John Merrow

John Merrow began his career as an education reporter with National Public Radio nearly 40 years ago with the weekly series, "Options in Education." Over the years, he expanded into broadcast television, documentaries, and print, becoming a prominent figure in education journalism. He has the distinction of being the only reporter to have interviewed every U.S. Secretary of Education and was the first to expose the financial relationship between CHADD, a child advocacy group, and Ciba-Geigy, the pharmaceutical company that produces the A.D.D. drug Ritalin. His investigative efforts also led him to become the first journalist to gain entrance to the People's Republic of China in 1976, contributing further to his robust reporting portfolio.

Since 1984, Merrow has worked in public television as a NewsHour Correspondent and as host of his own PBS series, "The Merrow Report." His documentary work and reporting have earned him two George Foster Peabody Awards for "School Sleuth: The Case of An Excellent School" (2000) and "Beyond Borders: Personal Stories from a Small Planet" (2006), George Polk Award in 1982, Emmy nominations in 1984, 2005, and 2007, four CINE Golden Eagles, and numerous awards from the Education Writers Association. He has also received accolades such as the McGraw Prize in Education in 2012 and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Academy Of Education Arts And Sciences in the same year. Merrow's written contributions include books like "Addicted to Reform: A 12-Step Program to Rescue Public Education" (2017), "The Influence of Teachers" (2011), and "Choosing Excellence" (2001), among others.

Merrow earned a B.A. from Dartmouth College, an M.A. in American Studies from Indiana University, and a doctorate in Education and Social Policy from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He has been recognized with the James L. Fisher Award for Distinguished Service to Education in 2000, the HGSE Alumni Council Award for Outstanding Contributions to Education in 2006, The Horace Dutton Taft Medal in 2010, and honorary doctorates from Richard Stockton College (NJ) and Paul Smith's College (NY). He continues to share insights and perspectives on education through his weekly blog, themerrowreport.com.

Merrow resides in New York City with his wife, Joan Lonergan, the Head of the Hewitt School. His extensive experience and continued engagement with education issues make him a critical voice in the field.