Doug Ross, Detroit Public Schools’ new chief innovation officer, has built his career in the state of Michigan as a pitchman, Yahoo! News reports. First, Ross pitched his candidacy for the Michigan Senate, where he served a single term from 1979 through 1982. At that point, newly elected Democratic Gov. Jim Blanchard named him commerce director. In the latest embodiment of Ross as pitchman, his duties have been expanded with Detroit Public Schools. While still serving as head of the distict’s Charter Schools Office, he also will take the innovation officer post. Emergecy Manager Roy S. Roberts described the goal as “finding and implementing innovative best educational practices used across the nation to improve graduation rates and college readiness in DPS schools.”