Who was David T. Kearns?

David T. Kearns was a legendary leader in business and a groundbreaking innovator in education. The creation of the Kearns Prize in his honor intends to spotlight break-through innovations in education and acknowledge the accomplishments of individuals and organizations achieving extraordinary, replicable impact in the education sector.

David T. Kearns served with distinction as U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education from 1991 to 1993. He was responsible for launching the New American Schools Development Corporation, a groundbreaking public-private partnership designed to identify and scale solutions that worked. He was committed to the discovery of breakthrough innovation that could improve outcomes for all children.

His work in education paved the way for a generation of educators, philanthropists, and entrepreneurs committed to improving educational outcomes. Truly, David was a remarkable citizen-leader who made lasting contributions to public education in the United States.