Chris WhittleFounder and Chairman
An entrepreneur with more than 35 years of leadership experience in the fields of education and publishing, Chris conceived and founded Edison Schools in 1992. Edison Schools partners with school districts, charter boards, and states to raise student achievement and educational outcomes through its research-based school design and curriculum, achievement management solutions, professional development, and extended learning programs. Chris is also the author of Crash Course: Imaging a Better Future For Public Education, published in 2005.
Prior to founding Edison, Chris was founder and chairman of Whittle Communications, one of America's largest student publishers. In 1989, Whittle converted its print publications to electronic media, launching Channel One, the first national electronic news system, which today serves 12,000 middle and high schools throughout the United States, and provides 8 million students with domestic and international news each morning. Channel One's programming has received a host of awards, including the Peabody Award, one of television journalism's highest accolades. Channel One was sold to K-III Communications (now PRIMEDIA Inc.) in September 1994.
From 1979 to 1986, Chris was also chairman and publisher of Esquire magazine. Raised in Tennessee, Chris graduated from the University of Tennessee.