Mark Roosevelt
Encyclopedia
Mark Roosevelt has been since January 2011 the President of Antioch College
. He was previously the superintendent
of the Pittsburgh Public Schools
, the second largest school district
in Pennsylvania
, until December 31, 2010.. He is also a former state legislator
of Massachusetts
.
Roosevelt is the great-grandson of U.S. President
Theodore Roosevelt
and the son of Kermit Roosevelt, Jr.
He was related to his 1994 Massachusetts gubernatorial opponent William Weld
through Weld's wife at that time, Susan Roosevelt Weld
.
He earned his B.A. degree in history from Harvard University
as well as a law degree
from Harvard Law School
.
Roosevelt served in the Massachusetts General Court
from 1986 to 1994. As a Massachusetts state representative, Roosevelt chaired the Education Committee, "where he guided passage of the Education Reform Act of 1993. The law provided fairer funding of school districts and raised standards with statewide tests that students must pass to graduate." He is credited, along with Tom Birmingham
, with passage of a sweeping education
reform law. Additionally, he was the lead sponsor of the Gay Rights Bill (which passed) and the Recycling Initiative Bill (which did not). He has not held elective office since 1994.
Roosevelt was the Democratic nominee for Governor of Massachusetts
in 1994
. The incumbent
Republican
governor William Weld
defeated him in a landslide, 71%–28%—the most lopsided margin for a gubernatorial race in Massachusetts history. Roosevelt's lieutenant gubernatorial
nominee was Bob Massie
.
During the interim, he served as CEO of Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives, Managing Director of the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education, and as a Professor of Politics and head of the Gordon Public Policy Center at Brandeis University
.
Roosevelt was appointed on August 3, 2005, to the position of Pittsburgh Public Schools superintendent. He accepted this post under the terms of a unique performance-based "Accountability Contract." While in Pittsburgh, he actively proposed massive reforms for the Pittsburgh Public Schools
, intended to ease the district's financial problems and improve academic standards. The plan included the closing of smaller schools, opening of Accelerated Learning Academies with a vigorous academic curriculum and longer school hours, the moving of several programs, and increase in the number of Childhood Education Programs, K–8 schools and 6–12 schools.
Roosevelt was also adjunct faculty at Carnegie Mellon University
's Heinz College.
In October 2010 he became a finalist for the position of President of Antioch College
. On October 6, 2010, he held a press conference to announce his resignation as Superintendent of Pittsburgh Public Schools
effective December 31, 2010. It was reported that he was the only finalist for the Presidency of Antioch College
in Ohio. The vote for him to take the Antioch job made it official.
Roosevelt has a son, Matthew Roosevelt, adopted from Korea during a previous marriage.
Antioch College
Antioch College is a private, independent liberal arts college in Yellow Springs, Ohio, United States. It was the founder and the flagship institution of the six-campus Antioch University system. Founded in 1852 by the Christian Connection, the college began operating in 1853 with politician and...
. He was previously the superintendent
Superintendent (education)
In education in the United States, a superintendent is an individual who has executive oversight and administration rights, usually within an educational entity or organization....
of the Pittsburgh Public Schools
Pittsburgh Public Schools
Pittsburgh Public Schools is the public school district in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA and adjacent Mount Oliver.The combined land area of these municipalities is with a population of 342,503 according to the 2000 census. In August 2005, the superintendent became Mark Roosevelt. His tenure ends...
, the second largest school district
School district
School districts are a form of special-purpose district which serves to operate the local public primary and secondary schools.-United States:...
in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, until December 31, 2010.. He is also a former state legislator
Legislator
A legislator is a person who writes and passes laws, especially someone who is a member of a legislature. Legislators are usually politicians and are often elected by the people...
of Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
.
Early life
Roosevelt grew up in Washington, D.C., with two brothers and a sister where he attended the selective St. Albans School.Roosevelt is the great-grandson of U.S. President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
and the son of Kermit Roosevelt, Jr.
Kermit Roosevelt, Jr.
Kermit "Kim" Roosevelt, Jr. , was a political action officer of the Central Intelligence Agency's Directorate of Plans who coordinated the Operation Ajax, which aimed to orchestrate a coup d’état against Iran's prime minister, Mohammed Mosaddeq, and return Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the Shah of Iran,...
He was related to his 1994 Massachusetts gubernatorial opponent William Weld
William Weld
William Floyd Weld is a former governor of the US state of Massachusetts. He served as that state's 68th governor from 1991 to 1997. From 1981 to 1988, he was a federal prosecutor in the United States Justice Department...
through Weld's wife at that time, Susan Roosevelt Weld
Susan Roosevelt Weld
Susan Roosevelt Weld was formerly a professor at Harvard specializing in ancient Chinese civilization and law. She also was General Counsel to the Congressional-Executive Commission on China...
.
He earned his B.A. degree in history from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
as well as a law degree
Law degree
A Law degree is an academic degree conferred for studies in law. Such degrees are generally preparation for legal careers; but while their curricula may be reviewed by legal authority, they do not themselves confer a license...
from Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
.
