Keith Frome, an educator and innovator, has joined PeerForward as the organization’s CEO. PeerForward is one of the nation’s largest non-profits dedicated to college access, increasing the likelihood that low-income youth enroll in and graduate from college and other post-secondary institutions. It serves 36,000 low-income high school students in more than 40 school districts throughout the country.
Frome co-founded PeerForward 20 years ago, served as its first chief academic officer and has stayed associated with the organization ever since. Over the past two years, he led PeerForward’s initiative to scale its reach by partnering with Facebook and his own King Center Charter School in Buffalo, N.Y. to foster the creation of new web and mobile college access apps for low-income students and their families. The development of the apps was funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and distribution of the apps has been made possible by support from the Bezos Family Foundation.
“Keith is an academic with a passionate hands-on approach to education. He works locally every day with students who need college access assistance, and is in the forefront nationally of bringing new ideas and systems to help these young people succeed,” said Barry Salzberg, chairman of the board of PeerForward and global CEO of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited.
Frome is the executive director of the King Center Charter School in Buffalo, N.Y. where he is creating a strong college-going culture for underserved young children and middle school students from that city’s East Side. He continues his direct leadership role with the school as it identifies and transitions to a new leader. After the full transition is complete, Frome will continue to serve the school as an academic and advancement advisor.
“This is an ideal scenario. With no learning curve, Keith can immediately get to work expanding the impact of PeerForward’s core program while creating even more opportunities for low-income students across the U.S. through innovative approaches,” added Salzberg.
Frome holds a doctorate in philosophy and education from Columbia University Teachers College and received his master’s in theology and education and permanent teaching certification in English from Harvard Divinity School. He edited one collection of poetry, a book of quotations and has published two books on parenting and education.
PeerForward is the national nonprofit that transforms the lives of low-income youth by developing a corps of high school students who lead their peers to and through college. The organization, which has been recognized for its social innovation by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and President Obama, serves 36,000 students across the United States. PeerForward provides a system for improving college access and career success in 145 partner high schools in 13 states.
