John Wm. Covington

John Wm. Covington is currently serving as the first chancellor of the Education Achievement Authority of Michigan, a newly created statewide system of schools developed to dramatically redesign public education for Michigan’s lowest achieving schools. John’s focus is on improved student achievement, uncompromising accountability, and equitable opportunities for all students to receive a high-quality education. John is known nationally as an education innovator and creative problem solver with a proven track record of success in both rural and urban schools. Prior to being named chancellor, John served as the superintendent of the Kansas City, Missouri Public Schools. He was the first African American to serve as superintendent of Pueblo City Schools in Pueblo, Colorado. He has also served as superintendent of Lowndes County Public Schools in Alabama and as assistant superintendent of Alabama’s Montgomery Public School System. Prior to his tenure in Montgomery, John served in numerous professional capacities, including classroom teacher, counselor, director of guidance, assistant principal, and principal in Macon County, Troy City, and Eufaula City public schools. In 1994, John was selected as a distinguished alumnus of his alma mater, Alabama State University. He was named a Japan Memorial Fulbright teachers’ scholar in 2005, and was the recipient of the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education Award in 2007. In 2010, John received the Public Administrator of the Year Award from the Greater Kansas City Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration, and in 2010 Governing Magazine recognized John as one of seven nationally recognized Public Officials of the Year.