In Memory of Ted Sizer
1932 - 2009

It is with sadness that we share the loss of our dear friend and mentor, Ted Sizer, who passed away on October 21 at age 77, at his Harvard MA home with his wife, Nancy, and his four children beside him. Ted served as an original member of the CCE Governing Board. He remained a Board member for years and was a Board Member Emeritus until his death.

Perhaps the most influential educator of his generation, Ted touched countless thousands of people, leaving an indelible mark on us at CCE, our affiliated schools, and everywhere people are committed to improving the education of our children. Most of us at CCE can trace the impetus of our passion for school change efforts to the vision of Ted Sizer and his work.

His influence can be seen in major initiatives to improve our schools, including the Annenberg Institute for School Reform and the Coalition of Essential Schools (CES), both of which he founded while he was a professor at Brown University. Many teachers say it was the books he wrote during his time at Brown— Horace's Compromise: The Dilemma of the American High School; Horace's School: Redesigning the American High School; and Horace's Hope: What Works for the American High School, that first caused them to re-evaluate and ultimately transform their teaching practice. Today there are approximately 600 Essential Schools affiliated with the Coalition. CES has laid groundwork for multiple national and regional organizations that reflect strands of Sizer's philosophy. It has also spawned numerous research projects and various school improvement initiatives over the 25 year span of its existence.

Dr. Sizer developed the Ten Common Principles, that are at the core of the philosophy of the Coalition. Profound and unpretentious , they bear listing in very short form here: learning to use one's mind well; less is more, depth over coverage; goals apply to all students; personalization; student-as-worker, teacher-as-coach; demonstration of mastery; a tone of decency and trust; commitment to the entire school; resources dedicated to teaching and learning; and democracy and equity.

Two key practices developed by Sizer for improving teaching—Critical Friends Groups, and Networking of Schools—have become commonplace in most school and district-wide improvement initiatives.

We at CCE are grateful to him for the outstanding legacy he leaves, and to his family, who so graciously shared him with us all these years. To his wife and colleague, Nancy Sizer, and their four children, we extend our deep sympathy.

The Staff of CCE

Further reflections on Theodore Sizer—

• Theodore R. Sizer, Education Innovator, Is Dead at 77 - New York Times
• Theodore R. SIzer, 77; Educator, Author Worked to Improve Public Schools - Washington Post
• Theodore Sizer, Educational Reformer, Dead at 77 - NPR
• In Memoriam: Theodore Ryland Sizer - The Coalition of Essential Schools
• The Forum Mourns the Loss of Convener and Mentor Ted Sizer - The Forum for Education and Democracy
• Andover Mourns Loss of Ted Sizer, Legendary Educator and Headmaster - Phillips Andover Academy
• A Tribute to Ted Sizer - John Merrow, LearningMatters
• Sizer's Legacy Seen in Push to Revamp High Schools - Ed Week
• Dean Theodore Sizer, 1932-2009 - Harvard Graduate School of Education