J.B. Buxton  Collaborator

J.B. Buxton is the founding principal of the Education Innovations Group, a consulting practice focused on state education strategies for PreK-12 and postsecondary education. The Group works with states and national and state-based foundations and advocacy organizations.

Prior to starting the Education Innovations Group, J.B. served as the Deputy State Superintendent of the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. In this role, he reported directly to the State Board of Education and was responsible for all operations of the Department, including curriculum and instruction, technology services, financial and business services, district and school assistance, early childhood programs, teacher and principal support initiatives, accountability and testing, human resources, and communications. Under his leadership, the department overhauled its district and school assistance program and intervened in 135 schools and six chronically low-performing districts; reorganized the agency to place priority on building the capacity of school districts; developed and rolled out a statewide principal and teacher standards and evaluation systems, a departmental performance management tool, a plan to overhaul the state’s curriculum, assessment and accountability program, and a unique student identifier and data warehouse; and expanded significantly the Learn and Earn early college high schools initiative and More at Four prekindergarten program.

Before managing DPI, J.B. was senior education advisor to Governor Mike Easley (N.C.), where he developed and managed the Governor’s education agenda, including initiatives on prekindergarten education; high school reform and early college high schools; afterschool programs; teacher working conditions; international education; innovations in education funding; and connecting social services and public schools.

J.B. has also served as legislative director for the N.C. State Board of Education, education policy advisor with the White House Domestic Policy Council under President Clinton, and director of policy and research for the Public School Forum of N.C. He began his career as a high school English teacher and coach.

J.B. lives in Raleigh, N.C. with his wife and their three children who attend the Wake County Public Schools.