Gene Chasin is the Chief Operating Officer of Say Yes to Education. In this role he leads the foundation’s academic efforts in Hartford, Philadelphia, Harlem, Syracuse, and Buffalo. Prior to coming to Say Yes to Education, Gene was the director of the Institute for Urban School Improvement at the University of Connecticut. The Institute served as home for two national school improvement organizations, one state based school support enterprise, and an extensive research agenda. He also served as CEO of Accelerated Schools, one of the largest, longest-lived, most-researched school reform models in the country.

Before his involvement with national school improvement efforts, he served as a superintendent in Massachusetts and was an assistant superintendent in Durham, North Carolina. He also had an extensive administrative career serving in principalships at the elementary and middle school levels. Gene began his career as a teacher. He taught elementary school, special education, and served as a reading specialist. Gene earned a bachelor of arts degree in liberal studies and education from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and a master of arts degree from the University of San Francisco in educational administration.