Rennie Center Names New Board Chair

The Rennie Center has made long-time board member Celine Coggins its new board chair. Dr. Coggins, who has been involved with the Rennie Center since its founding in 2005, was recently appointed Executive Director of Grantmakers for Education. She previously led Teach Plus, a nonprofit with a mission to empower educators. She originally launched Teach Plus as a subsidiary of the Rennie Center and has since overseen its rise to a national network of more than 24,000 teachers.

“I have been with the Rennie Center from the beginning. I was inspired by the organization and its founder, Paul Reville, as a staffer more than a decade ago,” Dr. Coggins said. “As a member of the Board for the past several years, I have seen that same inspired leadership from Executive Director Chad d'Entremont and am honored to now advance the mission of the organization as Board Chair.”

Dr. Coggins began her career as a classroom teacher in Worcester and went on to serve as special assistant to the Massachusetts Commissioner of Education on teacher quality. Dr. Coggins, who earned her Ph.D. in Education Policy Analysis from Stanford University, is a lecturer at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education. She is the author of more than two dozen reports and journal articles, editor of three books, and author of the recent book How to Be Heard: Ten Lessons Teachers Need to Advocate for Their Students and Profession.

“Dr. Coggin’s expertise on education policy, teacher leadership, and labor-management collaboration has made her a nationally known leader in the field,” said Dr. Chad d’Entremont, Executive Director of the Rennie Center. “Her leadership, particularly when it comes to elevating the voices of practitioners, will guide the Rennie Center’s work to improve public education for years to come.”

Dr. Coggins takes the place of Dr. Pendred Noyce who had led the board since the Center’s founding. A doctor of internal medicine, she was a founding trustee of the Noyce Foundation and currently leads Tumblehome Learning. Dr. Noyce will remain on the board.

"The Rennie Center, with its research and convening, has provided a crucial rudder helping to keep the work of improving Massachusetts education on course,” said Dr. Noyce. “I have been proud to see the Center establish its credentials, grow, and establish itself as an authoritative, non-partisan source of knowledge and thoughtful recommendations for education.”

“Dr. Noyce has shaped the work of the Rennie Center and shepherded its mission from the beginning.” said Dr. d’Entremont. “Under her leadership, we grew from an idea to a leading voice in Massachusetts education. Her input and commitment has been, and will continue to be, of great value to our work.”