John Schneider

John is an accomplished leader in expanding educational and economic opportunity with more than 30 years of experience working with government, nonprofit, and public policy organizations.  He is currently Mass Insight’s Managing Director of Advocacy and Public Affairs responsible for Mi’s federal and state advocacy and government relations programs.

Previously John served as the executive vice president to the Massachusetts Institute for a New Commonwealth (MassINC) where he led the organization’s groundbreaking Gateway Cities policy initiative, and the New Skills for a New Economy Campaign, MassINC’s workforce development advocacy program. He served as research director to the state legislature’s Joint Committee on Education, Arts, and Humanities, and played a key staff role in the passage and implementation of the landmark Massachusetts Education Reform Act of 1993. John has also worked to support charter school start-ups and regional collaborative economic development strategies. He began his professional career as a teacher in an alternative high school working with out-of-school youth in Chicago and Boston.

Active in community affairs, John serves on the board of directors of the National Parents Union, a national network of parent organizations and grassroots activists working to improve the quality of life for children across the United States and define the education conversation.  He also assists with the annual Massachusetts Civic Learning Week and facilitates workshops for students and adults on faith formation and social justice.

John, who lives in Lowell, MA, has three adult children and five grandchildren.