Keynote Speaker Profiles
The 2009 CAIR Conference in our state capitol with the theme of “Movers, Shakers, and Idea Makers: Building Connections.” The keynote speakers will help CAIR members to appreciate the major trends and nuances of state education policy and politics. These exciting speakers will help both educators and researchers/planners to “make the connection” with our state’s dynamic and complex policy environment.
Steve Boilard (Ph.D. in political science, UC Santa Barbara) is the Director of Higher Education for the Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) that is a major consumer and producer of higher education research. Because the LAO acts as the nonpartisan consultant for California’s state legislators, Dr. Boilard’s expertise plays a critical role in the development of higher education policy in the state.
Steve joined the LAO in 1998, having previously spent 6 years teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in government and politics.
Gary K. Hart (M.A. in education, Harvard) served 20 years in the California State Legislature (representing Santa Barbara), and he chaired the Senate Education Committee from1983 through 1994, when he retired. As the Secretary for Education (1999-2000) for Governor Gray Davis, Mr. Hart played a major role in policy changes such as the Academic Performance Index, and the California High School Exit Examination.
Following retirement from the legislature, Mr. Hart returned to teaching in K-12, and developed a successful honors program at Sacramento’s Kennedy High School. He currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the Public Policy Institute of California (a seat he assumed in 2003).
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Assemblymember Anthony Portantino (BS in Psychology/Business from Albright College, Pennsylvania) was elected to serve the 44th Assembly District in November, 2006.
Assemblymember Portantino served nearly eight years on the La Canada Flintridge City Council and two terms as its Mayor. He has served as President of the League of California Cities Mayor's and Councilmember's Department and the Executive Board of the California Contract Cities Association.
Anthony currently serves as the Chair of the Assembly’s Committee on Higher Education and is a member of the Government Organization, Human Services, Labor and Employment and Revenue and Taxation Standing Committees. He is also a member of the Assembly Select Committees on the Preservation of the California’s Entertainment Industry, Foster Care, and Community Colleges.
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Chancellor Jack Scott brings to the podium a unique blend of experience and wisdom. Although Dr. Scott is still in his first year of his term as Chancellor for the state community college system, he continues an illustrious career that includes stints as an educator (a faculty member at Pepperdine University); a college president (at Cypress College and Pasadena City College), and a state legislator (as a member of the Senate and the Assembly from 1996 to 2008).
Dr. Scott authored 146 bills that were signed into law, and much of his focus as a legislator dealt with education policy.
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