William K. 'Bill' Irwin, Jr. Receives National Education Award.

Business Editors/Education Writers

BALTIMORE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 17, 2003

William K. "Bill" Irwin, Jr., a former member of the Massachusetts Board of Education, is being awarded the Distinguished Service Award by the National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE). The award is annually given to a state board of education member in recognition of outstanding service to public education.

"Massachusetts has been in the forefront of education reform, and Bill Irwin has been a leader in developing and implementing the Massachusetts accountability system that has served as a national model to other states and to federal lawmakers who used it a the basis for the No Child Left Behind Act. He has been unwavering in his demand that all students be held to high standards. He has been equally determined that, as a matter of fairness, sufficient resources accompany rigorous accountability. He leaves a legacy of principled and effective leadership that has benefited countless children in the Commonwealth and is worthy of the high standards expected of everyone in the Massachusetts education system," said Brenda Welburn, NASBE Executive Director.

Irwin is best known for his expertise on vocational education and school facilities. Under Irwin's leadership, the board revised the state's vocational standards for students and teachers and also applies the Commonwealth's general graduation requirements equally to vocational students, as well as establishing Certificates of Occupational Proficiency in several occupational areas. Irwin also oversaw a complete inventory of building needs in Massachusetts that led to the infusion of billions of dollars in new construction and repairs in districts over the past eight years.

Also during Irwin's tenure, the board helped broker the 1993 Education Reform Act, established the Common Core of Learning, improved teacher standards, and imposed school accountability.

"Bill Irwin has a distinguished record of leadership and accomplishment and we are proud of the great service he has given to the people of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on behalf of the 975,000 students in our schools," said James Peyser, chairman of the state board of education.

Appointed in 1990, Irwin served on the Massachusetts Board of Education until August 2003, serving under four different governors and becoming the longest serving state board member in Massachusetts's history.

Irwin is currently the Executive Director of the Carpenters International Training Fund in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is the former director of the New England Carpenters Training Fund and the Boston Carpenters Apprenticeship and Training Fund. A former president of the Building Trades Training Directors Association of Massachusetts, Irwin is also a former member of the Massachusetts School-to-Work Executive Committee. The Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators, the Massachusetts Vocational Association, and the Massachusetts Federation of Teachers have previously recognized Irwin for his state policymaking leadership.

The award is being presented at NASBE's annual conference in Baltimore, Maryland.

NASBE, www.nasbe.org, represents America's state and territorial boards of education. Our principal objectives are to strengthen state leadership in education policymaking; advocate equality of access to educational opportunity; promote excellence in the education of all students; and assure responsible lay governance of education.