Let’s face it, the United States Secretary of Education could make this list every year, but here’s why 2012 will be Duncan’s trickiest year yet. In 2012 Duncan, who is not only President Obama’s chief school reformer but also his basketball buddy and personal friend, will have to balance the competing pressures of an administration seeking a second term, enormous political pressure to walk away from hard-nosed school accountability efforts at the federal level and key swing states wanting more flexibility from various federal rules. For a guy who is known for saying he doesn’t do politics but just focuses on policy, that’s one hell of a political high-wire act — and how he pulls it off will have implications far beyond 2012.
School of Thought: 12 Education Activists for 2012
What do an old-school game designer, the NCAA chief and Maggie Gyllenhaal have in common? They're all on TIME's list of the 12 education activists to watch in 2012. Those named to TIME’s 11 for '11 made waves last year, and this next group will too — for good or ill
Arne Duncan: The Secretary
Full List
Education Activists
- Catharine Bellinger and Alexis Morin: The Students
- Matt Damon: The Mama’s Boy
- John Danner: The Tech Guy
- Arne Duncan: The Secretary
- Mark Emmert: The Referee
- Aimee Guidera: The Data Driver
- Maggie Gyllenhaal: The Star
- Kaya Henderson: The Superintendent
- John Hunter: The Inspiration
- Ariela Rozman: The Operator
- Ron Tomalis: The Keystone
- Randi Weingarten: The Unionist