Margaret Gaston, President and Executive Director

Margaret Gaston is the founder, President and Executive Director of the Center for the Future of Teaching and Learning, a public policy organization focused on strengthening the teacher workforce statewide. She oversees the Center’s leadership and administration, finances, communications, development, planning, project management, accountability and networking.  In 1995, Ms. Gaston established the Center by developing a private and public constituency base of support and audience for its products and services that include education and public policy communities, education support organizations, foundations, colleges, universities, and the public.  She works closely with print and broadcast media journalists to clarify complex education issues and present an accurate picture of the status of California’s teacher workforce. Under her leadership, the Center has helped to inform the press, the public and policymakers about complex issues confronting California’s education system, especially the shortage of teachers and the unfair assignment of teachers among low achieving schools serving poor and minority students.

Prior to establishing the Center, Ms. Gaston was a special consultant to philanthropic organizations, advising foundation program officers, presidents and board members on grantmaking to public education and education support entities.  She has alsoserved as a consultant and administrator for the California Department of Education, overseeing the School Improvement Program (SIP), School Program Quality Review, Community Education, and other school reform efforts before starting her own consulting firm.

At the local level, Ms. Gaston has been an elementary classroom teacher, categorical programs coordinator, and a high school vice principal.  She received San Diego State University’s Distinguished Alumni Award for 2007 from the College of Education for her work in education policy directed toward improving teaching in high need schools serving English language learners and economically disadvantaged students of color.

Ms. Gaston was appointed to the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing in 2006 by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and was approved unanimously by the Senate for the post.  She serves on the Executive Committee of the Commission and is chair of the Legislative Committee.  The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing serves as the state standards board for educator preparation and is responsible for the licensing and credentialing of professional educators in the state, the enforcement of professional practices of educators, and the discipline of credential holders in California.

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