Secretary Bennett has spent more than 30 years as an educational authority and thought leader, and has been at the forefront of innovation in both teaching and learning. A trusted advisor to President Ronald Reagan, Bennett served as U.S. Secretary of Education from 1985 to 1988, and prior to that served as chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities. During his time as Secretary, Bennett worked tirelessly to combat the issues outlined in “A Nation at Risk,” the seminal insight into U.S. Education, releasing “First Lessons” and “What Works,” two reports that laid out a back-to-basics approach for improving schools.
A respected member of the media and nationally-syndicated radio host, Bennett’s access to policy makers and experts will enable him to convene leaders in the education sector and use HMH’s industry position to address and work toward solutions to the issues facing education today.
“For decades, Secretary Bennett has been a leading voice in national education policy, and we are thrilled that he will bring his knowledge and insights to our company as we continue our work to develop products and tools that equip teachers with the support and resources necessary to improve student outcomes – both at home and around the world,” said Michael Muldowney, Interim CEO and Chief Financial Officer of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Secretary Bennett is also the author of America: The Last Best Hope, a three volume series and interactive United States history curriculum for grades 8-12, which HMH has distributed to schools since January of 2010. In addition, Secretary Bennett has authored and edited numerous best-sellers, including The Book of Virtues and The Children's Book of Virtues. He is also the author of First Lessons: A Report on Elementary Education and The Educated Child: A Parent’s Guide from Preschool through Eighth Grade.
“Houghton Mifflin Harcourt has a long and rich history of creating and delivering educational materials of the highest caliber to students across the globe,” said Secretary Bennett. “Today HMH is leading the way with innovative solutions that address the most critical challenges facing our public education system, and I am honored to be a part of this outstanding team.”
Secretary Bennett is a graduate of Williams College, and went on to earn a Ph.D. from the University of Texas and a law degree from Harvard.
About Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
With education products and services used by 57 million students throughout all 50 U.S. states and 120 countries, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is a global education and learning company. The world's largest provider of materials for pre-K–12 learning, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is leading the way with innovative solutions and approaches to the challenges facing education today. Through curricula excellence coupled with technology innovations and professional services, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt collaborates with school districts, administrators, teachers, parents and students, providing interactive, results-driven learning solutions. Its Educational Consulting Services group works to increase student achievement in underperforming schools by developing, implementing and supporting education transformation through sustained district partnerships. With origins dating back to 1832, the Company also publishes an extensive line of reference works and award-winning literature for adults and young readers. For more information, visit www.hmhco.com.