Governor Gordon Unveils Community-Driven 'CHANGE' Initiative as New Chair of Education Commission of the States

Governor Mark Gordon today launched his Chair’s Initiative, Community Hubs for Addressing Needs for Greater Education (CHANGE),  at the Education Commission of the States (ECS) National Forum on Education Policy in Salt Lake City.  The CHANGE initiative reflects the Governor’s long-standing belief that empowering communities is key to creating sustainable, student-centered education systems.

Building on the success of Wyoming’s Reimaging and Innovating the Delivery of Education (RIDE) Initiative, CHANGE is designed to help communities across the country craft and advance their own education visions, while equipping state policy makers to better align systems that are responsive, innovative and future-ready.  

“Even the best-designed reforms can stall out if they aren’t grounded in the lived experience of educators, families and students,” Gov. Gordon said. “And that disconnect, between good ideas and practical implementation, is where progress too often dies on the vine. “I’m excited to highlight what we’re learning in Wyoming and explore new ways to strengthen local ownership in education.  

The RIDE Initiative is currently being implemented in 20 Wyoming school districts, emphasizing collaboration with students, parents, and community members to meet each learner’s unique needs.  Governor Gordon has visited districts across the state, witnessing firsthand how this approach fosters personalized learning, greater community engagement, and smarter long-term investments. 

CHANGE will expand on this work through a series of convenings focused on elevating local voices, surfacing promising practices, and tackling the real-world challenges of innovation in education..

Governor Gordon’s CHANGE Initiative will include a series of convenings, including one in Wyoming, to help engage communities in identifying opportunities, challenges and solutions to implementing innovative education solutions.

The Governor was named ECS chair in December and will serve until 2027. Education Commission of the States (ECS) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that advocates for attaining education excellence for all by helping state leaders identify, develop and implement public education policy that addresses the current and future needs of a learning society. Every two years, the ECS Nominating Committee reviews candidates and votes on the next Chair-Elect — alternating between Democrat and Republican governors each term.