Career
In 1977, he served as campaign manager for the late John O'Bryant, the first black man elected to Boston's school board.Roosevelt served in the Massachusetts General Court
Massachusetts General Court
The Massachusetts General Court is the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The name "General Court" is a hold-over from the Colonial Era, when this body also sat in judgment of judicial appeals cases...
from 1986 to 1994. As a Massachusetts state representative, Roosevelt chaired the Education Committee, "where he guided passage of the Education Reform Act of 1993. The law provided fairer funding of school districts and raised standards with statewide tests that students must pass to graduate." He is credited, along with Tom Birmingham
Tom Birmingham
Thomas Francis Birmingham is the former President of the Massachusetts Senate. He is widely credited, along with Mark Roosevelt, with passage of a sweeping education bill, the Education Reform Act of 1993...
, with passage of a sweeping education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
reform law. Additionally, he was the lead sponsor of the Gay Rights Bill (which passed) and the Recycling Initiative Bill (which did not). He has not held elective office since 1994.
Roosevelt was the Democratic nominee for Governor of Massachusetts
Governor of Massachusetts
The Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is the executive magistrate of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, United States. The current governor is Democrat Deval Patrick.-Constitutional role:...
in 1994
Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 1994
The 1994 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1994. William Weld was elected Governor of Massachusetts for a second term.-Primaries:William Weld ran unopposed for the Republican nomination....
. The incumbent
Incumbent
The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W...
Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
governor William Weld
William Weld
William Floyd Weld is a former governor of the US state of Massachusetts. He served as that state's 68th governor from 1991 to 1997. From 1981 to 1988, he was a federal prosecutor in the United States Justice Department...
defeated him in a landslide, 71%–28%—the most lopsided margin for a gubernatorial race in Massachusetts history. Roosevelt's lieutenant gubernatorial
Lieutenant governor
A lieutenant governor or lieutenant-governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction, but is often the deputy or lieutenant to or ranking under a governor — a "second-in-command"...
nominee was Bob Massie
Robert Kinloch Massie
Robert Kinloch "Bob" Massie IV is an American Episcopal priest, politician, author, and social activist—best known for his opposition to South Africa's apartheid regime. He is the son of historians Robert K...
.
During the interim, he served as CEO of Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives, Managing Director of the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education, and as a Professor of Politics and head of the Gordon Public Policy Center at Brandeis University
Brandeis University
Brandeis University is an American private research university with a liberal arts focus. It is located in the southwestern corner of Waltham, Massachusetts, nine miles west of Boston. The University has an enrollment of approximately 3,200 undergraduate and 2,100 graduate students. In 2011, it...
.
Roosevelt was appointed on August 3, 2005, to the position of Pittsburgh Public Schools superintendent. He accepted this post under the terms of a unique performance-based "Accountability Contract." While in Pittsburgh, he actively proposed massive reforms for the Pittsburgh Public Schools
Pittsburgh Public Schools
Pittsburgh Public Schools is the public school district in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA and adjacent Mount Oliver.The combined land area of these municipalities is with a population of 342,503 according to the 2000 census. In August 2005, the superintendent became Mark Roosevelt. His tenure ends...
, intended to ease the district's financial problems and improve academic standards. The plan included the closing of smaller schools, opening of Accelerated Learning Academies with a vigorous academic curriculum and longer school hours, the moving of several programs, and increase in the number of Childhood Education Programs, K–8 schools and 6–12 schools.
Roosevelt was also adjunct faculty at Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States....
's Heinz College.
In October 2010 he became a finalist for the position of President of Antioch College
Antioch College
Antioch College is a private, independent liberal arts college in Yellow Springs, Ohio, United States. It was the founder and the flagship institution of the six-campus Antioch University system. Founded in 1852 by the Christian Connection, the college began operating in 1853 with politician and...
. On October 6, 2010, he held a press conference to announce his resignation as Superintendent of Pittsburgh Public Schools
Pittsburgh Public Schools
Pittsburgh Public Schools is the public school district in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA and adjacent Mount Oliver.The combined land area of these municipalities is with a population of 342,503 according to the 2000 census. In August 2005, the superintendent became Mark Roosevelt. His tenure ends...
effective December 31, 2010. It was reported that he was the only finalist for the Presidency of Antioch College
Antioch College
Antioch College is a private, independent liberal arts college in Yellow Springs, Ohio, United States. It was the founder and the flagship institution of the six-campus Antioch University system. Founded in 1852 by the Christian Connection, the college began operating in 1853 with politician and...
in Ohio. The vote for him to take the Antioch job made it official.
Family
Roosevelt met his current wife Dorothy through his niece, who took a yoga class with her. A former educational researcher at Harvard, his wife teaches yoga out of their home. They married in January 2005 and have a daughter.Roosevelt has a son, Matthew Roosevelt, adopted from Korea during a previous marriage.
External links
- Amy McConnell Schaarsmith (2005). Roosevelt Hired as Pittsburgh School Superintendent. Retrieved November 10, 2005.
- Pittsburgh Public Schools