Mayoral involvement cannot be lukewarm or tepid. It must be real and tangible. Such involvement has to be respectful of the local political and historical nuances of the city. Moreover, the mayor’s vision must be aligned with realistic goals and expectations that will ultimately lead to better educational opportunities for our children. Mayors also have the ability to shepherd local resources together to work collaboratively for children.

Yes, it clearly would do more harm than good if mayoral education reform plans get tied up in naïve political agendas that are unrealistic and not kids focused. Mayors do need to understand that their role in leading public school reform initiatives is not about the coalescing of political power, but rather to serve to align education offerings with better accountability and management. (source)