Hear the stories of 2024 McGraw Prize winners

In 2024, the McGraw Prize honored Edmund. W. Gordon, Jody Lewen, and Robert Lerman. These leaders each took their own path to influence learners and improve society.

Here are their stories.

Edmund W. Gordon, Pre-K-12

Director Emeritus, Gordon Institute for Advanced Study at Teachers College, Columbia University

“Things we now consider household words—Head Start, affirmative development, supplemental education—were not always concepts people understood or even thought about. It’s Ed Gordon.” 

— Freeman Hrabowski, 2001 McGraw Prize winner
President Emeritus, University of Maryland Baltimore County

Jody Lewen, Higher Education

President, Mount Tamalpais College

“Thank you, for what you have done with this college. Thank you for caring about people who are basically society’s throwaways, and giving them the opportunity to not only learn about poetry, the arts, statistics, learn about themselves. Thank you.” 

— Pat Mims, Mount Tamalpais alumnus 

Robert Lerman, Lifelong Learning

Emeritus Professor of Economics, American University
Fellow, The Urban Institute
Co-Founder, Apprenticeships for America

“Because of Bob’s work, more young people today have the opportunity to get ahead, to get skills, to get a good job, to get a family-supporting wage.” 

— James Rosapepe, Maryland State Senator

McGraw Prize winners are curious, creative, resourceful, and relentless. Does this describe an education leader you know? If so, nominate them for a 2025 McGraw Prize in Education.