The Ultimate Education Game Changer Is...

HuffPost's Game Changers series celebrates 100 innovators, visionaries, and leaders in 12 categories who, whether working in the spotlight or under the radar, are changing how we look at the world and the way we live in it. We salute them for their willingness to look at things and take the risk of saying, "I think I have a better way."

You've voted on your favorites and chosen Shai Reshef as the Ultimate Game Changer in Education for 2010. Voting is now closed.

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Jill Biden

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Changed the game by ... making community college students a priority. Biden might be the Second Lady, but she's first in the classroom: a longtime English professor in Delaware, she has spent the semesters since her husband was sworn in as vice president at Northern Virginia Community College, where she teaches English as a second language. President Obama asked her to convene a national summit on community colleges, and she has pushed for more Americans to consider them as a cheaper, but equally solid, education opportunity, while at the same time successfully lobbying the federal government to expand their support. "For an immigrant or first-generation American, community college is often the place to begin a postsecondary education," she wrote. Fun Fact: Biden didn't always want to be a teacher. She first studied fashion merchandising at junior college, but hated it and transferred to University of Delaware, where she stayed fashionable, but declared an English major. Must-click link: Jill Biden's op-ed on community colleges

New York Standardized Testing Protest

Best Countries For Education (Economist Intelligence Unit)

Weird Things Banned At Schools

Teacher Spending On Students

Teacher Controversies

School Lunches Around The World

Changed the game by ... making community college students a priority. Biden might be the Second Lady, but she's first in the classroom: a longtime English professor in Delaware, she has spent the semesters since her husband was sworn in as vice president at Northern Virginia Community College, where she teaches English as a second language. President Obama asked her to convene a national summit on community colleges, and she has pushed for more Americans to consider them as a cheaper, but equally solid, education opportunity, while at the same time successfully lobbying the federal government to expand their support. "For an immigrant or first-generation American, community college is often the place to begin a postsecondary education," she wrote.

Fun Fact: Biden didn't always want to be a teacher. She first studied fashion merchandising at junior college, but hated it and transferred to University of Delaware, where she stayed fashionable, but declared an English major.

Must-click link: Jill Biden's op-ed on community colleges

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GeoNorth said on 15 Wednesday 2010 pm30 2:24 pm: These people have all contributed so much to help improve education. But there are thousands like them out there who are on the front lines everyday, getting through to students by making learning interesting. There are dedicated teachers, and there are teachers who want to get the day done. We know who they are. But the good ones? You'll see it in your kid's eyes. They show a bright future.

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Comments

[Jan Allen McDaniel]

11:36 AM on 10/24/2010

The ultimate game changer--putting the student in charge of his education.

The Sudbury Valley School in Framingham, Ma.

www.sudval.org/

[loki]

11:00 PM on 10/21/2010

I personally know of a hand full of teachers that deserve this title. Some in grade and high school, a couple at university level. But the way they influence and inspire the students, help and work with them has really made a difference in the students lives and their outlook on life, their future, and their personal education. Its amazing to see what a good teacher can do.. Then again, its also amazing to see what a bad teacher can do to destroy all the good work a great teacher has done the year before. Ive even heard some teachers ridicule the good teachers and tell them they are talk or move, or use their hands too much and other things. Its usually the very old stuffy unsuccessful but tenured teachers that criticize them. I think its jealousy. but no matter what, its stifling their good work. So when I find a good teacher, whether its one of my own kids teachers, a friends, or one I experience myself, I like to try to reward them in some way and let them know they are appreciated and to keep up the good work. be it a gift certificate , flowers, a book from their favorite author with a card, and so on. Just to let them know they are noticed, and needed.

[Hiba Bayrakdar]

06:35 AM on 10/15/2010

EDWARD BURGER

[maslin]

06:25 PM on 10/11/2010

I know a different person who looks identical.

Weird!

[maslin]

06:40 PM on 10/11/2010

Identical to Anya Kamenetz, that is.

[townzl]

03:56 PM on 10/11/2010

I'm a FSU fan and I've seen Myron's story profiled on Real Sports, and knowing that he is related to Somare Rolle. I think that he and Warrick Dunn epitomize the height of what student-athletes could be as young men. I was proud to see him forego a season of his football career to follow an even higher ideal. My hat's off for Myron.

