John Fischer is currently the Principal at Education Solutions, LLC providing consulting, coaching, and technical assistance in education and workforce issues to states, municipalities and organizations. John provides strategic direction and counsel in K12 and postsecondary pathways to employment initiatives for youth and adults with the goal to increase postsecondary credential attainment in upwardly mobile careers for underserved learners. Additional areas of assistance include workforce development, federal/state policy, scalability strategies, and CTE.

Provided policy and advocacy support within philanthropic strategies of K12 accountability, education pathways to employment, school improvement, economic mobility and the future workforce.

Responsible for leadership of all education program divisions of the Agency including standardsand assessments, PK-12 and adult, integrated support for learning, educator quality, non-publiceducation and Federal programs monitoring/supervision. Coordinate the Agency’s strategicplanning and alignment with the Governor’s Statewide results based accountability plan.• Leading the Agency’s policy and practice initiatives in the New England 5-State consortium designedto develop innovative policy environment and implementation of innovative approaches to schooltransformation.• Coordinate the Agency’s successful implementation of public policy in flexible pathways (Act 77 of 2013) and proficiency based State Board of Education rules (Education Quality Standards 2014)• Developed Priority Pathway initiative which was adopted by the VT Agency of Commerce andCommunity Development and approved by the US Economic Development Authority (CEDS).• Federal Liaison developing and maintaining relationships with Congressional delegation, providinginput to developing Federal issues and policy particularly ESEA and Perkins, testified to House SubCommittee on Education and Workforce.• Serve on the New England Secondary School Consortium (State Lead), StateWorkforce InvestmentBoard, Dual Enrollment Advisory Board, Smarter Balance Assessment Consortium TechnicalAssistance Committee on Proficiency, State Comprehensive Economic Development StrategiesDesign Team, Results Based Accountability Coordinator.• President and Past President of National Association of State Directors of CTE Consortium.• Served on CCSSO Career Readiness Task Force, report published December 2014.

School Support Division for high schools, CTE and adult education in Vermont.• Led transformation of secondary education, including career technical and adult education; coordinatedconsensus driven models for innovative learning opportunities.• Managed numerous State and Federal Grant programs in excess of $40 million.• Developed new approaches to school improvement system utilizing metrics of effective systems andcoaching support.• Coordinated legislative and stakeholder relations for secondary and adult issues.• Served as coordinator for the NE Secondary School Consortium in development and implementation ofinternationally benchmarked assessment for proficiency based systems.• Represented the Department in a variety of initiatives including the US Department of EducationPerkins Congress, Workforce Development Council and State Apprenticeship Council.• Developed partnerships with Associated General Contractors of VT, VT Chamber of Commerce, State Entrepreneurship Council, Vermont State Colleges, Department of Labor, Agency of Agriculture,Vermont Student Assistance Corporation, National Partnership for 21st Century Skills.

• Coordinated development of new industry skills standards, • Developed new program of study assessment system. Created new business/industry partnerships. • Served as State contact for NE Association of Schools and Colleges accreditation of regional careercenters. • Represented the Department of Education on various State committees and associations such asWorkforce Development Council, Chamber of Commerce Hospitality Management Council, StateEntrepreneurship Board, VT Business Teachers Association and the State Dual Enrollment AdvisoryBoard. • Served as New England Region representative on the Board of Directors, National Association of State Directors of CTE Consortium.

• Owner of full service hospitality property with gross revenues exceeding one million dollars. • Operated 24 room inn and two restaurants.

• Campus Provost at the Nashua College.• Chief Operating/Financial Officer.• Regional budget manager for the Nashua and Claremont campuses as well as Regional Vice President.• Initiated and coordinated college enrollment management, business partnerships, workforcedevelopment strategies, strategic planning, federal grant management, legislative affairs,program/curriculum development, academic support services, community relations and legal issues.• Coordinated College partnerships with Manufacturing Extension Program (MEP), NASA Center forTechnology Commercialization, Cisco Academy, NH Machine Tool Association, NH AutomotiveDealers Association, New England Semiconductor Education Consortium (NSF).

Enrollment managementCommunity partnerships