William J. Mathis

William J. Mathis served for a decade (2009-2019) as the Managing Director of the National Education Policy Center and then served as a Senior Policy Advisor to the center until passing away in 2026. He was the former president of The Horace Mann League and was presented with their Outstanding Public Educator Award in 2018. 

As the superintendent of schools in Brandon, Vermont, he was a National Superintendent of the Year finalist and a Vermont Superintendent of the Year. A plaintiff and finance expert in the successful school funding lawsuit, the state’s educational system was transformed. He was appointed to the Vermont State Board of Education and served as vice-chair. 

In earlier work he was Deputy Assistant Commissioner in New Jersey where he directed the state’s assessment system and evaluated the Constitutionality of the school system. Consultant work across the nation followed. 

Bill published and presented research on finance, assessment, accountability, standards, cost-effectiveness, education reform, history, and constitutional issues. He also served on various editorial boards and frequently published commentaries on educational policy issues. He co-edited several books, including 2016’s Learning from the Federal Market Based Reforms: Lessons for ESSA, a comprehensive and still-relevant 700-page volume co-edited with UC Berkeley Professor Tina Trujillo.