Dr. Andres Alonso

At the age of 12, Dr. Andres Alonso emigrated to the United States from Cuba with his parents. Originally speaking no English, he attended public schools in Union City, New Jersey, and ultimately graduated Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Columbia University. Dr. Alonso went on to earn a J.D. from Harvard Law School and practiced law in New York City before changing course to become an educator. In 2006 he was awarded a Doctorate in Education from Harvard University.

From 1987 to 1998, Dr. Alonso taught emotionally disturbed special education adolescents and English language learners in Newark, New Jersey. He worked at the New York City Department of Education from 2003 to 2007, working closely with the Chancellor in planning and implementing the reform of the largest educational system in the nation. During Dr. Alonso's tenure, New York City students reached their highest performance levels and cohort graduation rates, for all groups, since standards-based assessments were introduced to the city in 1999.

On July 1, 2007, Dr. Alonso was named CEO of Baltimore City Public Schools (City Schools), and immediately launched a series of innovative programs. In 2008, at the end of his first year as CEO, Baltimore City students reached their highest outcomes in state exams, as well as their highest graduation rate and lowest dropout rates, across all categories of students. For the first time ever, elementary and high school grade students made Adequate Yearly Progress across all No Child Left Behind subgroups. In 2009, the district made significant steps toward disengagement in its 25-year-old special education lawsuit, and enrollment in City Schools increased for the first time in decades.

Throughout his career Dr. Alonso has been defined by his fervent commitment to students and their families.