February 14, 2011

Mountain View, CA - "After 19 years of service as executive director of EdSource, Trish Williams will be retiring from this position at the end of June,"  announced Carl Cohn, president of the EdSource Board of Directors.  EdSource is a nonprofit research, policy, and communications organization (www.edsource.org) established in 1977 to "clarify complex education issues" in California.

"Trish has built EdSource from a small group of part-time civic activists into a professional and highly productive organization with statewide influence and national visibility. From school district leaders to policy and reform leaders, constituents view EdSource as providing the most trusted, nonbiased information available on the most critical California and national education issues."

Williams joined EdSource in 1992.  Since then EdSource's website e-bulletin audience has grown to 26,000, with 30% from outside the state.  EdSource has organized and led applied research projects, most recently the Gaining Ground in the Middle Grades study.  A new analysis of 7th and 8th grade student math and Algebra achievement is being released this week, and an Action Guide for Superintendents and Principals for improving middle grades student outcomes will be released in the spring, along with a separate new EdSource report on new teacher effectiveness and evaluation models.

The March 18th EdSource Forum on California Education Policy, in Irvine, California, will be Williams' 19th and last as executive director. Williams was appointed by the Governor to the California State Board of Education in January, and elected vice president by State Board members in February.

Cohn also announced that the EdSource Board of Directors has organized a search committee and agreed upon conducting a national search for a new executive director. "While Trish will leave big shoes to fill, the Board is looking forward to a rigorous search to identify the best possible top-level candidate to lead this widely respected and important organization."

The Board will hire TrilogySearch. Once the new job description is written, it will be circulated by the firm, posted on their website, and announced through the EdSource e-bulletin listserv (sign up at www.edsource.org).  The intent is to have a new Executive Director in place by early summer.