A Louisiana native, Chris is an educator who has been involved in local reform efforts in instrumental ways. Chris led the Recovery School District’s Office of Portfolio and served as Special Advisor to State Superintendent Paul Pastorek, where he pioneered efforts to turn around underperforming schools and shaped the legislative and regulatory framework to enable school transformation and charter school expansion. Chris began his career in education with Teach For America in New Orleans, where he taught high school social studies and coached basketball at John McDonogh High School. Following Hurricane Katrina, Chris led over 200 students who had evacuated to achieve significant academic gains.

Chris received his undergraduate degree, Phi Beta Kappa, summa cum laude from Tulane University and his master’s degree from Harvard University.  He was also a member of the 2008-2009 White House Fellowship class, where he served as Special Assistant to the U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.

Chris and his wife Alice, a former turnaround charter school principal, have two sons, Benet and Palmer.