Let’s change the conversation about education from “what’s wrong” to “what works.”I have devoted my adult life to improving educational opportunities and outcomes for students, particularly those historically deemed disadvantaged. I founded the non-profit Educational Results Partnership (ERP) in 2001 to provide a forum for educators to collaborate and share best practices based on reliable, actionable data. Today, ERP maintains the country’s largest database on student achievement over time, from kindergarten to the labor market.My role as CEO of ERP has been shaped by more than 20 years in K-16 and graduate education as a public school teacher, administrator, university professor, researcher, curriculum, educational technology and telecommunications expert, legislative advocate and analyst, business community liaison and foundation president.My passion for helping students succeed was sown early in my career, starting as an inner-city public school teacher in Los Angeles. That experience inspired me to earn a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from USC. Soon after, I assumed leadership of Core Curriculum Services for the Los Angeles County Superintendent of Schools. There, I developed and led the Academic Achievement Alliance, charged with raising the reading and math scores in the 100 lowest performing schools in LA County. Over succeeding years, I was appointed by the Governor of California to the Academic Content Standards Commission, and also served on the state’s African American Achievement Gap Advisory Commission. I was appointed in 2006 by the U.S. Secretary of Education to the National Assessment Governing Board. In 2012, I took on the role of Executive Director of the California Partnership for Achieving Student Success.Here’s what I’ve learned from this experience: contrary to conventional thinking, schools are succeeding. The data prove it. Let’s shine a light on “bright spots” in education so others can learn from their example.