan and a Master of Business Administration from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
“Equity and opportunity for every child has been the foundation of Urban Teacher’s success over the last decade,” Shulman said, “And I am committed to ensuring the direction and expansion of the organization will always be centered around the needs of our students.” The Urban Teachers Board of Directors chose Shulman to lead the organization because the confluence of his education and business experience makes him an ideal candidate to expand the nonprofit to new cities, said board chairman, Vince Talbert.
“Peter is recognized by former superiors, employees, and colleagues as a world-class manager with the ability to lead an organization effectively and build strong teams that work well together,” Talbert said. “He is committed, not only to growing Urban Teachers but to the organization’s mission.”
Shulman will succeed Urban Teachers cofounder and CEO Jennifer Green, who announced her intention to step down from the position last fall.
“Peter shares the passion of our teachers and is laser-focused on driving toward equity and excellence in every classroom,” Green said. “Over time, Peter will guide Urban Teachers toward greater efficiency and scale while improving the experiences of the teachers who matriculate through our program.”
Urban Teachers trains educators to work in classrooms in Baltimore, Dallas/Fort Worth and Washington, DC. The organization believes that qualified, highly effective teachers who stay in the classroom can have a transformative influence on student learning. Through a selective four-year program, participants earn a Master’s Degree in Education from Johns Hopkins University and receive one-on-one coaching as they become acquainted with the classroom. All successful Urban Teachers participants become dually certified to teach either elementary education,
secondary English or secondary math, as well as special education.
Since Urban Teachers participants first entered Baltimore and DC classrooms in 2011, almost 1,000 Urban Teachers participants have served nearly 100,000 children across our three sites. The organization soon expects to bring more than 1,000 new educators to urban classrooms each year.
Congratulations Peter! The following are some congratulatory words of applause from some of Peter’s previous colleagues.
“Pete is committed to ensuring better outcomes for all students. His dedication to developing and implementing transformational policy has deeply impacted the quality of teaching and learning in New Jersey. Pete is intentional, collaborative, and solutions-oriented; he is an asset to any initiative he leads.”
Chelsea Collins
2016 New Jersey State Teacher of the Year
“Peter Shulman epitomizes the ideals of innovation and ingenuity. He is a forward-thinking advocate for education who believes that talent recruitment and teacher preparation must be transparent and deliberate. He believes deeply that every classroom and every child should have skilled and highly-qualified teachers. Peter supports education decisions that are made in the best interests of students and their families.”
Alberto Carvalho
Superintendent, Miami-Dade County Public Schools
“I’ve known Pete for more than a decade and his commitment to students and communities is unparalleled. I continue to be inspired by his ability to take on the most difficult leadership roles, move the needle and maintain the respect and admiration of everyone he interacts with along the way.”
Chaka Booker
Managing Director, The Broad Center
“Pete is one of the very best strategic thinkers I’ve had the pleasure of working with. With a deep care and belief in the potential of all children, he has a proven track record of delivering for students and staff in schools throughout the country.”
Paymon Rouhanifard
Superintendent of Camden City School District
“I am excited to see Pete continuing his work to advance equity for all students in his new role as the CEO of Urban Teachers. Throughout his career, he has held a steadfast belief that all students can succeed, and worked to ensure every child has access to a great teacher. I know he will bring the same passion and energy to Urban Teachers, and students across the country will benefit as a result.”
Carissa Moffat Miller, Ph.D.
Executive Director, Council of Chief State School Officers
“From his work in one of America’s largest school districts to his state-level leadership on the most influential national education polices of the last decade, Pete Shulman has established himself as one of our country’s thought leaders on the intersection of educational policy and practice, namely in the arena of teacher recruitment, preparation and professional development.”
Christopher Ruszkowski
Secretary of Education, New Mexico
“Serving as my Deputy Commissioner, Pete was a collaborative partner bringing steadfast dedication, determination, and data-driven decision making to the work. He is an innovative leader who stays on the cutting edge of current research and policy making in education. Pete has a passion for student advocacy that burns brightly in his soul and serves as the guiding star for his work. He is a man of integrity and a true leader who I have had the privilege to call my colleague, mentor and friend.”
Kimberley Harrington
Former New Jersey Department of Education Commissioner