The Mackinac Center for Public Policy, publisher of this newspaper, is pleased to introduce its new staff member, Jon Perdue. He will be assuming the responsibilities of education policy research associate, and will be the new managing editor of Michigan Education Report.

Perdue has wide experience in writing, publishing, technical consulting, and entrepreneurship. His articles on economic policy have been published by Investor’s Business Daily, and his articles on education and environmental issues have been published in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and other publications. He is the former editor and publisher of Georgia Politics Report. Perdue’s commentaries on teacher certification have been published in newspapers throughout Michigan.

Perdue has traveled to Cuba to write about the underground capitalist economy in that communist nation, to Costa Rica to interview a presidential candidate, and to work with the international charitable foundation Salud Sin Fronteras (Health Care Without Borders) to set up indigent care medical clinics.

Perdue has been a consultant to various Fortune 500 companies, including Sears, IBM and AT&T, in curriculum development and employee education and training. He holds a degree in finance from North Georgia College and State University, and worked during college as a substitute teacher in the public school system where his parents worked as teachers.

Please feel free to contact Perdue with story ideas or comments on Michigan Education Report.