Tim Knowles
Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching
San Diego, CA USA
"New life is formed at the boundaries. Find them."
Career Roadmap
Tim's work combines: Education, Non-Profit Organizations, and Teaching / Mentoring
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
African History and Anthropology
Oberlin College
Graduate Degree
Education
Harvard Graduate School of Education
Doctorate
Administration, Planning and Social Policy
Harvard Graduate School of Education
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life has been direct
1.
I started my career teaching African history in Botswana, where learning extended far beyond the classroom.
2.
After witnessing apartheid firsthand, I saw education as a tool for liberation and lasting impact.
3.
Returning to the U.S., I helped launch Teach For America to address teacher shortages in underserved areas.
4.
I noticed how some teachers thrived while others struggled—and realized the school environment made all the difference.
5.
Driven to improve schools, I became a principal and started a new school in Brooklyn, New York.
6.
Over time, I built multiple organizations dedicated to transforming education and social systems.
7.
Now at the Carnegie Foundation, I lead efforts to rethink college, assessments, and the future of learning.
