Robert L. Hughes is the director of K-12 strategy for The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Previously, he was president of New Visions for Public Schools. Under his leadership, New Visions created 99 district and 4 charter public schools in New York City, provided mentoring services to hundreds of new principals, developed school-based certification programs for teachers and principals, and created an inquiry process now in use in 1,500 New York City public schools. His first work was representing low income students in school finance, special education and racial discrimination legal cases.