All in the Family

When incoming Education Policy and Management master’s student Elissa Klein sets foot on Appian Way this fall, she will already know the classes to register for and professors not to miss. That’s because she’s getting advice from a recent graduate in the know: her dad.

At 60, Joe Klein, Ed.M.’11, wasn’t the typical HGSE student. For nearly 39 years, he had served as chief executive officer of Klein Steel Service in Rochester, N.Y. Still, during his time in the steel business, Joe developed a passion for education, an interest he passed on to his daughter.

“I had a dream we would go to grad school together,” Elissa says. “But he went before I was ready.”

Particularly interested in the charter school movement, about eight years ago Joe and Elissa attended a symposium on the best charter schools in the Northeast. At that point, they determined it was time for their hometown of Rochester to open a charter school. With some persuasion, they helped to convince Uncommon Schools to open True North Rochester Prep in the city. Joe brought community and political leaders out to demonstrate Rochester's strong base of support, and Elissa highlighted for the principal the cultural and social perks that make Rochester an attractive place for young professionals.

Joe was so passionate about the school, he became an active member on the board. It wasn’t long before fellow Rochester educators encouraged Joe to apply as a Broad Fellow, but he needed an advanced degree first.  This led Joe to the Ed School where he immersed himself in education.  “It was an amazing year in which I was never bored,” Joe says. “I loved every minute of it.”

Meanwhile, Elissa was pursuing her own career in education, working first at Hillel Council of New England, recruiting Jewish students at various college campuses, and later teaching in urban schools.

It was Joe who encouraged Elissa to apply to HGSE.

“I love working and didn’t think I’d like being a student [again],” admits Elissa, who currently teaches through Boston’s Citizen Schools. “I saw everything my dad got out of the program. I think his experience made me decide to go and put in the deposit.”

And, what does her father think about this?  “I’m jealous! I’d like to go back this year,” he says. “Elissa will get a lot of different things from the experience, but for me, I’m quite proud.”

As Elissa begins her year at HGSE, Joe is continuing to look for leadership opportunities in an urban charter school – one that he hopes may lead to future work together.

“My father went to work with his father in the junk business. I went to work with my father in steel distribution business, so maybe the new business will be the charter school business,” he says.

Elissa agrees.

“I've loved the time I spent in charter schools — helping with operations, observing teacher training, and visiting classrooms,” she says. “When Dad starts his new charter school network, I want to either start one of the schools or lead the research and evaluation efforts.”