Daniel M. French is the Chief Operating Officer at CCSSO. He is responsible for core areas of operations, including human resources; operational and internal management and planning; management of operational aspects of meetings; internal diversity, equity and inclusion; and strategic support at the executive level. Prior to joining CCSSO in 2023, Dan served as Vermont’s Secretary of Education for four years and led the state’s education system through the COVID-19 pandemic and several complex policy initiatives, including school district consolidation and reform of the state’s education funding system. Dan is passionate about organizational leadership, serving as both a principal and superintendent during his long career in education and running his own organizational consulting business before becoming Secretary of Education. In 2009, he was named Vermont Superintendent of the Year, and from 2010-2012, he served as President of the Vermont Superintendent’s Association.

Dan holds an Ed.D. in educational leadership and policy studies from the University of Vermont, a master’s degree in educational leadership from Plymouth State University and a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Connecticut. Dan is also a proud Army veteran and a graduate of the Defense Language Institute, where he completed the Korean basic course.