Three visionary leaders who have revolutionized the landscape of education are being celebrated as the 2024 recipients of the Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education. The prestigious award, bestowed by the McGraw Family Foundation in partnership with the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education (Penn GSE), recognizes Edmund W. Gordon, Jody Lewen, and Robert Lerman for their trailblazing work that has transformed lives and reshaped learning across generations.
For more than 40 years, the McGraw Prize has championed leaders who have had a profound impact on our world, so that others might follow their example and extend that impact. Prizes are awarded in three categories: pre-K–12 learning, higher education, and lifelong learning. This year’s winners will receive an award of $50,000 and an iconic awards sculpture at a ceremony on Nov. 13.
“The McGraw Prize honors my father’s dedication to education and literacy and celebrates innovative and courageous educators who make a difference,” said Harold McGraw III, former chairman and CEO of The McGraw-Hill Companies. “This year’s winners forged pathbreaking roles to provide educational access and career opportunities to all members of society. Their remarkable achievements, tireless advocacy, and continued mentorship inspire us all.”
“The McGraw Prize in Education recognizes educators who devote their lives and careers to improving the world around them. These three visionaries truly changed the world for the better by ensuring that everyone—from young children to incarcerated individuals and to working professionals—can access high-quality educational experiences. We are beyond gratified that we can honor and thank them for their commitment to equity, access, and opportunity,” said Katharine Strunk, dean of Penn GSE and the George and Diane Weiss Professor of Education.
The 2024 winners
Pre-K–12 Education Prize: Edmund W. Gordon, a luminary in education, has dedicated over six decades to transforming pre-K–12 education through his visionary leadership, pathbreaking scholarship, and profound commitment to promoting equity and access to quality education for all students. He has had an enduring, deep, and wide impact on education, psychology, and social science research. An early champion of supplementary education in its many forms—including preschool education, summer learning, tutoring, and extracurricular activities—Gordon was an architect of the federal Head Start program, serving as its original Director of Research and Evaluation. As a distinguished emeritus professor at Yale University and the Teachers College, Columbia University, Director Emeritus of the Gordon Institute for Advanced Study at the Teachers College, and Honorary President of the American Educational Research Association (AERA), he continues to inspire, mentor, and lead at the age of 103.
Higher Education Prize: Jody Lewen has dedicated over two decades to transforming higher education in prisons. As the founder and president of Mount Tamalpais College—an accredited, degree-granting institution located within San Quentin State Prison that charges no tuition and receives no government funding—Lewen has helped approximately 4,000 incarcerated individuals benefit from college courses and holistic academic support. Lewen is also a co-founder of the Alliance for Higher Education in Prison, a national network supporting education for incarcerated students. She serves as a trusted advisor to policymakers and has provided consulting to over 65 prison education programs nationwide.
Lifelong Learning Prize: Robert Lerman, a distinguished economist and pioneering educator, is helping to transform the pathways through which people acquire essential job-related skills and enter rewarding careers. As a professor of economics at American University, senior fellow at the Urban Institute, and co-founder of Apprenticeships for America, Lerman has been a tireless advocate for “earn, produce, and learn” apprenticeship-based alternatives to traditional college education. His work has been guided by the belief that a conventional, one-size-fits-all approach limits opportunities for many Americans and places the U.S. at a competitive disadvantage. By documenting high returns to apprenticeships for workers and employers and by highlighting successful apprenticeship systems in other countries, Lerman has influenced federal and state policymakers, workforce professionals, and researchers. His efforts have led to significant policy changes, including California's implementation of formula-based funding for apprenticeship programs.
The Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Family Foundation selected Penn GSE as the home for the McGraw Prize in 2020. Penn GSE is recognized internationally for its cutting-edge initiatives, distinguished faculty, and as a training ground for top educators and leaders. The partnership includes administering the annual prize in November, and ongoing programming with more than 100 past winners, including symposia and a webinar series.
Through a public nomination process, McGraw Prize awardees were submitted for consideration by their peers, with winners then selected during three rounds of judging, including a final round by an independent panel of esteemed leaders in the field. Past winners have included teachers, professors, superintendents, university presidents, non-profit leaders, entrepreneurs, and public officials. Many continue to play major roles across the education landscape.
To learn more, visit Penn GSE News and McGrawPrize.com.
