David Coleman helped build the Common Core State Standards for classroom curriculum. This October, he will take on a new leadership role as president of the College Board, a group made up of high schools and colleges that oversees the administration of the SAT, as well as the Advanced Placement program.
Coleman's critics include Texas Commissioner of Education Robert Scott, who believes that curriculum decisions should take place at the community level, not bound by national requirements. His supporters, however, include Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and Fla. Gov. Jeb Bush.
His compensation package will be substantially less than the $1.3 million per year salary received by his predecessor, Gaston Caperton. That controversial sum will be cut to a base pay of $550,000 and a total sum of less than $750,000, according to a New York Times report.
For now, Coleman says that he wants to focus on curriculum design, which makes sense given his credentials -- and his enthusiasm.