Dr. Ken James, former Arkansas commissioner of education and president of the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), joined America's Choice as its Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer on July 6, 2009. James' bold leadership helped propel Arkansas to the forefront of the education reform movement in recent years, and he is credited for the state's aggressive and successful efforts to improve student achievement. James was originally appointed Arkansas Commissioner of Education in 2004 by former Governor Mike Huckabee (R) and reappointed in 2007 by Governor Mike Beebe (D). Prior to holding the position of commissioner, James served as superintendent in Lexington, Ky., Little Rock, Ark., Van Buren, Ark., and Batesville, Ark. Recently, as president of CCSSO, James has been a key voice in the movement for core common standards, testifying before Congress on the potential of common academic standards to prepare students for college and careers in the 21st century.

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