[GraphicMatt]

01:49 PM on 10/22/2010

Couldn't agree any more!!! Go Noles!!! : )

[Prasanna Kumari Mitra]

06:08 AM on 10/10/2010

Education is most treasured gift you can give anyone which will be useful throught one's lifetime.
By educating the underpriveleged, which is nearly half the population of the world, you are infact guiding the world to a better tomorrow where every man knows the difference between right and wrong and has to courage to voice his opinion.

[janmB]

05:23 PM on 10/08/2010

MOTIVATION would change education. Motivation for the children to know they will have GOOD JOBS if they study hard. Doesn't MATTER if they are store-clerks--truck drivers--or maintenance workers- we NEED diversified careers & educated people...and the BIG ITEM is -the assurance that they will have GOOD PAYING JOBS if they graduate from High School. MOTIVATION will set in if they know they can go to higher education if they want a professional career that requires it. An economy that works for ALL OF US instead of the privilaged few at the top will provide the motivation. More money ..attacking teachers has not worked....ask why again ?

[Michael Bloodyscott]

03:02 AM on 10/08/2010

Shai Reshef way is the true game changer with cheap but good online education for everyone, working on a family farm in middle of nowhere and you can still get a higher education but many class than need labs or 3 and 4 yrs levels are still best in true colleges, it would allow to keep studying and 2 yrs is half the price of 4yrs in college.

Really teaching should only be needed through middle school, with students learning more on their own in high school and college with teachers to guide and focus them not teach per say.

The US needs a cheap way to educate high school drop outs and online or by computer is prefect once they learn how to study on their own and can read well enough.
English and math classes have changed little in 40yrs but we pay for new text books every 5 to 7 years, so using older text books to train drop outs cheaply should not be a problem in most cases except for writers and publishers.

[Mickie Parker]

10:34 AM on 10/07/2010

Nicholas Negroponte

[GAYF]

08:50 AM on 10/07/2010

I find this process vulgar , uninformative and sad for the pop-poll society the US has become. Ugh

[Umesh Reddy]

03:36 AM on 10/07/2010

Shai move to make education free is simply the best.I feel he is the right candidate for "Gamechanger" in education

[Donna Hoffman]

08:31 PM on 10/06/2010

Although every one of these candidates for "Gamechanger" is illustrative, there is nothing about them that will change public education. I became a teacher at age 55 because I wanted to make a difference. I lasted 8 years in public schools and ultimately retired because the system resists change and awards teachers who maintain the status quo. The only thing that will change public education at the middle and high school level is intimacy. 15 or fewer students in a classroom with 1 or 2 teachers in that classroom. One-on-one, do-you-understand-it-now? communication will get us achievement. Purposely matching teachers with students will also add intimacy and understanding.

[Michael Mann]

06:28 PM on 10/06/2010

Dr. Joe Novak's work in meaningful learning using concept maps is a true game changer in education. Concept maps have the capability to revolutionize education.
http://cmap.ihmc.us/publications/researchpapers/theorycmaps/theoryunderlyingconceptmaps.htm

[johnnyboylr]

04:19 PM on 10/06/2010

The University of Phoenix??

[konstandena]

06:12 PM on 10/06/2010

University is not a game changer, but rather a diploma mill where dollars trump education.

[Edward Antrobus]

06:32 PM on 10/06/2010

People call them a diploma mill but that hasn't been my experience. I sat down for a 2 hour chat with one of their counselors last year and she talked me out of trying to shoehorn my needs into one of their programs. Instead, she worked with me to determine what programs were available elsewhere, (for-profit and traditional) that might be a fit and also wondered if I really needed another degree or if I could get to the kind of position I wanted by starting at the bottom and working my way up with experience.

[Lili Q]

03:44 PM on 10/06/2010

Placing community colleges on a par with any 4 year college, or advancing the needs of diversity over basic academic interests, these are 'game changers' that promote popular opinion rather than education. It is almost as great an effect on education as the divergence at the turn of the last century, of income levels between educators and physicians. (They were at they time, equal professions)