Dr. William Mathis serves as President of the Horace Mann League of the United States for 2023. Previously, he was the Managing Director of the National Education Policy Center at the University of Colorado. He continues his work with the center as a Senior Policy Advisor and a fellow. In this capacity, he was a co-recipient of the National Friend of Public Education award. As the superintendent of schools in Brandon, Vermont he was a National Superintendent of the Year finalist and a Vermont Superintendent of the Year. Mathis was a plaintiff and finance expert in Vermont’s successful school funding lawsuit resulted in the transformation of the state’s educational system on the basis of equity of opportunity.

 

Mathis served on the Vermont State Board of Education as served as vice-chair, aa governor appointee. In earlier work, he was Deputy Assistant Commissioner in New Jersey where he directed the state’s assessment system and evaluated the constitutionality of the school system. Consultant work across the nation followed. He has published and presented research on finance, assessment, accountability, standards, cost-effectiveness, education reform, history, and constitutional issues. He serves on various editorial boards and frequently publishes commentaries on educational policy issues. He has co-edited six books, worked at eight colleges and universities in various capacities, and been featured in several periodicals for his accomplishments. Having served several years on his local school board in retirement, he now serves as the local Select Board chair.