John is a leading expert on teacher evaluation, leadership and preparation reforms, specializing in helping district, state, union and management groups build new systems that overcome complex implementation challenges. His work is driven by a career-long passion for education policy that began in the classroom as a high school social studies teacher in an urban public school district.

John has led a variety of projects, including an Educator Shortage Community of Practice with 5 Great Lakes states, the Teacher Workforce Funder Collaborative and developed strategic plans for state education agencies (IL and IN) and human capital strategies for school districts (Teach Chicago). He is a Pahara Fellow (class of 2012), was a Founding Board member of Teach Plus (2009-19) and a Board member of BranchED (2017-25).

Prior to joining Education First, John worked at the Chicago-based Joyce Foundation, the U.S. Department of Education, and SRI International. He took a brief leave of absence from Joyce to work in the Illinois Governor’s office and helped develop the state’s performance evaluation reform act and alternative certification legislation that were passed in January 2010.