Michael J. Petrilli, edu-analyst, blogger, quote-meister extraordinaire, oh, and vice-president at the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, will take the helm of the Institute, serving as president beginning next August. Petrilli previously worked in the U.S. Department of Education during President George W. Bush’s first term. And he’s been traveling to state houses around the country in recent months, as an independent voice on the Common Core standards.

Chester E. Finn (aka “Checker”) who has been heading up Fordham since 1997, will become president emeritus and distinguished senior fellow. Finn also served at the department, during the Reagan administration.

Why should folks outside of Washington care about what happens at a Inside-the-Beltway think tank? My colleague Lesli Maxwell explained Finn, Fordham and their influence in this story.