Stephen L. Pruitt, Achieve

Stephen L. Pruitt was named Vice president for content, research, and development in November 2010. He joined Achieve as the director of science in July 2010. In addition to his new role, he will continue to lead the development of the Next Generation Science Standards. Pruitt began his career as a high school chemistry teacher in Georgia, where he taught for 12 years. In 2003, he joined the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) as the program manager for science. He served in that role for four years before becoming director of academic standards, where he oversaw the continued implementation of the Georgia Performance Standards in all content areas. In 2008, he became the associate superintendent of assessment and accountability, responsible for directing all state assessments and overseeing the No Child Left Behind accountability process. In April 2009, Pruitt became chief of staff to State School Superintendent Kathy Cox, coordinating the work of the agency and a variety of projects such as Georgia’s third-ranked Race to the Top application. In addition to his state-level work, he also served as president of the Council of State Science Supervisors and a member of the writing team for the College Board’s Standards for College Success Science Standards. Most recently, he served on the National Academies of Science’s Committee on Conceptual Framework for New Science Education Standards, which is developing the framework for the Next Generation Science Education Standards. A native Georgian, Pruitt earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from North Georgia College and State University, a master’s in science education from the University of West Georgia, and a doctorate of philosophy in chemistry education from Auburn University.