 Name: Michael Stevenson Title: Vice-President of Global Education, Cisco Systems, Inc. Education: M.A., Classics, Oxford University. England Michael Stevenson is responsible for developing vision and strategy for Cisco’s “21st Century Schools Initiative.” The corporation’s focus is on international K-12 education, particularly urban schools. Stevenson, who has a background in broadcasting for the BBC, is based in London. He recently spoke with HotChalk about what he sees as necessary 21st Century skills and how the U.S. is doing in this area.
The networking giant focuses on reform in K-12 education, particularly in urban schools. Stevenson recently spoke with HotChalk (Part 1) about where the US stands in relation to other countries, and what role corporations can play in educational reform.  Q: How does U.S. K-12 education and government educational policy compare and contrast with that in other countries?
A: First, US K-12 looks a lot like many other developed countries: Many instances of outstanding school systems, but real variability, with the worst systems way short of the best. In terms of policy and culture, the US does look a bit different. Both the funding and the governance systems militate against federal-led or sometimes state-led change. For example, it has proved hard to embed national curricula standards or to ensure uniform high levels of per capita spending. Q: What do you see as the corporate role in K-12 education?A: Corporations can be clear about the skills they want to see in new hires leaving college or university if they are to thrive in tomorrow’s workplace. They can share corporate best practices in creating and leading complex systems, including education systems. Q: What insight can business offer education?A: For example, Cisco has created a value chain that needs to develop corporate strategy, needs to build products and services, and needs to establish channel partners through which it can sell those products and services--and it needs to do this in 160 countries. We’re not saying those problems are identical to the problems of a school superintendent, but we think it gives us a helpful perspective. Q: What is Cisco doing to address these issues?A: First, we’ve developed a white paper called “Equipping Every Learner for the 21st Century.” It sets out our ideas about what makes a good 21st education system. We’re not saying this is the only way to think about it. We’re currently conducting a dialogue with educators across the US to shape and refine these ideas. Second, we’re looking to work with education systems around the world to see if these ideas work in practice. We’re already working in Mississippi and Louisiana. We have just made a major equipment donation to the earthquake-affected Sichuan province in China. And we expect to be working with systems elsewhere in the US and also in India before the year is out. Q: What’s down the road for U.S. K-12 education? A: I see a growing interest in ensuring that academic excellence is combined with the skills that students need to thrive in the knowledge economy--not the same thing. And I see superintendents across the US asking searching questions about the changes they need to make to ensure that happens. And, finally, I see a challenge to policymakers of all parties to create a framework that will support those superintendents over the next few years.
 Sheila Riley is a San Francisco-based freelance journalist. She is also an experienced online editor and ESL curriculum developer, and teaches ESL at City College of San Francisco.
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