- Chris Whittle
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H. Christopher "Chris" Whittle (born August 23, 1947) is an American media and education entrepreneur. He is the chief executive officer of Avenues: The World School, a planned international system of independent pre-K-12 schools. Avenues will open its first campus in New York City in fall 2012.[1][2] Whittle founded Edison Schools (now EdisonLearning) with Benno C. Schmidt, Jr.
Contents
History
Whittle was born in Etowah, Tennessee. After graduating from the University of Tennessee with a major in American Studies, Whittle started the magazine Knoxville in a Nutshell with Phillip Moffitt and others. 13-30 Corporation in Knoxville. In 1979 13-30 bought Esquire magazine, where Whittle served as chairman and publisher for a number of years. In 1986, 13-30 became Whittle Communications, which was one of America’s top 100 media companies in the late 1980’s - known for creating and publishing single-advertiser magazines that were placed in medical office waiting rooms. In 1989, Whittle Communications launched Channel One News, a national in-school television news program (first anchored by Anderson Cooper). Channel One News’ programming reached eight million students daily in 12,000 schools[3] and won the Peabody Award.[4] Whittle sold the company in 1994.
He is the author of Crash Course: Imagining a Better Future for Public Education, published in 2005,[5] and wrote a chapter on the rise of global schooling for Customized Schooling: Beyond Whole-School Reform, published by Harvard Education Press in 2011. Whittle sits on the board of the Center for Education Reform[6] in Washington, D.C. In October 2010 he received an “accomplished alumnus” award from the University of Tennessee, his alma mater, where he has funded over 180 full scholarships.[7]
Edison Schools
Whittle serves on the board of EdisonLearning (formerly Edison Schools).the company he founded with Benno C. Schmidt, Jr. in 1992. Edison was an early pioneer in public/private partnerships in K-12 education in America. EdisonLearning now serves 450,000 students on three continents through the schools it operates and a variety of other educational programs. Edison Schools was a public company from 1999 to 2003, with its stock traded on the NASDAQ. After reaching a high of close to USD$40 per share in early 2001, shares fell as low as 14 cents. The company was taken private in 2003, in a buyout which valued the company at $180 million [8] or $1.76 per share.[9]
Personal life
He is married to Priscilla dei conti Rattazzi, daughter of Urbano dei conti Rattazzi and Susanna Agnelli. They have two daughters, Andrea and Sasha.[10]
Further reading
- Trimble, Vance H. An Empire Undone: The Wild Rise and Hard Fall of Chris Whittle, 1995. ISBN 978-1559723091
- "Commentary: Chris Whittle”. [3]
- Whittle, Chris. Crash Course: Imagining a Better Future for Public Education, 2005. ISBN 1-59448-902-5
References
- ^ "Whittle Taps Exeter, Dalton Veterans to Start New York School" by John Hechinger and Oliver Staley, Bloomberg News - January 31, 2011 [1]
- ^ "Whittle Starts A City School." by Shelly Banjo, Wall Street Journal - January 31, 2011 [2]
- ^ http://www.ibiblio.org/commercialfree/channelone.html
- ^ Channel One site http://www.channelone.com/about/awards-testimonials/
- ^ Powell's Book synopsis http://www.powells.com/biblio/1-1594489025-0
- ^ Center for Education Reform site http://www.edreform.com/About_CER/?Board_of_Directors
- ^ University of Tennessee site http://www.utk.edu/tntoday/2010/10/28/chris-whittle-alumni-award/
- ^ "Edison buyout draws Ire in Florida. - Free Online Library". http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Edison+buyout+draws+Ire+in+Florida-a0113231844. Retrieved 2008-02-16.
- ^ "Edison Schools accepts buyout". http://epsl.asu.edu/epru/articles/EPRU-0311-43-OWI.doc. Retrieved 2008-02-16.
- ^ thePeerage.com - Person Page 16388
External links
- National Public Radio profile: Christopher Whittle, June 28, 2000
- Interview: Chris Whittle, PBS Frontline, July 3, 2003
Categories:- 1947 births
- American magazine publishers (people)
- American television executives
- Living people
- Businesspeople from Tennessee
- University of Tennessee alumni
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