Governors who put education at the center of their agendas and aspirations act in a long-standing tradition of American political leadership. Among those who did so are leaders who made an imprint on U.S. history both during their gubernatorial terms and afterwards. This paper describes how governors and gubernatorial aspirants can exercise leadership on behalf of students from pre-school through graduate school, and explores how governors can use their formal and informal powers effectively to advance an education agenda. Characteristics of an education governor include: (1) Leading the effort to improve schools; (2) Doing his or her homework; (3) Appointing commissions of knowledgeable and influential people to assist in defining the agenda, and establishing a state-level vehicle for change; (4) Identifying and Prioritizing the educational needs of the state.; (5) Using data; (6) Developing strategic partnerships; (7) Learning from the experiences of other governors; (8) Using the bully pulpit; (9) Persistence; (10) Institutionalizing reform efforts that have worked, or that have a chance to work; and (11) Teaching others. An appendix includes: Selected Examples of Gubernatorial Education Initiatives.