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Jim Shelton

Jim Shelton

Jim Shelton, MA/MBA ’93, is planning to step down from his position as second-in-command at the U.S. Department of Education at the end of this year. Shelton joined the department in 2009 to lead its innovation and improvement programs, including the Investing in Innovation Fund; Promise Neighborhoods, a grant program providing “cradle to career” educational and social services to youth in underserved communities; and other initiatives focused on teacher and leader quality, school choice, and education technology. He has served as deputy secretary since May 2013.

In a written statement, Education Secretary Arne Duncan said, “Jim has brought a profound understanding of how to encourage innovation to address some of the biggest challenges faced by our education system and, more broadly, our country. From developing and managing signature reform programs such as the Investing in Innovation fund and Promise Neighborhoods to being a key leader on the President's My Brother's Keeper initiative and strengthening the Department's operations as deputy secretary, Jim has helped shape so much of this administration's education policy, programs and strategy over the last five-and-a-half years. Jim has earned a break, and we're so grateful to Jim for all he has contributed at ED, and to his family for letting him be part of the Education Department team for this long.”

Before joining the Department of Education, Shelton worked at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as program director for education, managing a portfolio of programs and grants targeting increased high school and college graduation rates. He also headed the East Coast office of the New Schools Venture Fund and co-founded LearnNow, a school management company that eventually merged with Edison Schools. 

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